NewsAcademy players help provide special Valentine's lunch for local community

The players travelled to St Gabriel's Parish church in Huyton to help prepare and serve a meal as part of their education programme.

Two minibus loads of local residents were able to come together for the meal, which ended with players and guests joining together for an impromptu version of You'll Never Walk Alone.

Jill Jevons, operations manager of Huyton deanery, said: "We have lunch club once a month at St Gabriel's and it is set up to welcome predominantly the older generation.

"We've had around 40 people in today who perhaps wouldn't get out otherwise. The boys have been here to set up, help put everything together and make everything look brilliant.

"I'm sure everyone will be delighted with the extra things provided for them. It's been a great way of bringing the community in and the boys have been a great help, and a credit to the Academy."

Some of the players travelled out in a minibus to help collect guests from their homes who might otherwise have been unable to make it.

Irene Wibberley, church warden at St Gabriel's, said: "We were delighted to celebrate Valentine's Day with a group of the LFC U18s football team. They've been very helpful and are really loving welcoming all the guests.

"Every person here has a story and over the months we get to know what is going on at home and how we can support them. It's a lovely event and we're having a lovely time."

Among those attending was a 96-year-old lady who shared her experiences of standing on the Kop going back to the war years, while another guest brought in LFC memorabilia which dated back to the Bill Shankly years in the 1960s. Academy midfielder Alvin Ayman was among those who took part.

He said: "We're here bringing the community together, helping out and it's been really good. We've helped prepare the room, we're going to serve the food and provide the entertainment, and it's all part of our education programme."