Twenty years after last setting foot in the dugout, Graeme Souness has returned to coaching with the Liverpool legend going back to his roots in a heartwarming training session.
The former Sky Sports pundit visited Easthouse Lily Miners Welfare FC this week to deliver news that the club had won £2,000 in funding under Flutter UK and Ireland’s Cash4Clubs programme.
Souness, 72, then took over a training session for the football club who serve one of Scotland’s most deprived communities.
Souness said: ‘This is the real deal when you come down to this level. They’re doing it for the love of the game, for the love of their community. It doesn’t get any better than this. Everyone’s here for the right reason.
‘Being part of a team, I can’t tell you, it’s just the best. When I finished playing, and you go into management, it can be a bit of a lonely old job. But when you’re a player, you’re in a dressing room like this; the banter, and you’re sitting with your mates. You win together, and you lose together. Being in this environment must be fantastic.’
Almost 1,500 community organisations and charities bid for grants in the Cash4Clubs 2025-2026 programme. As well as Easthouse Lily Miners FC, other winners include a Roller Derby club in Scotland, a Walking Netball team in Manchester and a boxing class in Derby.
Graeme Souness returned to coaching for the first time in 20 years with Flutter UK and Ireland
The 72-year-old delivered news that Easthouse Lily would receive £2,000 in funding
Alan Shearer also visited Newcastle Panthers Football Club – the only LGBTQIA+ friendly football team in the North East to deliver news of the club’s funding.
Nearly half of those receiving a grant this year are based in some of the most deprived parts of the UK and Ireland. And the grants will support over 40 different sports, from football, to yoga, bowls and swimming,
Other activity includes wheelchair sports, cycling, climbing and archery.
Nearly six in ten of the grants will support clubs delivering activities to people experiencing mental health challenges.
Since its launch nearly 20 years ago, Cash4Clubs has invested more than £7million into grassroots and community sport with the aim of driving participation, improving facilities and helping clubs and charities purchase equipment. The programme is run in conjunction with the charity, Sported.
Easthouses Lily Miners Welfare team manager David McQueenie said the money would be vital for helping with venue hire, equipment and kit.
He said: ‘We’re a voluntary run club in a deprived area so this money will help us survive – it’s as simple as that. Especially for our older spectators who rely on us as a focus in life.
‘To have Graeme Souness along to our club is just incredible. I mean, the things that Graeme’s done in the game is absolutely fantastic. The lads couldn’t believe it.’
