Lucas helps Warrior kit out the city

28th Feb 2013 - Latest News

The smiles on the players' faces were brighter than the pitch floodlights on Wednesday evening as Reds midfielder Lucas Leiva and Warrior combined to boost the Liverpool FC Foundation's Respect for All programme.

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Lucas was in attendance at the North Liverpool Academy as Liverpool FC's kit supplier donated £50,000 worth of training gear to the scheme, with the U12, U16 and adult participants the fortunate recipients.

The Respect for All programme is part of the Liverpool FC Foundation's bid to support people of all ages and abilities by improving their life skills through team sport and activity.

With a series of matches underway across the high-quality pitches, the Brazilian first-team star arrived to greet the youngsters showing off their technique and impart some words of wisdom.

The 26-year-old also posed for pictures with his excited audience - each wearing their new clothes - before receiving a specially-made kit from Warrior to commemorate the occasion and taking a group photograph.

Afterwards, Lucas explained to Liverpoolfc.com: "It is really important to have partners with the foundation, and Warrior is showing the very good partner they will be and already are. We're glad to have the donation, everyone is really happy.

"Respect for All is a very good project, helping a lot of kids. I'm really happy to be here and spend some time with these kids because you realise your life is very good. They work really hard to be able to play football. It's been an honour.

"They love Liverpool and to wear the Liverpool kit and be able to play in the Liverpool kit means a lot to them. It's really nice.

"A few of them are not really capable of all of the movement, but they really want to. Talking with a few of them, they are really happy to be here. That's what we want - that they come every week and feel important and feel great. It will give them a lot of positive things to keep going.

"We know how much support we get every week so it's just trying to repay what they do for us. We know the Liverpool community needs a lot of help and that's why the Liverpool FC Foundation will try to help as much as possible."

Scroll down for a selection of photos featuring Lucas and the youngsters who received the donation from Warrior.

Find out more about the club's work in the community>>