Liverpool FC has today announced the creation of more than 1,000 new matchday roles at Anfield, in preparation for the Main Stand expansion opening next season.

The recruitment drive – the biggest in the club’s history – will get underway this week and will aim to grow the Liverpool FC family, ready for the additional 8,500 fans that will come to Anfield to see the Reds play.

The expanded 20,500-seater stand will feature state-of-the-art fan concourse and hospitality facilities together with premium public spaces – creating a wide range of casual opportunities across the club’s matchday kitchen, retail, catering, safety, hospitality, tours and museum teams.

Lise Jenkins, human resources director at Liverpool FC, said: "We are absolutely delighted that the expansion of the Main Stand will give a huge number of people an opportunity to be part of our football family.

"This recruitment drive supports our commitment to creating opportunities for local people and giving fans in the stadium the best possible experience. Anfield is well known for the warm welcome it gives visitors from all over the world and our matchday team is an extremely important part of that."

As part of its recruitment plans, the club has also launched a new ‘ready to work’ course, which has been designed to improve the quality of options for unemployed Liverpool residents.

The course will offer candidates a variety of support and qualifications with the aim of helping them to access catering and hospitality opportunities at Anfield.

Cllr Ann O’Byrne, Deputy Mayor of Liverpool, said: "This is a really important moment on the Anfield regeneration journey which has never only been about place, but also most critically about people and prosperity.

"All the partners, Liverpool City Council, Liverpool Football Club and Your Housing Group, have recognised that improving economic conditions, job prospects and life chances are key for the project to succeed in the long-term.

"From the start the football club has been increasing employment and skills in the neighbourhood and this large number of matchday roles and their training scheme is wonderful news for the area and the city."

When complete, Anfield’s expanded Main Stand will become one of the largest all-seater single stands in European football.

The stand’s two new concourses have been specially designed to give fans a first-class experience; creating matchday opportunities for kiosk catering staff, programme, food and beer sellers and team leaders.

Food will be an important part of the Main Stand experience, with fans able to look forward to an improved offer which includes Anfield’s take on street food. New state-of-the-art catering facilities will increase openings for chefs at all levels, kitchen runners and porters.

The expansion will also broaden Anfield’s hospitality, conferencing and events offer, creating new roles for bar and waiting staff, hosts, porters and supervisors. The club will also recruit additional tour guides and museum staff to help tell the story of the new-look Anfield.

Anfield and north Liverpool residents have been given an opportunity to apply for the new matchday opportunities. A special event was held at Anfield Stadium last week, where 500 local people were invited to hear first-hand from the club about the many different openings that will be available.

To view opportunities at Anfield for next season and to apply, please visit www.jobsatlfc.com. For more information on the available roles, call Liverpool FC 2016-17 recruitment on 0151 264 2003.