Dalglish plans '86 final reunionOct 12 2005
Exclusive By John Thompson, Liverpool Echo
THE first ever all Merseyside FA Cup final is to be replayed in a historic charity match in Liverpool.
The game is the brainchild of Kop legend Kenny Dalglish and will take place on May 1 next year - a Bank Holiday Monday.
Liverpool Football Club have agreed to host the game at Anfield, with Dalglish taking charge of the Liverpool old boys and Howard Kendall managing the Everton side - just as the two did in 1986 when their sides met at Wembley.
Proceeds from the reunion game will go towards the Marina Dalglish Charity which is planning to build a specialist cancer care unit at Fazakerley Hospital.
It is hoped as many of the players who played in the original match - if not all of them - will take part.
Blues midfielder Peter Reid - who put his boots on again last weekend to star in Sky's 'The Match' in Newcastle - has already agreed to play, as have the likes of Liverpool's Bruce Grobbelaar, Ian Rush and Alan Hansen.
It is hoped the game will also attract television coverage, as was the Tsunami charity game at Anfield this year which also attracted a near capacity crowd.
Everton's '86 team will be out to avenge the 3-1 defeat to the Reds, though Dalglish says right now the result isn't something that matters.
He said today: "This is about celebrating and reliving one of the greatest FA Cup finals ever played.
"What matters now is about us all getting together again, enjoying the day and raising more money for Marina's charity.
"I've spoken to Howard and he has agreed to take charge of the Everton team, while I'll run the Liverpool side.
"I'll be getting myself fit to play as well.
"I hope as many of the original lineups will be there. I've spoken to lots of the lads on both sides already and they are up for it. Reidy certainly is."
Added Dalglish: "The original final was a fantastic occasion for both sets of fans and the way they behaved and conducted themselves made the occasion.
"It was brilliant to see people travelling to Wembley together, some wearing red and some dressed in blue. It was Merseyside united and a magnificent advert for the city. Hopefully, this game will be Merseyside reunited for charity.
"We are hoping as many people as possible will come along and enjoy the reunion game, but it is obviously going to be a long while before there are any ticket selling details.
"We've still got a lot of work to do to get it organised. But one thing's for sure - it is going to happen and I'm enormously grateful to Liverpool FC for allowing us to use the stadium and the facilities."
The players who took part in the original 1986 match were:
Everton: Bobby Mimms, Gary Stevens, Pat van Den Hauwe, Kevin Ratcliffe, Derek Mountfield, Peter Reid, Trevor Steven, Gary Lineker, Graeme Sharp, Paul Bracewell, Kevin Sheedy and Adrian Heath.
Liverpool: Bruce Grobbelaar, Mark Lawrenson, Jim Beglin, Steve Nicol, Ronnie Whelan, Alan Hansen, Craig Johnston, Ian Rush, Jan Molby and Kevin McDonald.
Liverpool Echo
