Family and friends of former ECHO journalist Dan Kay came together to raise more than £5,000 for charity.
The first in what is planned to be an annual football match was played at Liverpool's Academy pitches on Sunday before a charity raffle at Aigburth People's Hall. Dan's Monday night football friends triumphed 7-3 against his former colleagues.
Dan died suddenly in May, aged 45.
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The raffle, led by Merseyside comedian and actor Neil Fitzmaurice, as well as the sale of a special match programme and a number of donations on a special GoFundMe page, led to just more than £5,000 being raised for three charities close to Dan's heart, An Hour for Others, Mind and Imagine If Trust.
Prizes donated included signed Everton and Liverpool shirts, a night stay in the Titanic hotel, a £200 Montirex voucher and a spa day at the Hope Street Hotel.
Dan was a digital pioneer in the Echo newsroom from 2003 to 2021, holding roles including deputy head of web, national news editor and live content editor for both news and sport. His knowledge and love for Liverpool FC was unrivalled, and he even earned the nickname of 'Purple Dan' because of his fondness for Everton FC.
He was also a regular at Tranmere Rovers matches when he wasn't travelling to watch the Reds in action. Dan was also a well known campaigner for Hillsborough justice, working diligently behind the scenes as a key part of the ECHO's coverage.
He also was a close friend of many of the families and worked with the late Anne Williams's daughter Sara to co-write With Hope In Her Heart, a powerful account of the late Anne's fight for justice for her son Kevin, 15, and the other Liverpool supporters unlawfully killed at Hillsborough. He also worked on the ITV drama Anne.
Dan was also honorary secretary of Liverpool Old Hebrew Congregation at Princes Road Synagogue. Among Dan's many achievements as a journalist was running the ECHO's live coverage of the fresh Hillsborough inquests, which concluded that those who died on April 15, 1989 were unlawfully killed.
Dan also worked meticulously to compile individual tributes to those who lost their lives, spending time with many of the families affected over the years and campaigning passionately on their behalf.
He also spent time volunteering for An Hour for Others and Imagine If Trust.
There is still time to donate and you can win a signed Darwin Nunez Liverpool shirt with Ex Player. Every £5 donated will count as an entry into their draw on their website here.
To donate to the GoFundme page, please click here.
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