Wednesday, May 06, 2009

Kenny Dalglish Thanks To Stars Over Hillsborough Memorial Game


Kenny Dalglish today paid glowing tribute to the long list of legends and celebrities who have pledged to turn out at Anfield next week for the Hillsborough 20th Anniversary Memorial game.

World boxing great Joe Calzaghe will be among a host of famous names to appear at Anfield next Thursday night, including Robbie Fowler and Paul Gascoigne plus a long list of former Everton and Liverpool greats.

Kop legend Fowler has promised to fly in from Australia, where he is now playing with A-League side North Queensland, to take part in a Liverpool Legends v All Stars encounter.

Other top names on show in the match will include Dalglish himself, Alan Hansen, Dave Watson, Alan Stubbs, Gary Gillespie, Trevor Steven and Graham Stuart.

Singer Craig David and Nicky Byrne from Westlife are among a line-up of celebrities who will also play in the match - which will pay tribute to the 96 victims of the Leppings Lane disaster in 1989 while also raising money for the Marina Dalglish appeal to help build a £15m radiotherapy unit at Aintree Hospital in Fazakerley.

Dalglish said: “The support from everyone for this game has been truly amazing and I must thank every one of the lads for agreeing to come along and play.

“I’ve never seen Joe Calzaghe play football before but he is one of boxing’s all time greats with a magnificent unbeaten record - and anyway someone said he should add a fair bit of punch up front!

“Robbie is flying in from Australia and Gazza will be there too.

“Everyone has been magnificent since being approached and the intention is to put on a real good game for the fans to come along and really enjoy.”

Nigel Clough and Des Walker, who both played for Nottingham Forest during the ill-fated FA Cup semi final match against Liverpool 20 years ago, will also be turning out.

Former Liverpool keeper Paul Harrison, whose father Gary and uncle Stephen were among the 96 killed at Hillsborough, will play in goal for the Reds.

Added Dalglish: “I think people understand that the money we are raising from this game will help provide a wonderful, world class facility with state of the art medical equipment here in Liverpool.

“Right now an awful lot of people have to travel very long distances to Clatterbridge for radiotherapy treatment and it can be a long and difficult journey for a lot of people.

“Hopefully the people of Merseyside, who have been brilliant and so generous down the years, will come along and show their magnificent support yet again.

“There’ll be a real family feel to the occasion and a few laughs no doubt - but rest assured everyone will take the game seriously.

“Certainly the celebs like Nicky, Craig Johnny Wlkes and Gethin Jones, who won Strictly Come dancing, can all play a fair bit.”

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