The generosity shown by Liverpool supporters union Spirit of Shankly towards the NHS should be applauded and held up as an example.
Spirit of Shankly have announced a collaboration involving Fans Supporting Foodbanks and Lydiate Learning Trust to donate money towards NHS staff and care workers in another move that shows how Liverpool football is helping to take care of the community.
This announcement comes around the same time that Trent Alexander-Arnold helped to shed the myth that this sport is the self-serving playground of the rich and privileged and it underlines how the government is failing in key areas.
Spirit of Shankly have already given £2,000 towards PPE equipment for embattled NHS staff and will now donate the full new members joining fee until August for the same cause.
We’ve seen a critical shortage of equipment designed to keep key workers safe during the COVID-19 outbreak and gestures like this shouldn’t be forgotten about. Generosity on this scale shouldn’t be required, but thanks to the government it is.
Spirit of Shankly have stepped up in the finest traditions of Liverpool and, true to their name, in the spirit of the great man. Getting more PPE in the hands of those who need it the most will save lives and the supporters union should be thanked for that.
Hopefully this sort of campaign can help recoup the lost social capital following the decision FSG made to furlough non-playing staff and claim help from the UK taxpayer. That was rightly, and correctly, reversed following intense and sustained criticism from all sections of society.
We don’t know how long football is going to be suspended for, we don’t know when we’ll see our players in action again, but thanks to actions like this our name is still being used for good and that’s something we can all be thankful for.