The Merseyside joint initiative ‘Fans Supporting Foodbanks’ has been encouraging local football fans to unite against poverty in their city.
Fans attending Everton and Liverpool matches are urged to donate non-perishable food items at collection points before kick-off.
And supporters who met for the Merseyside derby on Monday proved to be a successful night for food donations.
Chairman Dave Kelly said: “We probably collected over a tonne and a half of food on Monday night.
“One of the good things about Monday night is that Quorn, one of Liverpool’s partners, generously offered to match whatever we collected at the derby with Quorn products.
“So, I would imagine it’s about three and a half tonnes of food that’s been collected and donated.”
The initiative was founded by Dave and Ian Byrne, members of Everton’s Blue Union and Spirit of Shankly, in 2015 and has had a huge impact on the community.
Kelly said: “30% of all foods donated to the north Liverpool foodbank have been donated by football fans in our city.”
Liverpool FC former chief executive Peter Moore donated a van which is used for collections outside Anfield and Goodison park on match days.
The van is purple, a mixture of the two clubs colours which supports their motto “Hunger Doesn’t Wear Club Colours”.
“Hunger is not red, it’s not blue, it’s not black, it’s not white, hunger doesn’t discriminate and neither do we, we’re all inclusive”.
A mural of Trent Alexander-Arnold was created on Sybil Road near Anfield Stadium by French graffiti artist Akse, dedicated to Fans Supporting Foodbanks.
The campaign has reached a national network as football fans across the UK are uniting for poverty in their city.
Conferences have been held in Liverpool and Newcastle that have reached the attendance of 48 clubs.
In July last year, Fans Supporting Foodbanks Scotland was established followed by Fans Supporting Foodbanks Northern Ireland in August.
Kelly added: “It’s about rival football fans putting aside their differences to one side and helping the communities that the stadiums are built in.”
