Local pensioners enjoy Christmas lunches at Anfield
Pensioners from throughout the local community enjoyed a festive lunch at Anfield last week thanks to Liverpool FC's Red Neighbours programme.
Over 700 locals headed to the stadium across the week to enjoy a three-course Christmas dinner and a festive sing-along with friends and family.
Club chaplain Bill Bygroves and Hillsborough Family Support Group chair Margaret Aspinall joined a group of LFC employee volunteers to meet and greet the pensioners and lend a hand with serving the meals.
Pupils from three local primary schools – Anfield Road, New Park and Four Oaks – were also in attendance to provide a musical background of Christmas songs while the locals enjoyed their dinner.
Liverpool legend Phil Neal joined in on the final day of festivities too - meeting the pensioners, posing for photos and talking football with some life-long Reds fans.
Forbes Duff, senior corporate social responsibility manager at LFC, said: “These lunches are a key part of our festive programme of events and it’s an opportunity for the club to give back to the local community.
“It allows us to bring together local people and their families to celebrate the festive period, but also gives us a chance help those who may be spending Christmas on their own this year.
"For them to be able to come here to Anfield, have an afternoon of fun and ultimately spend time with others – it’s great.”
Local resident Brenda, who attends Red Neighbours’ Monday Club every month, added: “It’s great to be here. It means everyone gets out for the day and has a good time.
“The main thing is that it takes the loneliness away for a lot of the people here.”
Support for the Elderly Community is one of the four main areas of focus for Red Neighbours. A number of activities will take place throughout the festive period and beyond as part of the programme’s bid to tackle loneliness and isolation within the Anfield region.
For more information follow @Red_Neighbours on Twitter.