AN Appleton man has brought together some of Merseyside’s footballing royalty for a charity song to raise money for a mental health charity.
Comedian John Martin has helped friend and Brookside actor Sam Kane’s song ‘EverPool FC Salutes The NHS’ in order to raise £2,000 for Compass Counselling, in Liverpool.
Footballing stars such as Ian Rush, Michael Owen, and Peter Reid feature on the video and are joined by actor Ricky Tomlinson, star of The Royle Family.
John with Ricky Tomlinson
John said: “The fantastic thing is they got into the spirit of it.
"Peter Reid is on there, and he’s not trying to be ‘I’m Peter Reid’, he’s just going for it!
“You’re almost watching and wondering if four chairs will turn around like he’s on The Voice!”
The idea to raise money for Compass Counselling has a deeply personal connection to Martin, as he lost his family friend and footballer Gary Speed to suicide in 2011.
John, who used to write jokes for Ken Dodd, added: “When I decided to try and raise any money I could for a mental health charity I thought I should try and do it in memory of Gary.
“I’d go and watch him play for Wales and Newcastle, he was a great lad, a very humble man.
“He’d walk in a room and he was a superstar – people would stop and look at him. You just don’t know what’s been going on inside [someone’s head].”
With former Everton manager Joe Royle
Compass Counselling have operated in Liverpool for 40 years, and offer a range of therapy sessions to those in need.
If you would like to donate to John Martin’s cause, you can do so at this link: https://justgiving.com/crowdfunding/garyspeed
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