2nd John Peel Day

Oct. 12 2006 will mark the second John Peel Day, combining football and music. Among the events, Peter Hooton of The Farm has organised a 6-a-side footie tournament for the John Peel Memorial Trophy. Team members will include members of the Farm, folks from the Coral and the Zuton’s Deltasonic record label, Cream, Elevator Recording Studios and others. Backed by Peel’s wife, Shiela, his son Tom will also enter a team and the games will take place on LFC’s Academy pitches in Kirkby.  Money raised will go towards the Michael Shields ‘Bring Him Home’ campaign. In the evening, the Picket will host a concert featuring Pete Wylie and the Mighty Wah! plus DJ Stromin’ Normin’.  Doors open 8pm to 2am, tickets priced £8 from www.ticketmaster.co.uk and www.ticketline.co.uk. For the footie tournament, contact the LFC Academy, Simonswood Lane/Arbour Lane, Kirkby, Tel: 0151 477 3030.

Big Breakthrough For New Liverpool Stadium

Last night, £9 million of European Union funding connected with LFC’s plans for a  new 60,000-seat Stanley Park Stadium was approved following assurances from the club that the majority of the remaining money for the stadium  is in place. In what is a complex financial situation, Liverpool’s board had until yesterday to present a convincing case that its stadium plans would go ahead to secure a first round of public funding. The £9 million, from the European Development Fund (Objective 1), is earmarked for the regeneration of Stanley Park, the Gladstone Conservatory and other public works in the vicinity, all of which in their turn hinge on the construction of the Stanley Park Stadium. It is now hoped the Objective 1  funding will trigger further public funding, including £8.9 million from the North West Development Agency and £1.7 million from Liverpool City Council, which is the beneficiary of the £9 million EU money already agreed.  However, as yet there have been no clear statements from Liverpool Football Club or its board members on how the private-sector money to build the stadium will be raised. There are thought to be at least three proposals, one of which includes local building and hotels magnate Steve Morgan, who has made several unsuccessful bids for Liverpool Football Club.  What is needed now is a clear statement from LFC, not only for supporters, but for the people of Anfield.

Steven Gerrard Football Video

Here’s a rarity. A video of Steven Gerrard playing as a kid, when captain of Whiston, his birthplace. Can you spot the latent talent? Watch the video.

Other vids of Stevie G doing what he does best as Liverpool captain: 2005 FA Cup Final; 10 of Stevie G’s best. (photo c. teamtalk)

Deadline Day Looms For New Liverpool Stadium

This Thursday, Sept. 28, Liverpool Football Club must prove it has the money in place to pay for the new Anfield – the planned £215 million, 60,000-seat Stanley Park Stadium.  With Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez already in talks with LFC chairman Rick Parry about how to retain Anfield’s unique atmosphere at the new ground and retain the supporters’ crucial role in Liverpool’s past and future success, there’s an air of progress about the deal. Rafa wants a ‘collosseum’ of football, similar to Argentine club Boca Juniors’ La Bombonera stadium, according to media reports, with steep, serried ranks of seating capable of creating a wall of noise to rival the kop in its hey-day. But before his dream is realised, there’s the small matter of the money.  Last Friday, the Anfield board met to discuss financing. The projects cost has increased to £215 million, while £180 million in funding needs to be in place for work to commence.  Local councillors and other officials, with whom rests over £20 million in public funding for the stadium, need assurances at this Thursday’s meeting that LFC has the remaining money in place.  Media reports say Liverpool have held talks with half-a-dozen potential investors, including the Kraft family in the U.S., a Dubai-based investment fund, a southern-based consortium and Steve Morgan, the local property, construction and hotels multi-millionaire who has tried unsuccesfully to buy himself a place on the Liverpool board. Morgan has so far chosen not to make a fifth bid, but some senior shareholders at Liverpool want to see Morgan working alongside majority shareholder David Moores. It could get interesting over the next couple of days. 

Writing on the Wall Festival 2007

The Wow Festival 2007, 14th-20th May, will gather authors, poets, civil rights campaigners and social and political commentators, plus a mix of downtown music and spoken-word events and film screenings. Confirmed guests include poet and commentator Benjamin Zephaniah, Jean ‘Binta’ Breeze and Levi Tafari. The main theme will be bicentennial of the abolition of the trans-Atlantic slave trade and Liverpool’s 800th birthday. Local historians Mike Boyle, Ray Costello, Steve Higginson and Toni Wailey will be showcased, while the work of literary great Malcolm Lowry, whose most famous work is Under the Volcano and who was born in Wallasey, will be explored. In addition, the Pulp Idol competition will non-published writers with the opportunity to pitch their work to top literary agents. (Sketch of Malcolm Lowry by Siegried Woldhek)

Have Your Say On Capital Of Culture

Much has been achieved since Liverpool got the nod as European Capital of Culture 2008, but much still remains to be done. The failure of the planned Merseytram project, media reports of delays in many of the city’s flagship projects which may not be ready by 2008, and watered-down plans for others, raise questions about leadership and project management and increase the prospect of cranes swinging over the city right throughout 2008 itself. Away from the big construction projects, however, there’s growing evidence of increase vibrancy in Liverpool’s artistic and cultural life, with many events occuring in and around the city. Whatever your view, share it with others at the Liverpool Culture Club Update Meeting, 28th Sept, 6.30pm at St George’s Hall. Places strictly limited, so to reserve a spot, email: rsvp@liverpool.gov.uk, stating your full name, postal address and daytime contact number, quoting ‘update meeting’. Or telephone: 0151 233 2008, or visit 08 Place in Whitechapel. Deadline for all applications: Thursday 21st Sept. Successful applicants will receive

Food and Drink Showcase This Week

Get downtown to enjoy a two-course dinner for a tenner as part of this week’s local food and drink showcase. The “All for Ten” restaurants participating in the offer are listed below, but there’s also a special real ale festival at many local pubs, with music and food. Today (Monday) The London Carriageworks is hosting a Winemakers Dinner, with Rhone winemaker Nicolas Jaboulet and a six course banquet, while you can try a range of different vodkas at The St Petersburg Restaurant on York Street. The showcase ends with a Farmers’ Market on Lark Lane next Sunday, Sept. 24th. “All for Ten” venues: The Side Door, Hope St; The Monro, Duke St; Heart and Soul, Mt Pleasant; Puschka, Rodney St; Valparaiso, Hardman St; Revolution, St Peter’s Square; Lion Tavern, Moorfields; Rigby’s, Dale St; Cains Brewery Tap, Stanhope St.

New Liverpool FC Stadium – Progress

If Liverpool Football Club can get the investment in time, building work on the new Stanley Park stadium can start in 2007. According to a report in The Times,  Liverpool City Council indicated it would ratify a decision to lease the site when it meets this Friday. If building work starts in 2007, the target is to open the new 60,000-seat stadium for the 2009-10 season. The project’s cost has risen to £215 million, three times the initial estimate, with £26 million coming from the public sector, £15 million from Objective One European funding and the rest from LFC, which is seeking investment vehicles which satisfy the other project backers.