Football Aid

Well, I have been getting a lot of questions about this "game". There are many curious folks wondering how I have managed to talk my way on to the sacred ground. I wish that I had a really cool story to tell, like: I was hanging out in a pub after a match and a few of the players walked in.... Or that Rafa saw me kicking the ball about in the park and asked me to come for a try out. But sadly I don't.

It all comes down to a charity in England called "Football Aid". For 10 years this organization has been making dreams come true for dudes just like me. Dudes that love the game of football, and have a passion for a particular club. There are two ways to play in the game, it's pretty much like ebay: If you like a certain position, you can "buy it now", or you can take your chances and "bid" on a position. The money raised from "Football Aid" goes into research for diabetes.

I have been wanting to play in one of these games for a few years now. Of course my timing has never been great. Every time I would think about bidding/buying a position, all of the spots would be taken. Out of sheer luck, back in August I was checking my seldom used email account and saw that positions were open for the 2010 games. I thought about it for about a minute, then I called Stacey to tell her my plan. As usual, she was very supportive. I will get back to that....

So, the match is set up like this: Liverpool Home strip v Liverpool Away strip. Each team will have 2 Liverpool legends either playing or managing. I will be playing in a 90 minute striker role for the Liverpool Away team (which I am totally cool with as this year they have a wicked Black away jersey). As luck would have it, the jersey number allocated to my position is #11, the number that I have worn with the Wolves since I joined them.

On match day I will arrive at Anfield and enter the stadium through the players entrance, at which point I will make my way to the dressing room where my jersey will be hanging up with my name and number on it. How cool is that? I will get a chance to go around the room and meet my teammates for the day. These will presumably be guys just like me (hopefully from all over the world) that are there to have an experience of a life time.

The walk out the tunnel to the pitch at Anfield is one of the legendary experiences of the ground. Above the stairs that lead down to the pitch hangs this sign.

THIS IS ANFIELD

The purpose of the sign is to both intimidate the opposition and also remind them of where they are (as if the noise of the KOP isn't enough). Legend has it that those that touch the sign will have good luck. Countless footballing legends, both Liverpool players and others, have touched that sign as they have walk down to the pitch. So watch closely next time you are watching the start of a Liverpool game, you will see all of the Liverpool players touching that sign.

There will be an official photographer taking action shots, and the game will also be recorded (so I will get a chance to relive my waisted opportunities over and over again).

At the end of the match they will select a "Man of the Match" for each side, and "Moment of the Match".

As of today I do not know that exact date of the game. I am guessing that it will be sometime in late May.

As promised, back to my understanding wife. At the end of the day, Stacey doesn't care one way or another about football, but she knows that I do. This is what separates her from the rest of the pack. The example I always give is the 2008 Champions League semi final v Chelsea (I will write about it in a future post). When Liverpool advanced to the semi's I was very excited. When I came home and told Stacey, her response wasn't "Ya, so...", it was an astonishing response that only a truly understanding wife would make. Her response was a very sincere "Are you going to go?" Without that kind of understanding none of the stuff I have written about or will write about would exist.