KOP STEWARDS OFFER TO HELP EASE CHAOS AT SUPERMARKETS
Everton’s ‘spring chicken’ chairman, Bill, leading the club’s community efforts to contact fans isolated by the virus
BILL KENWRIGHT has been leading Everton’s effort to help lessen the impact of the coronavirus crisis by ringing dozens of self-isolating elderly fans.
The club’s award-winning community programme recognised many senior citizens will be lonely after being warned not to go out or have contact with others.
And a number of measures have been announced, with an initial £50,000 of funding, for a coordinated outreach campaign.
It aims to provide assistance and support to those most vulnerable, socially isolated and at risk during what is in effect a lockdown for them.
The initiative has seen thousands of food parcels distributed, financial assistance given to buy medicines, breakfast packages for children, mobile phone credit and support with gas and electricity bills.
The venture is named The Blue Family and through Everton’s Community charitable arm, regular contact is being made with those most isolated.
Everton chairman Kenwright is spearheading the effort and lifelong fan Tommy Lea, 83, who lives in St Helens but was born and bred close to Goodison Park, spoke about his surprise call.
“Bill rang me and we spoke for almost an hour,” he explained. “The first Everton game I went to was in 1946, so I said to him he’s only a spring chicken.”
The former army veteran and merchant navy seaman is still a season ticket-holder and never missed a game until Premier League fixtures were suspended.
“I’ve been to every cup final Everton have played in since I first started going, watched them every game and the reserves too,” he added. “I even went to watch Liverpool every other week with my friends who were Reds, as they came with me to Goodison too.
“I’m missing the football a lot. My wife, who died eight years ago, used to say that if two flies walking up a wall were wearing blue, I’d watch them – and she was right.”
Kenwright spoke to Tommy about his own favourite player, Dave Hickson, as well as the great sides of the 1960s, 70s and 80s.
“It was a great chat, we went through all the players, Brian Labone, Dave Hickson (above) of course, some in the 40s that I said were before his time,” Mr Lea added.
“When I was a kid there were some great, great players who came to play for Everton from Scotland and Ireland and stayed in the Exchange Hotel. I lived just around the corner, so the kids in the area would go along to meet them.
“Bill said about the importance of keeping healthy in these times, and I still do a workout every day.
“I played bowls with the wife and I do an hour on my own now, using the bowls in two socks as weights, and I got to the gym at six every morning before they closed.”
Kenwright had a surprise for Mr Lea when football finally resumes: “He invited me into the directors’ box when Everton games start again, and I told him I’ll be ready to take him up on that.
“It was a great chat and I really appreciated his call.”
ANFIELD stewards have volunteered to help control chaotic crowds at supermarkets sparked by frantic panic-buying.
And Liverpool’s chief executive Peter Moore has revealed they have also offered to assist the elderly to do their shopping amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis.
Stores across the country have reported long queues and unruly scenes (above) following an attempt to reduce stockpiling by imposing strict limits on items. And Moore said the Anfield team of stewards are perfectly qualified to help, especially older customers who have been warned to stay away from crowds.
Moore spoke on Twitter, directly to supermarkets and shops in the Liverpool region, when he said: “A message to supermarket managers here on Merseyside.
“Our stadium stewards here @LFC are offering their time and expertise in volunteering to help with crowd control, queue management, parking control, assisting the elderly and infirm taking their groceries to their cars, etc.
“They are truly the best in the business and would be delighted to help in whatever way you would deem appropriate (and safe) on your premises.”
It is the latest gesture to help during the coronavirus crisis from Liverpool, whose long wait for the title looked sure to end before the pandemic struck. Skipper Jordan Henderson led an offer from the players and staff to donate an amount, thought to be in excess of £50,000, to Fans Supporting Foodbanks, who relied on donations on match-days to help provide food to people in need.
Henderson contacted Liverpool MP Ian Byrne, who was one of the people behind the charity, to offer help and support.