Results tagged “Anfield charity match terror Hillsborough Kenny/Marina Echo” from Liverpool Echo - Echo Editor's Blog

I am playing football tonight.

My last competitve match (not 5-a-side) was for Dipton in the Consett Sunday League (Second Division) 19 years ago.

Tionight I am playing at Anfield. Yes Anfield. For the Echo against Radio City in a curtain raiser to the Kenny Dalglish-organised Hillsborough memorial game to raise money for wife Marina's cancer appeal.

I am terrified.

I am fat, old, slow. People will see. People will laugh.

They are coming to watch Dalglish, Shearer, Rush, Lawrenson in the main attraction.

Hopefully they will arrive near kick-off when our liitle match has ended. I cannot eat. I am truly terrified.

My boots are lost. My sons have aluminium studs and you can't wear those at Anfield, I'm told. I have bought new ones. Aged 47. (Me, not the boots), I will never wear them again. If I get on for the last five minutes, even at Sports Direct's knockdown £18 they will have cost me £3.60 for every minute I wear them in action.

I asked for the cheapest boots in the shop. They had a pair at £10 but they were size 5. Should have got them anyway and put up with the pain.

To play at Anfield is a dream, an honour, a privilege. So why is my stomach in knots?.