A host of Liverpool greats helped a Merseyside foundation break through the £1m barrier for funds raised during a busy weekend of charity across the North West.
Football For Change - an organisation fronted up by Reds vice captain Trent Alexander-Arnold, the legendary Jamie Carragher and Leicester's Conor Coady - held its third annual gala on Saturday night with the aim of raising enough to take FFC past the £1m mark for funds raised in total for disadvantaged young people in the UK.
Carragher was joined by his former Liverpool team-mate Peter Crouch on stage at the Old Trafford Cricket Ground for a special Q&A alongside their ex-England colleague and current Birmingham City manager Wayne Rooney. The trio gave an unrivalled insight into their respective careers during a fascinating conversation.
In typical good humour, Crouch shed light on how he was given the confidence to end his infamous goal Liverpool drought of 2005 by getting to know locals through a karaoke performance of Hey Jude in a Scotland Road pub, while a relaxed Rooney revealed his initial unease by his sudden rise to fame when he found himself rubbing shoulders with A-list celebrities at a David Beckham-hosted party while still in his teens.
Rooney also told of one particularly brutal exchange with Carragher during a match for Manchester United at Liverpool that left him wincing and bloodied but refusing to let the Anfield faithful know the defender's tackle had hurt.
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The charity, which provides life-changing opportunities in education, employment and sport for school leavers affected by poverty, has helped hundreds of young people in disadvantaged communities since its launch in 2021 through the help of former England internationals Steven Gerrard, Beckham and now Rooney and Crouch.
Carragher said: “We launched Football For Change in 2021 and already it is making a massive difference to the lives of young people who need that bit of extra help to help build a better future.
"I am delighted with the incredible turnout tonight from some of the biggest names in sport and entertainment. Football For Change is growing every year and attracting huge names from the game, from business and from the entertainment industry. The Football For Change gala is a very special event.”
The gala, which was sponsored by clothing brand SHEIN and Swinton Insurance, was also supported on the night by the ex-Everton trio of Leon Osman, Joleon Lescott and Peter Reid alongside Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings and former boxer Ricky Hatton, while Vernon Kay took charge of hosting duties.
The bottom line was boosted by prizes donated by Alexander-Arnold, Gerrard and former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson while there were also auction items signed off by Robbie Williams, Noel Gallagher and even Lionel Messi, who fetched thousands for a meet-and-greet with him in Miami at a later date.
Crouch, who was Carragher's team-mate at Anfield for three years, added: “It is great that as footballers we are able to use our platforms to help young people through Football For Change. I couldn't be more proud to be involved. This major fundraising event will help us to continue some amazing work in communities that need it most.”
Having kicked off the evening with a sensational performance from Beverley Knight, the night was brought to a close by Olly Murs and Tinie Tempah, who ran through their respective setlists after guests had been treated to a four-course dinner and champagne reception. FFC's total raised since its inception now stands at around £1.1m.
Twenty-four hours earlier, Anfield played host to a night of its own as Liverpool opened their doors for Danny Smith, a supporter whose life was turned upside down after he was attacked outside the Stade de France at the 2022 Champions League final.
Mr Smith was forced to leave two jobs as a result of his injuries and has undergone significant counselling about the events in Saint-Denis in May last year.
The Stand Up For Danny Smith evening was organised by Les Wright and attended by close to 300 people at Anfield, including family, friends and his teenage son Daniel, and featured a charity auction and special Q&A with Alan Kennedy, David Fairclough, Howard Gayle and the iconic John Barnes.
Prizes were personally donated by Mohamed Salah and Harvey Elliott before a personal video message was played to an emotional Danny from Jurgen Klopp.
The Liverpool boss thanked the lifelong fan for his ongoing support and told him the turnout on the night was proof he 'will never walk alone' in his recovery efforts, both physically and mentally.
"The support shown towards me by the city has been immense," Danny told the ECHO. "Having gone from almost losing my leg, to physio and mental health support has given me the strength to get through these difficult times.
"From doctors and nurses through to Liverpool FC and all the regional media, everyone has been fantastic. My daughter has started work in the care profession as a result of my treatment and wants to give back.
"I plan to do the same, maybe as a mentor or in a mental-health role. I am happy to chat with companies that would like to use my knowledge and experiences to benefit others."
Earlier that day, former Reds defender Neil Ruddock came out with cricket legend Chris Gayle to help Paddy 'the Baddy' Pimblett's charity at the city's Titanic Hotel.
The Opus Events-led 'Three Kings' lunch was designed to raise funds for Pimblett's The Baddy Foundation, which seeks to tackle the stigmas around men's mental health. The day's auction eventually saw £40,000 raised for the local charity.
"We're just at the Titanic Hotel for the Opus event now, the Three Kings," Pimblett told the ECHO on Friday afternoon. "We're looking to get funds in for my charity and I can't wait to get this going.
"I can't thank Lee (McPartland, organiser) and Opus Events enough for all their help in getting this event done. You know what I mean? They have put the work in to get this event done and I have just sat back and let them set it up.
"All the funds are going to go to my charity and I can't thank them enough for their help. We are going to do big things for this city and we're going to help people. First and foremost, we're going to help a lot of people that need help.
"I really want to work on helping disadvantaged kids living off food banks to eat and to help clothe them, have a better quality of life and to help men of my generation understand that it isn’t weak to talk and every single one of us has mental battles we have to fight even someone like myself."
Ruddock, who won the League Cup with the Reds in 1995, added: "It gives me great satisfaction to be working with Paddy 'the Baddy' to raise some much-needed funds for the Baddy Foundation.
"I love Liverpool and I love the people and it is my pleasure to do anything for these lovely people. I was there for six tears and you made my life complete. Thank you very much to the people and to the Baddy Foundation, good luck to you."
The final figures from each charity night will be known later this week, but it's estimated that hundreds of thousands were brought in collectively.
