Grenada Select XI vs Liverpool FC Legends

Yesterday afternoon saw the highlight of the week take place, the football match between the legends and a Grenada Select XI in aid of the Jason Roberts Foundation. The match at the football stadium in St Georges looked in some doubt in the morning as we woke up to heavy rain, a drive down to inspect the pitch revealed a lot of water on the playing surface. Thankfully the weather broke around mid morning and with the sun burning the water away the game was officially on.

The teams entered the stadium with the FIFA banner ahead of them, predictions were for a tight game and it was anybody’s guess as to the winner. Liverpool had stated at their press conference that they were used to winning as professional players and that is how they remain, they did not come here to lose. The same went for Grenada, who had been training for weeks ahead of the game, brothers Jason and Otis Roberts were in the team as was their uncle Cyrille Regis.

Early signs for Grenada were not good with Liverpool starting very brightly and narrowly missing a couple of chances, after ten minutes they got their goal, Jason McAteer sprung the offside trap to round the keeper and slot home. Grenada huffed and puffed but couldn’t find a way past the Reds well organised defence, Mark Wright, Gary Gillespie and Phil Babb were both very cool at the back and it wasn’t long before the spritely John Durnin was presented with a great opportunity to walk the ball home for number 2.

All seemed to be going according to plan for Liverpool until Grenada found a way back into the game, a misunderstanding between Mark Wright and Bruce Grobelaar gave Jason Roberts possession inside the penalty area, Grobelaar could have given away a penalty with flailing arms at Roberts’ feet but the striker stayed upright and finished neatly.

Liverpool didn’t seem to worry about it too much and their part timers were doing a fine job, two of them having great chances to score and both missing narrowly as the score remained 1-2 at half time.

Phil Thompson barked the orders at half time as the players took on lots of water. With more changes rung the players resumed the second half and it was not long before Liverpool found another way in, Again it was Durning who bundled the ball home. Grenada were looking a bit ragged by this point and a fourth goal soon followed, McAteer was box to box and running the show, he rifled in from just inside the area.

Shortly afterward Durnin broke on the left and squared the ball to Gary Mulcahey who slotted home to the great delight of everyone. Gary has been in Grenada for a year now working on projects for the Jason Roberts Foundation and as a life long Liverpool FC supporter he really deserved this moment. 1-5 to Liverpool.

Grenada then cam close on a couple of occasions with neat approach play almost giving them openings, a good chance went over the bar. However it was Liverpool’s game and with the minutes ticking away a sixth was conceded, probably the goal of the game as a cross found the number 13 (name unknown at this time) who very smartly lobbed the approaching keeper. 1-6.

All were smiling as the final whistle blew and with shirts swapped the players received their medals and Bruce Grobelaar picked up the inaugural Jason Roberts Foundation trophy. However this event was about the foundation and the great work it does in Grenada so without any apologies for the use of the cliché, everyone was a winner. Talk is that event will be run again next year and it seems that everyone is very happy about that.