Legends hear proposals for ex-player's association
Story by Laura Sharpe
EVERTON and Liverpool Football Clubs could help form a national former players' association.
Former Everton hero Graeme Sharp and Liverpool legends Ian Callaghan and David Fairclough were among those invited to hear the proposals at Goodison yesterday.
Sharp said he hoped Everton's successful foundation, which helps fund medical treatment for ex-players, would form the model for a national association.
He said: "Our foundation has helped players who have fallen on hard times and those who have needed knee and hip operations.
"At Everton we have the advantage of a great model which has helped thousands of ex-players over the years.
"It would be fantastic for this to be the foundation for what happens across Britain."
The players were addressed by former Barcelona FC player Ramon Alfonseda, who travelled to Merseyside as president of the European Former Football Players' Association (EFPA).
Mr Alfonseda said: "There are a lot of former players who need help for different reasons, socially or health.
"They play an important part in the club and after the years people forget them, we want to help them."
EFPA was founded in 2004 and brings together clubs from across Europe including Everton and Aberdeen from the UK.
It now hopes to expand and is looking for Premier League clubs across the UK to join with lower leagues and form a national former players' association.
Ex-Liverpool player David Fairclough said LFC'S former players' association had been going strong for 10 years but focussed on charity work rather than helping ex-players.
He said: "I know three players who have had major heart surgery and it would have been nice to help them, but we don't have the resources or the finance.
"Many players have fallen on hard times, it's not just Premier League players but those at lower league clubs, right across the board.
"If UEFA fund and organise a unified players' association, I think it will help players to make life a little better, medically or otherwise."
EFPA aims to look after ex-players through financial, medical and employment support whilst encouraging young people into football and keeping the ex-players playing.
Sharp added: "People may think why do big players like Steven Gerrard need help, but there are a lot of young kids who maybe only played for a few games.
"These are players from across the leagues, they gave it their all and then suffer with injury. Anything that can help ex-players across Britain is a good thing."
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