Ninety-year-old Sol was invited to the men’s first team training centre for a behind-the-scenes tour and chat with former Red and LFC Foundation community ambassador Chris Kirkland, before Mac Allister appeared to spend some time learning more about Sol’s story and to present him with a signed shirt.

The pair quickly bonded over their shared love of football, swapping stories and celebrating the game’s ability to connect people of all ages.

For Sol, the weekly walking football sessions, which are funded by PLPFA, mean far more than staying active. Living on his own, the programme is a key source of social interaction and routine, helping him stay connected and avoid social isolation which is one of the core focus areas of the LFC Foundation’s community work.

Walking football provides a welcoming, inclusive environment where participants can enjoy the physical and mental health benefits of the game at their own pace. Sol’s story is an example of how it can help develop friendships, confidence and a sense of belonging beyond the pitch.

The LFC Foundation delivers a wide range of free and affordable programmes across the Liverpool City Region through the Red Neighbours community engagement team, find out more here.

Last season alone it supported 145,617 people, an increase of more than 18,000 on the previous year and almost three times the number reached in 2020-21. This vital support includes delivering 11,040 sessions and 693 community events across 315 community venues, including 206 schools, totalling the equivalent of 68 hours of delivery every day.

More than half of the participants were from the top 20 per cent most-deprived areas in the country, reflecting the Foundation's focus on communities with the greatest need, while the extensive healthcare savings demonstrate the long-term impact of its programmes on mental wellbeing and physical health, with the aim of significantly reducing demand on health services.