Touched by fans’ response

ANDY LIDDELL: The former Athletic forward is taking part in the Great North Run. Athletic

FORMER Athletic forward Andy Liddell will net around £10,000 this weekend if he completes the BUPA Great North Run.

It will be an emotionally-charged day for the 36-year-old.

He is raising funds for the Martin House Hospice, which cared for his daughter Giorgina Grace, who tragically died in May at the age of 11 days.

Giorgina Grace was born with gastroschisis, a condition in which her bowel was outside of her stomach instead of inside it.

Andy and his wife Charlotte, who are still struggling to come to terms with the loss of their daughter, say they have been “overwhelmed” by the pledges of support.

He explained: “I have had support from football fans of teams I have never played for, including the likes of AFC Wimbledon. It is touching to receive donations from them.

“Supporters from Oldham, Barnsley, Wigan and Sheffield United, teams I have played for, have been great.

“Charlotte and I struggle at times, and simple little things like reading goodwill messages that people leave on the website have cheered us up.

“It is comforting to know that people are thinking about us and what we are going through, because it has been the worst thing that has happened to us.

“I feel our daughter is looking down on us and we have to get on with our lives, but it is very much day-to-day at the moment because our emotions vary so much.

“It is a healing process we need to go through and football is a help. Raising money and seeing all the goodwill towards us is also helping my wife.”

Andy wants to complete the Great North Run for Martin House Hospice, which is at Boston Spa, Wetherby, as a thank you for what they did for Giorgina Grace.

He said: “I have been back a couple of times, but it is hard because of all the emotion following the time we spent there.

“It is tough, but I want to get involved and do as much as I can, starting with the Great North Run. I will also be doing other things for them.”

Andy has been putting in extra training alongside the work he does daily at Rotherham.

He said: “Any self respecting professional athlete should be able to run 13 miles, but I want to make it as pain free as possible and hopefully it will be a good day.

“I can do the distance, but it is more about raising as much money as possible. I am up to almost £10,000 and hopefully should reach that figure by the day of the race.”

After leaving Athletic, Andy signed for Bradford Park Avenue in the UniBond League, premier division on the understanding he could leave if a League club came in for him.

He said: “I didn’t know if I wanted to continue playing as football was the last thing on my mind for a time.

“Bradford was only round the corner from where I live and playing part time was what I needed then.

“Rotherham then asked me to train to see if I could offer them anything and I jumped at the chance as it is only 30 minutes away.

“I can still be close to my family and we have a good team. I am lucky to have a chance.

“I did well for the initial month and have been given a contract to the end of the season, although I don’t look further than the next day.

“It’s still a healing process and I don’t know how I am going to feel from one day to the next.”

Andy intends to run the London Marathon along with Rotherham team-mate Paul Warne, also a former Athletic player.

But that will have to wait until after he retires — as it will require some “serious” training.




Want to sponsor Andy? Head to www.justgiving.com/andyliddell