LIVERPOOL Legends are coming to Guernsey to win and win well. Team manager Alan Kennedy, who is assured of immortality in football history as the only British player to score winning goals in two European Cup Finals, insists the sparkling array of talent will be taking their game seriously against a Belgrave Wanderers select side on Monday night at the Track.

‘We are doing an ambassador’s job for Liverpool Football Club. They may not be able to send their first team but we have got some great names. I don’t think any other football club can boast that type of players,’ said Kennedy.

The star-studded line-up will include Bruce Grobbelaar, John Barnes, Ian Rush, John Aldridge, David Fairclough, Nigel Spackman, Phil Neal, Gary McAllister, Jan Molby, Michael Thomas, Paul Walsh, Mark Walters, John Wark, Bob Bolder and Jason McAteer.

‘We are taking it very seriously and wherever we go we want to win. We tend to play as we did 25 years ago and we try to keep possession,’ he said.

‘It’s been on the cards for six months and we are really looking forward to it. The good thing for us is we are raising money for charity – it’s very important,’ he said.

‘There are a lot of Liverpool fans in Guernsey and we are looking to put on an exhibition of football. We are representing Liverpool Legends and Liverpool Football Club and we want to make a mark on people and turn the clock back 25 years from when we were playing.’

‘We have a blend of youth and experience – my problem will be to find the right formation,’ he said.

Prolific goalscorer Rush has a knee problem and if he was not coming to Guernsey he would probably be having an operation, admitted Kennedy.

‘Everyone wants to see the players of yesteryear. When I look at the players we have got we have some good players on the ball in Jan Molby and Jason McAteer. But you also need legs and we are quite experienced at this type of game,’ he said.

Up until last month in Denmark the Liverpool Legends were unbeaten in games across the world for three years.

‘We were beaten by some dubious decisions,’ claimed Kennedy.

Kennedy scored the only goal of the 1981 European Cup final against Real Madrid and three years later it was the England left-back’s spot kick in the penalty shoot-out against Roma in their opponents’ own Olympic Stadium, that took the prestigious trophy to Anfield for a fourth time.

Nicknamed ‘Barney Rubble’ by the Kop after the character in television’s Flintstones, he also won five league championships, league cup four times and Charity Shield on three occasions.

‘We have not got Steve McManaman which has weakened the squad but we will cope with that and we have the addition of Bruce Grobbelaar which the fans will appreciate,’ he said.

‘Some of the lads don’t play every week and it’s nice to meet up with the lads. The important thing is to prepare yourself for the game.’

‘The lads will be off to bed nice and early,’ he joked.

‘We have a curfew on Sunday night and are hoping to put on a good show on the hospitality side. It’s all been well organised.’

‘The win bonus is still the same as it was 25 years ago – nothing.’

Guernseyman Matt Le Tissier will be making a guest appearance for both sides.

‘I have played a couple of games with Matt – we were over in Hong Kong about three months ago. Matt is still an excellent player. We all put weight on but you never lose your skills. This guy shoots from anywhere and is generally on target,’ said Kennedy.

‘Hopefully the people will come along to the dinner and the game and won’t be disappointed.’

‘Hopefully this can be an annual event and we hope people will enjoy it,’ said Kennedy, who appears regularly on a radio show for Century Radio in the North West.

Tickets are selling fast and another top former player could yet make an appearance.

‘It is unfortunate that due to contractual commitments with Setanta Sports Steve McManaman cannot make the trip, but with the majority of legends now being TV commentators we always knew there would be a few hiccups along the way,’ said Liverpool Supporters Club Guernsey branch treasurer Alan Jenner.

‘However, we are delighted to have assembled such a fantastic array of footballing talent, the likes of which have never been witnessed in the Channel Islands before and I can confirm we are also working on a replacement for Macca, details of which will be announced shortly,’ he said.

It is a massive coup to assimilate such a list of famous names.

‘During the last six months we have had some lows, but these are far outweighed by the highs, especially when we finally found out who was able to attend. The date was vital and we are extremely lucky to have an international break in the football fixtures, at this time of year, which have certainly helped with the level of stars we have been able to attract,’ said Jenner.

‘Ticket sales are going extremely well and have met and exceeded our expectations. We even have people travelling from Jersey and the UK to watch the match so the word is out there that this is an impressive line-up of footballing icons.’

Tickets for Monday’s game are still available from Intersport, Evans & Co., DW Arundell, the Yacht Hotel, Mariners Inn and Ian Brown’s Cycle Shop.

Bank Julius Baer and Evans & Co are sponsoring the event.