The Sports Group of European Former Football Players Association (EFPA) has announced today that it will be holding its annual Congress in Liverpool, the first time it has been held outside its founding city of Barcelona.
The event will take place over the 15th and 16th April, and will feature the first ever European conference for former players to communicate the benefits to professional clubs of having a former players’ foundation.
Contributors will include Gordon Taylor of the PFA and a number of leading professionals from clubs and the business side of football.
Ramon Alfonseda, a former Barcelona player and President of EFPA said: “We are very pleased to be coming to Liverpool in April next year.  We are conscious that this is the 21st anniversary of the Hillsborough tragedy and we plan our own respectful tribute on the day.”
“Following last week’s decision to include Liverpool in the World Cup bid,  we will also be asking this ‘iconic footballing city’ to host the inaugural EFPA Champions Cup, which will be a former European players’ 5-a-side tournament at the Echo Arena on 16th April. We expect to announce the participation of some world class players in the new year, and we also expect to have some very exciting managers to be leading the teams.
“In world cup year, we will also be asking the schoolchildren of Liverpool to join us in a number of the events, and also to link hands with schoolchildren in Africa to recognise the connections we as a family of football have.”
Liverpool solicitor Laurence Lee, chairman of the Everton Former Players Foundation, which is a founding member of EFPA said: “This is a great honour for our city and I will be delighted to welcome EFPA for what I am sure will be a very memorable visit. The work they do for former players is moving and inspirational, and we plan to invite many of England’s and Scotland’s clubs to attend the conference, as well as a number of well known local former players.”