The annual Forever Reds Christmas lunch is officially confirmed for Friday, December 4, with tickets now on sale for the biggest fundraising event of the year for Forever Reds, the club’s former players association. The gathering directly funds community outreach and welfare initiatives across the region.
Forever Reds Funding and Community Impact
Since its inception, Forever Reds has donated more than £590,000 to local causes in collaboration with the LFC Foundation. The distributed funds target health, wellbeing, and community programmes designed to benefit thousands of people in the region. Key beneficiaries include Alder Hey Children’s Charity, Zoe’s Place, the Liverpool Women’s Hospital, the Hillsborough Survivors Support Alliance, and the Alzheimer’s Society. The association also finances local projects in Anfield, such as the “Kicking Off Conversations” hub, alongside annual Christmas gift distributions for local residents. Beyond civic outreach, the group provides support to former players, including assistance with late-life care needs for the family of the late Ron Yeats.
Leadership Perspectives on the Annual Tradition
John Aldridge, chair of Forever Reds, emphasised the significance of the December gathering. “We look forward to this gathering every year, it’s always a great afternoon and fantastic to see so many of our former players come together to support Forever Reds,” Aldridge stated. “It is incredible that through our events like the Christmas lunch we have raised over £590,000 for the local community.” Jonathan Bamber, chief officer for law and external affairs at LFC and the main sponsor of Forever Reds, noted the growth of the initiative since its 2018 launch. “We created Forever Reds in 2018 to support our former players, and it’s incredible to see how it has grown in that time,” Bamber said.
Event Schedule and Hospitality Details
The 18-and-over event takes place at Anfield’s Beautiful Game Hospitality Lounge, where attendees will be served a three-course Christmas meal. The afternoon programme features live entertainment, including performances by singer Ray Quinn and poet Joseph Roberts. Peter McDowall will host live question-and-answer sessions with former players in attendance. Attendees will also have access to a raffle and a prize auction featuring items, such as signed LFC merchandise and a dedicated travel and ticket package for an away fixture in European competition. Every guest will receive an LFC Forever Reds memorabilia item as a keepsake of the afternoon.