Sporting rivals hit a winner to help homeless
UNITED legend Gary Neville joined an all-star team in a Manchester versus Liverpool charity football match to raise funds to tackle homelessness.
Andrew Roussos, the father of Saffie, the youngest of the 22 people killed in the Manchester Arena attack last year, and Hillsborough campaigner Margaret Aspinall took to the pitch at Leigh Sports Village to lead out the teams, which included a mix of football icons and celebs.
Hosted by Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham and Liverpool metro mayor Steve Rotheram, proceeds from the 11-a-side match will go to homelessness charities.
Andrew and campaigner Margaret, chair of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, walked the teams out onto the pitch during an emotional evening, which saw the Liverpool side win 3-1.
Andrew was joined by his son Xander, who donned a Manchester bee T-shirt for the match, cheered on by 600 people.
Last month Andrew moved guests to tears at the annual Once Upon A Smile Grand Ball at the Emirates Old Trafford cricket ground as he paid tribute to eight-year-old Saffie and the strength of his son and wife Lisa, who was in a coma and had eight operations following the tragedy at the Ariana Grande concert on May 22 last year.
Mr Burnham’s Manchester team, wearing an all-black kit emblazoned with a white bee, starred pundit Neville, former City and United player Peter Barnes, BBC Radio Manchester presenter Mike Sweeney and Hollyoaks actors Ashley Taylor Dawson and Duayne Boachie.
Mr Rotherham’s squad featured Liverpool legends Robbie Fowler and Alan Kennedy.
Mr Burnham told the M.E.N.: “We want to raise awareness of homelessness as it’s an issue that affects both areas. And football is a great way to bring people together.”
The amount raised by the match was being counted.