Reds raise record funds for Poppy Appeal
Special Liverpool shirts worn by the players during the Remembrance Sunday fixture against Chelsea have raised a record £21,000 for the Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal.
The Reds wore the poppy-embroided jerseys in the 1-1 draw with the Blues at Stamford Bridge on November 11.
Afterwards, captain Steven Gerrard donated the shirts to members of the Royal British Legion, which were then individually auctioned off on eBay to raise funds.
Gerrard's No.8 jersey proved the most popular, raising £2,650 alone.
He said: "It was an honour for the lads to wear the poppy on our shirts and donate them to the Royal British Legion to raise funds for the Poppy Appeal.
"We'd like to thank all of our fans in the Armed Forces for the amazing work they do."
Last year, the shirts raised just over £20,000 for the appeal, which was more than any other Premier League club.
During that time, the Royal British Legion spent £90 million supporting the Armed Forces community by providing financial, social and emotional assistance to those in need.
Charles Byrne, director of national events and fundraising at the Royal British Legion, said: "We're very grateful to Liverpool FC for once again supporting the Poppy Appeal this year by allowing our volunteers to collect at the ground, and donating the match worn poppy shirts after the game.
"The money raised from the auction of these shirts will help us to continue making a difference to the lives of serving and ex-service people, and importantly their families too."
WO Steve Legood and Lance Corporal "Ned" Kelly of 156 (NW) Transport Regt (RLC) were invited to LFC's training ground at Melwood to meet the Liverpool captain, Gerrard. Craig Hitchmough, Poppy Appeal youth rep, also represented the appeal.
156 Regiment is the most successful collecting team in the RBL county of Merseyside and West Lancashire. Each year soldiers collect for a full week at Lime Street station by kind permission of Network Rail. Their appearance is widely appreciated by the general public who welcome them warmly each year. They have raised over £88,000 for the Poppy Appeal and the Royal British Legion is hugely indebted to them for their unstinting support and commitment.