Game4Hope Set For Goodison Park As Legends Return To Grand Old Lady

Game4Hope will now take place at Goodison Park on Saturday 26 September, giving some of football’s biggest names – and a host of Everton and Liverpool favourite – the opportunity to return to one of the sport’s most iconic stadiums.

The inaugural charity fixture, which will raise vital funds and awareness in the fight against homelessness, will see Tim Cahill’s star-studded Merseyside XI take on a Rest of the World XI captained by Brazilian great Rivaldo, with kick-off remaining at 4.45pm (BST).

The move from Hill Dickinson Stadium to Goodison Park adds another special dimension to an event already bringing together an extraordinary collection of football legends, celebrities and music stars.

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For Everton, this includes former players like Cahill, Leighton Baines, Phil Jagielka, Gareth Barry, Louis Saha and Joleon Lescott, it provides the opportunity to once again step out at the Grand Old Lady and play in front of supporters at a ground where they created so many memories.

Everton Giant Peter Reid and Liverpool legend John Barnes will jointly manage the Merseyside XI – bringing together two men synonymous with opposite sides of one of football’s great city rivalries.

For Reid, Goodison was the setting for some of the defining moments of his career. A central figure in Everton’s great side of the 1980s, he helped the Club win the 1984 FA Cup, League Championships in 1985 and 1987 and the 1985 European Cup Winners’ Cup, and was at the heart of one of Goodison’s most celebrated nights as Everton defeated Bayern Munich on the way to European glory.

Returning to Goodison will therefore bring Reid back to a stadium indelibly linked to the most successful period of his playing career.

For Barnes, the memories are very different but no less significant. During a decade as one of Liverpool’s greatest players, Goodison was the setting for some memorable and fiercely-contested Merseyside derbies. Barnes scored four times against the Blues, including in the famous 4-4 draw at Goodison in 1991.

Now, rather than standing on opposite sides of the city’s rivalry, Reid and Barnes will share the Goodison dugout and unite Everton and Liverpool greats for a cause bigger than football.

And there will be a sense of history for two of the biggest names in the Rest of the World XI.

Brazilian World Cup winners Rivaldo and Cafu will return to Goodison Park more than 30 years after Brazil visited the stadium during the 1995 Umbro Cup where they took on and beat Japan.

They will be joined in the Rest of the World squad by a host of international stars, including Clarence Seedorf, Jaap Stam, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Mustapha Hadji and Des Walker.

The football will be just one part of a packed day of entertainment, with supporters also able to enjoy live music, celebrity appearances, family activities and entertainment throughout the day.

Chart-topping artist Tinie Tempah will provide the half-time entertainment.

A host of stars from the worlds of television, film and sport will also take part, including Tony Bellew, Roman Kemp, Molly McCann, James Nelson-Joyce, Big Zuu, Liam Smith and Still Ryan, alongside Ted Lasso actors Toheeb Jimoh and Moe Hashim, former boxing world champion Johnny Nelson and Gladiators star Nitro.

At the heart of Game4Hope is an issue far bigger than football.

The event will raise funds and awareness for Everton in the Community and Shelter, supporting their work with people experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness across Merseyside and beyond.

Game4Hope will bring Blues, Reds and football supporters from across the region together for an afternoon of football and entertainment while using the power of the game to shine a spotlight on one of the most significant challenges facing communities across the country.

EXISTING GAME4HOPE TICKET HOLDERS

Supporters who have already purchased tickets or Premium packages for Game4Hope at Hill Dickinson Stadium do not need to take any action at this stage.

Everton’s Fan Centre and Premium teams will contact all existing purchasers directly with further information about their revised ticketing and package arrangements for the event at Goodison Park.

With Cahill, Rivaldo, Cafu, Seedorf and some of the most recognisable names from Everton and Liverpool’s recent history preparing to grace the Goodison turf – alongside live music, celebrity guests and entertainment for the whole family – supporters are encouraged to secure their place now to avoid disappointment.

>>>SECURE YOUR GAME4HOPE TICKETS NOW<<<