A charity football team made up of ex-professional players wants to help end homelessness in Merseyside - but wish they did not need to.
North West Community Stars Football Club (NWCSFC) was set up earlier this year to play charity matches across the region to help raise money for local charities. On July 23, the club will travel to Liverpool to take on Liverpool Homeless FC - a football club doing amazing work to help some of the city's most vulnerable.
Dan Ferguson, founder member and the chairman of NWCSFC, told the ECHO: "I have organised football matches for years. I noticed on social media that more and more people were struggling with the cost of living. I wanted to help.
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"I have known about Liverpool Homeless FC for a while. I got in touch with them and said we wanted to help raise money for homeless charities in Liverpool. I spoke with John and Keith (the founder and coach of the club) and they said 'let's do it'.
"I have still never met them in person but can tell how great the work they do is. In an ideal world I wish we would never have to be in a position where this work was needed, but that's the state of the country at the moment."
Liverpool Homeless FC hosts a number of training sessions and tournaments for the city's most vulnerable, using football as a means of support. They also offer sessions for people to take courses to further their own opportunities.
The club was formed by John Finnigan, who had previous experience working in hostels, in 2007. The ECHO spent a day with the football club last year meeting those making a difference on and off the pitch. You can read that feature here.
Dan, 55, originally from Glasgow but now living in Poulton-le-Fylde, said the team has played just the one match so far - against Blackpool Legends - and despite the loss, they raised money for three charities and helped provide trainers to a number of struggling children.
The club is coached by former Aston Villa player Shaun Teale. The pair met three years ago at a charity match and instantly bonded. Shaun's professional past means the club can call on several former professional and semi-professional players.
Dan told the ECHO the club hopes to call on the services of former Blackpool player Danny Coid, from Merseyside, and former Liverpool man Ricky Lambert for the match against Liverpool Homeless FC. Dan said: "We have players from across the North West who are all coming together to help.
"We have people involved, men and women, who are aged between 16 and 75. It really shows the social side of football. For this match we have 100 local businesses who have donated raffle prizes, we just need a sponsor so if anyone wants to get involved please come forward.
"The match will be free for people to come and watch, you can just donate as much as you like. Speedo Mick has sponsored the trophy so having his support given he has experienced homelessness himself will be great.
"I felt inspired to get involved and it's so good to see others are as well. Anyone who helps others through football is amazing in my view. We want to use football as a way of creating opportunities for whoever needs them."
Liverpool Homeless FC plays North West Community Stars at Jericho Lane on July 23 at 2pm.
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