On Wednesday evening, the LFC Foundation welcomed over 120 local young refugees to Anfield Stadium, where they embraced a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to follow in the footsteps of idols like Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane and play on the famous Anfield turf.

The LFC Foundation organised the unique event to reach out to local, young refugees and encourage them to attend its free Premier League Kicks sessions that take place at different locations in the city, in order to help them settle into their new surroundings.

The LFC Foundation also invited 30 young people from the local area, who regularly attend PL Kicks sessions, and mixed the teams to ensure engagement between the individuals; breaking down barriers and helping refugees to integrate into the local community.

Tony Cosgrove, Project Lead at the LFC Foundation, said: “When kids are playing football, language, culture, and background doesn’t matter, that’s why the sport is so invaluable when helping kids to socialise and integrate.

“Today has been a fantastic experience for all involved, and we hope to see some of the young people from today coming along to our Kicks sessions in the future, where they can enjoy playing football in a fun, inclusive environment.”

The ‘play on pitch’ opportunity was provided by Club’s official money transfer partner, Western Union, which shares the values of the LFC Foundation, the Club’s official charity, which aims to improve the lives of young people in Merseyside and beyond.

Jacob Vierra (22), who is from Kenya and has lived in Liverpool for four years, said: “I’m a fan of Liverpool Football Club, so this is an amazing experience for me. I’ve had lots of fun and hope to keep playing in the future.”

Western Union has a long history of supporting those who have been displaced around the world, setting up numerous business, charity and employee engagement initiatives to support refugees.

Graham Baker, UK & Ireland Country Director, Western Union, said: “Western Union is guided by a purpose of moving money for better, and living our purpose also means giving on matters that are critical to the communities we serve.

“Well-managed integration of refugees can help magnify the opportunities for the host communities and for refugees from a societal, economic and personal perspective. We want refugees to be able to participate fully in the local and global economy, and help them advance their skills in their new countries.”

To organise the unique event, the LFC Foundation worked closely with Liverpool FA and Liverpool City Council, who contacted the young refuges and invited them to Anfield.

Information and photo source : Liverpool FC PR Department