The Soccer Aid-style event will bring together some of the biggest names from football, music, television and sport
The Hill Dickinson Stadium
The Hill Dickinson Stadium(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
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Everton and Liverpool legends are putting one of football's fiercest rivalries to one side for a huge new charity showdown next month. The first-ever #Game4Hope will see a star-studded Merseyside XI take on a Rest of the World XI on Saturday, September 26, with a 4.45pm kick-off at Hill Dickinson stadium.
The Soccer Aid-style event will bring together some of the biggest names from football, music, television and sport in aid of Shelter and Everton in the Community, with funds raised helping to tackle homelessness across Merseyside and beyond.
A line-up of huge football stars has already been confirmed for the inaugural fixture.
Everton great Peter Reid and Liverpool legend John Barnes will join forces as joint managers of the Merseyside XI, which includes former Blues stars Leighton Baines, Gareth Barry, Phil Jagielka, Yakubu and Joleon Lescott.
They will be joined by a host of Liverpool favourites, including Robbie Fowler, David James, Ryan Babel, Jari Litmanen, John Aldridge and Louis Saha.
Adding a celebrity touch to the Merseyside side will be Everton and Liverpool fans Tony Bellew, John Bishop, James Nelson-Joyce, Molly McCann, Still Ryan and Big Zuu, who will all pull on the team's purple shirt - a nod to both sides of the city.
The opposition is no less impressive.
The Rest of the World XI already features Brazil World Cup-winning captain Cafu, Champions League winners Clarence Seedorf and Jaap Stam, former Netherlands striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Moroccan legend Mustapha Hadji and England and Nottingham Forest great Des Walker.
The celebrity contingent includes Ted Lasso stars Toheeb Jimoh and Moe Hashim, Gladiators' Nitro – Harry Aikines-Aryeetey – Johnny Nelson and Jack Fowler. And there will be a musical treat for supporters too, with Tinie Tempah set to play in the match and perform during the half-time show.
Women's football will also be represented, with seven-time Women's Premier League winner Rachel Yankey and footballer and singer Chelcee Grimes among those confirmed.
More football legends, celebrities and special guests are expected to be announced in the build-up to the game.
The match will form part of a full day of entertainment at Hill Dickinson Stadium, with the Fan Plaza hosting food, music and family entertainment before and after the action.
The event comes as homelessness remains a major issue across the Liverpool City Region and the UK.
More than 1,600 children in Liverpool are currently experiencing homelessness, growing up in temporary accommodation without the stability and security every child should have.
On a single night nearly 5,000 people were recorded sleeping rough in the UK, representing a record high since tracking began and a 3% increase from last year's figures.
#Game4Hope aims to use the pulling power of football to raise both money and awareness, supporting people and families who are experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness.
Everton in the Community will bring its local expertise to the partnership, while Shelter will provide support through its work helping people and families facing homelessness and campaigning for housing justice.
Everton in the Community CEO Sue Gregory said the event would give the city an opportunity to "put rivalries aside" and come together for an important cause.
She said: “Homelessness is one of the most urgent challenges facing our communities, and we know only too well through our work across the Liverpool City Region that it can affect people from all walks of life.
“#Game4Hope is about our city coming together to say that nobody should be without a safe and secure place to call home.
“Football has an incredible ability to unite people and, for one special afternoon, we’re putting rivalries aside and using that power to make a real difference.”
Shelter's Lauren Thompson added: “It’s a privilege to be one of the charity partners for #Game4Hope.
“It promises to be an exciting fixture, all to raise vital funds to help children and families experiencing homelessness.”
Lester Holcombe, co-founder of LGNDS, said the event would be about more than simply a legends match.
He said: “It’s a huge cast of football icons, celebrities, entertainers and famous faces coming together to create a genuine family spectacle, while using the power and reach of football to shine a light on an incredibly important issue.
“There’s something very special about Everton and Liverpool putting one of football’s great rivalries aside and uniting as one Merseyside team for this cause.”
How to get #Game4Hope tickets
Tickets will be available online here from 10am on Wednesday, August 19.
Everton Season Ticket Members will have access to exclusive prices, with adults priced at £15 and under-16s at £10.
For the general sale, adults will pay £25, while under-16 tickets cost £15.
Everton Premium Members will be contacted directly with details of their options, with premium packages going on general sale from 10am on Friday, August 21 via Seat Unique.