Stars from across the spectrum of Merseyside sport are holding a charity football match which aims to support the local community in tackling gun and knife crime.
Liverpool-based initiatives Weapons Down Gloves Up and No More Knives are combining for the new venture: 'Enough is Enough, Boots On' 2023.
Nationwide legends are uniting to support the two campaigns through the power of sport. UFC star Paddy Pimblett and retired boxer Tony Bellew will lead one side, with retired footballer Robbie Fowler and professional boxer Natasha Jonas on the other.
Both squads are stacked with household names such as Darren Till, Jamie Webster, Frazer Clarke, Peter McGrail, Peter Reid, James Vaughan, Neil Mellor, Neil Ruddock, Darren Farley and many, many more.
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The game takes place on Sunday 2 July, with kick off at 1.30pm. It will be hosted at Marine FC where 2,000 spectators will be watching on.
Tickets have been extremely sought after and Weapons Down Gloves Up co-founder David Hughes has revealed it is already 90% sold out. However, there will be a live stream of the game for those unable to attend, which can be found on the Weapons Down Gloves Up website.
Mr Hughes also emphasised the importance of this initiative. He said: “It will provide an opportunity for individuals, businesses, and communities to unite their energy for positive change and to support our work by offering job opportunities and raising awareness to future students.
“The hard work and determination of everyone involved in this and all our initiatives are a credit to the community. The students that we work with inspire us every day. The programme isn’t only for people who have been involved in crime or are on the cusp, it’s for any young person currently not in education or employment that wants a chance at a full-time career.”
The Weapons Down Gloves Up programme spans over 12 weeks with the goal of supporting young people through the power of sports by providing them with an understanding of what it takes to have a successful career in the many sectors they work with, while also tacking any complex issues that the students may have.
Alongside the practical skills they will learn they also have the opportunity to work closely with Tony Bellew, using boxing and mixed martial arts to build resilience and promote positive mental health and discipline.
Bellew, who is WDGU Director of Sport, added: “By providing young people with the opportunities and encouragement to work hard, we believe this will support them with overcoming obstacles and ultimately succeed in their goals. They can be anything they want to be.”
No More Knives is an organisation that focuses on raising awareness about knife crime. Their campaigns aim to support the local Liverpool community by focusing on the prevention of gun and knife crime in the area. They have worked with WDGU in empowering and educating young people in Liverpool to make positive choices.
The event will not only provide an entertaining football match between celebrities but also give local businesses and communities to showcase their support for tackling knife crime.
*For more details and ticket information, visit the WDGU website here.
