Charity resurrects day a legend came to GarstonNov 27 2006
Charity resurrects day a legend came to GarstonNov 27 2006
by Ben Searson, Daily Post
A LIVERPOOL charity is to relive the moment one of the best footballers in the world graced a local football pitch to help them raise funds.
In May, 1967, Ferenc Puskas, who died last week after a battle against Alzheimer's, flew into Liverpool Airport at the invitation of Bankfield House, a community centre until recently based in Banks Road, Garston.
The legendary Hungarian and Real Madrid player had accepted an invitation from the charity to play in a football game at Holly Park, the home of South Liverpool FC, against a team led by Liverpool FC and Scotland legend Billy Liddell.
The game attracted more than 10,000 spectators, some of whom could not even fit into the ground.
Now Bankfield House, which is currently homeless after losing its former base which now forms part of a housing development, is to remember the match in a four-day exhibition at Community House, Speke Road, Garston.
Brian Taylor, organiser of the event 39 years ago, and still the director of Bankfield House, said the match helped to raise £1,100, which today would be worth about £20,000.
He said: "At the time, we were having annual charity football matches to raise funds.
"I decided to try and liven it up a bit, which was tongue in cheek and I never expected any response from Puskas.
"After his death, we thought this might be an opportunity for the public to recall the day when he came to Garston. You can't imagine a professional player of his standard doing it these days.
He was the greatest footballer in the world. He changed football in this country altogether with that remarkable victory in 1953 when England were seen as the best football team.
"They had never been beaten at home, and Hungary came along and won 6-3."
When Puskas stepped from the aeroplane, he was greeted by Liverpool dignitaries including Alderman David Cowley, the deputy Lord Mayor.
The centrepiece of the display will be the telegraph sent from Puskas in response to the invitation to visit Garston, which read: "All I wait is you send me plane ticket."
The exhibition will be open to the public from tomorrow to Friday, December 1. It will be opened by Alan Waterworth, former Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside and a former patron of the charity.
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