A friend of Liverpool fan Seán Cox has revealed he'll attend a charity soccer match in Dublin's Aviva Stadium next week to raise money for his recovery.
Seán’s pal Stephen Felle revealed the 53-year-old Meath man will leave hospital for the very first time next Friday, 12 April, to attend the game, which will see a team of Liverpool FC Legends take on a Republic of Ireland XI team.
The Dunboyne dad-of-three was brutally attacked outside Anfield last year ahead of Liverpool’s Champions League semi final against AS Roma.
Teams revealed for Sean Cox Fundraiser game between Ireland and Liverpool legends at Aviva Stadium
After the attack he spent five weeks in a specialist neurological unit in Liverpool, before being transferred by air ambulance to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin.
Seán is now in the care of the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire.
Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast with Susan Keogh, Stephen Felle said: “We’re delighted to say that Seán is going to be there in person.
“It’s going to be Seán Cox’s first move outside a medical environment in almost 12 months, so it’s very special for the family, and it’s very emotional for [his wife] Martina.
He added: “It has taken a lot of planning.
"He is obviously medically dependent, and in terms of the logistics of getting him to there and making sure he’s properly cared for when in the stadium have taken some work.
“The caveat is if Séan got an infection or a cold or something happens between now and Friday, we might have to change the plan. But as we sit here now… that’s the plan.”
Stephen described Séan's recovery as a, “very slow and long journey”
He said: “I think people need to understand the degrees of magnitude are very, very small.
“It is heartening that Seán can say more words, or that he may be more alert, or that his movement might be improving.
"But it remains very, very serious for Seán, and he’s going to need care for the rest of his life.”
He told the Newstalk presenter how heartened Seán's family has been by the support they've received within their community and from Liverpool FC.
Stephen said: “The Support Seán committee, we get emails or messages on a weekly basis. [There’s] a Liverpool supporters club in Arizona who organised a $500 fundraiser.
"We have fans from AS Roma - who were the other party in the Champion’s League game that night - organising fundraisers and sending well wishes.
“Martina has received signed jerseys, signed footballs… €5 sent from a child’s Communion money last year. Liverpool have been fantastic, but so to has the GAA, and so too has AS Roma”.
The match will see Irish football legends including Kenny Cunningham, Ray Houghton, Damien Duff and Niall Quinn face off against likes of Liverpool's Sander Westerveld, Robbie Fowler, Ian Rush and Steve McManaman.
Phil Babb, Jason McAteer, Robbie Keane and John Aldridge will represent both teams.
Kenny Dalglish will manage the Liverpool side, while Mick McCarthy will take charge of the Irish team.
Tickets for the match, which kicks off at 7.45pm are available through Ticketmaster.
