Merseyside stars, including boxer Liam Smith and actor James Nelson-Joyce, will take to the pitch to support families devastated by the 2024 Southport attacks.
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Jul 27, 2026
Updated Jul 27, 2026
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A powerful roster of Merseyside celebrities will converge on the pitch this Saturday, August 1, to raise vital funds for the families shattered by the horrific 2024 Southport knife attack. Staged at Southport FC’s Haig Avenue stadium, the charity football match serves as a poignant testament to a community’s unbreakable resolve in the face of unspeakable tragedy, transforming a site of collective mourning into an arena of hope and healing.
The fixture marks the continuation of an emotional tradition that began last year, designed to provide sustained financial and psychological support to the 24 families directly impacted by the events of July 29, 2024. The senseless violence that claimed the lives of young Alice da Silva Aguiar, Bebe King, and Elsie Dot Stancombe left an indelible scar on the region, but the subsequent mobilization of the local celebrity circuit has proven the enduring power of communal solidarity.
Star-Studded Lineup Takes the Pitch
The 3:00 p.m. kickoff will feature a diverse coalition of figures from the worlds of sport, music, and television, temporarily trading their professional disciplines for football boots. The teams will be captained and managed by local legends deeply embedded in the cultural fabric of Liverpool and its surrounding boroughs.
Confirmed participants for the high-profile fixture include:
- Liam Smith: The former middleweight boxing world champion, a vocal advocate for local youth charities.
- James Nelson-Joyce: The acclaimed actor from This City Is Ours, bringing a strong local following to the event.
- John Aldridge: The revered Liverpool FC legend, returning to manage the Blues team from the dugout.
- Toni Duggan & Molly McCann: Women’s football icon and UFC standout, respectively, joining forces alongside former Premier League defender Stephen Warnock.
Speaking to the media ahead of the match, James Nelson-Joyce articulated the emotional weight of the occasion. “What these families have gone through, I couldn’t put into words. It is the stuff of nightmares,” the 37-year-old actor stated. “If I can use a bit of my time to raise awareness, bring a bit of joy to local people and help out to raise money, then why wouldn’t I?”
A Blueprint for Communal Healing
The proceedings will commence with a deeply moving minute of silence dedicated to the three young victims, immediately followed by a sustained round of applause—a powerful auditory rejection of violence and a celebration of innocent lives. All proceeds from the event are channeled directly through the Southport Hesketh Round Table, ensuring the funds provide targeted assistance to the bereaved and traumatized families.
Boxer Liam Smith echoed the bittersweet nature of the gathering. “It’s a privilege and a pleasure for me to be here. I hope everyone gets behind it because it’s a great foundation,” Smith remarked. “We’d rather not have to be doing it for this, but it’s happened, and anything we can do towards it will help.”
Global Resonance of Football Diplomacy
The utilization of sport as a mechanism for collective trauma recovery resonates far beyond the borders of the United Kingdom. In East Africa, football is frequently deployed as a unifying force in the aftermath of localized tragedies or political unrest. In Nairobi’s densely populated informal settlements, such as Kibera and Mathare, grassroots charity tournaments are regularly organized to support victims of fire disasters or to defuse ethnic tensions during election cycles.
The Merseyside initiative mirrors these global efforts, illustrating that whether in a Premier League heartland or an African municipality, football remains one of the most potent tools for psychological recovery. It provides a structured environment where grief can be processed collectively, transforming individual isolation into shared community strength.
Looking Forward
As the celebrities prepare to lace up their boots for Saturday’s clash, the objective transcends the final scoreline. Last year’s thrilling 5-5 draw—ultimately won by John Aldridge’s Blues on penalties—provided a brief, necessary respite from the heavy atmosphere of remembrance.
This weekend’s match at Haig Avenue stands as a defiant declaration that Southport will not be defined solely by the darkness of July 2024, but rather by the relentless, luminous support of the Merseyside community that rallied in its wake.
The documents, data and reporting consulted for this article. Links open the original material so readers can inspect the evidence directly.
- 01Liverpool EchoNews report
Merseyside celebrities join forces to raise money for Southport familiesBy Liverpool EchoPublished 27 Jul 2026Accessed 27 Jul 2026- • Match scheduled for Saturday August 1 to raise money for families affected by July 29 2024 attack
- • James Nelson-Joyce and Liam Smith are participating
- • Proceeds go to Southport Hesketh Round Table
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