Chris Kirkland has plenty to be proud of from his own career, including his time at Liverpool, but these days some of his most important work takes place away from the pitch.
We caught up with the former Liverpool goalkeeper at last week’s LFC Foundation Darts Night at Anfield, where players, sporting personalities and supporters came together to raise money for a fantastic cause.
With the LFC Foundation continuing to make a real difference across the local community, Kirkland spoke to Dan about the importance of events like this, his connection with Liverpool and the role football can play in bringing people together.
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On the difference in nerves from football to darts: “This is different now. I was going to say, it’s not your wheelhouse, it’s not your comfort zone. Listen, I used to go down to our local working men’s club when I was a kid. I’m talking seven, eight, nine, ten years old, and I used to do the scoring for the darts team on a Thursday night. We’d get pie and mash afterwards. My dad used to play in that team, as did my uncle.
“So I’ve always been around darts. I love darts. I’ve been to the Premier League before. I’m rubbish at darts, but I just love the atmosphere, and I think the atmosphere here tonight will be great.
“I must admit, when I stood up on the oche last year, it was like the dartboard was the smallest dartboard ever. I was thinking, “My God, I’m not even going to be able to hit the dartboard!” So it’s completely different.
“But listen, you know what we’re here for. You know the event we’re here for, for the LFC Foundation. The money raised tonight and what it does for the community – I get to see that on a daily basis.
“All the staff tonight, the events team, have put on some incredible events. So, yeah, the money raised is going to go to good use.”
On the LFC Foundation helping more people: “They are doing everything they can. As you said, in an ideal world, you wouldn’t want to have a Foundation that needed to do these things and help people. But you do, and then it’s about your responsibility. Do you want to do it or not?
“You know what the LFC Foundation does, and there are a lot of charities within the city that we work with and collaborate with.
“The events are getting bigger and better, and more people want to come along to them as well. That comes down to the events team for selling out these events and getting people involved.
“Stephen Bunting and Jonny Clayton, all the players, David James – I’m obviously delighted to be here.
“I’m an ambassador for the Foundation, and I try to get involved in as many events as they want me to attend because I know where the money goes and how many people it helps.
“The events are getting bigger and better. Again, it’s down to people like you. I keep saying it: it’s down to people like the media here tonight who cover these events. It gives them the coverage they need; people see it on social media and think, “I want a bit of that. I want to come to that.”
“So thank you again for everything you all do.”
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On recent form and Mamadashvili: “As a goalkeeper, you want a penalty shootout. It’s your chance to shine, your chance to be a hero. If you don’t save them, you’re not expected to.
“You’ve seen what it meant to the players as well. They’ve gone over to Mamardashvili. You could see how overjoyed Alisson was too. That just shows the togetherness.
“We’ve got a great draw in the next round as well. Win that, and you’re in the semi-final. We know what this cup means to Liverpool fans. I’ve been there, and you’ve been there, over the last however many years we’ve got to the final.
“It was a tough night, but it was great to see Xabi Alonso back. I played with him. He’s just a wonderful guy, a wonderful player and a family man. He’s got great morals and values, everything like that. We wish him all the best at Chelsea.
“But, yeah, delighted we went through. I think we’re bubbling around the seven-out-of-ten mark at the minute.
“Listen, to win things, you’ve got to play better. In anything in life, if you’re performing at seven or eight out of ten each week, you’ve got a good chance of being successful. And we are.
“We’re quiet, we’re confident. I love the manager. You’ve been around him; I’ve been around him. I love the way he speaks and the way he conducts himself.
“The players, too. Last year was disappointing, but there’s just something there. It could be an exciting year, I think.
“We hope, don’t we? I think that’s the biggest thing – you hope. But the signs are there. The signs are there.”
