Southport FC rallies community after tragic loss. A seaside town united by grief and hope. Read how the club became a beacon of strength.
New Delhi: The seaside town of Southport, known for its flower shows and family-friendly atmosphere, was plunged into shock and despair on July 29th. A horrific knife attack claimed the lives of three young girls attending a Taylor Swift-themed dance class and injured several others. The tragedy shook the community to its core, and what had been the joyful start to the school holidays turned into an unspeakable tragedy for the town.
Amidst the overwhelming grief, Southport Football Club emerged as a beacon of hope and unity for the town. The incident took place less than a mile away from the club. Southport Football Club opened the doors of help and transformed its stadium into a support centre, offering safe space and assistance to those affected by the tragedy.
“The football club became a focal point where people could go if they needed anything,” said Southport manager Jim Bentley. “The chairman is very much a people’s person. He is big on communities, relationships, friendship, and family.
” The club’s response was immediate and heartfelt. After violence broke out, Southport supporters helped clean up the spot and raised thousands of pounds for the survivors under treatment. Days after the attack, players and the staff laid flowers at the police cordon on Hart Street.
💐 The team visited Hart St before today’s game to pay their respects. pic.twitter.
com/kqYcdUaHnt — Southport Football Club (@southport_fc) August 3, 2024 A pre-season match against Morecambe was cancelled as a mark of respect to the victims, but Southport FC did go ahead with a friendly against FC United of Manchester and won the match by a scoreline of 2-1. The crowd of 1,029 helped raise £5,000 donated to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital. Before minutes silence the following tribute was read out: Today the footballing communities of both Southport FC and FC United of Manchester come together to remember, and pray for, the victims and all those injured during the terrible events which took place on Monday.
We also wish to express our sincere thanks to all those in the emergency services, and the medical staff in the hospitals, for their bravery, dedication and continuing care. Can you now please stand, if you are able, for a minute’s silence to remember Alice, Bebe and Elsie along with their families and friends. Fly high three beautiful butterflies.
SOUTHPORT, ENGLAND – AUGUST 5: Adults and children blow bubbles as they attend to mourn victims of last week’s knife attack by holding a vigil near the Atkinson on August 5, 2024 in Southport, England. One week ago, three young girls were killed, and several other people were seriously injured, when 17-year-old Axel Muganwa Rudakubana went on a stabbing spree in a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport. The incident, as well as false information that the suspect was an immigrant, sparked a wave of anti-immigrant protests and riots across the UK.
(Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) For Rob, a lifelong Southport FC fan, and Julia Urwin, a club photographer at Southport FC, the tragedy hit particularly close to home. Their granddaughter, Elsie, was best friends with one of the victims. “The feeling in the town has been one of shock and despair,” Rob said.
We are in close proximity to where the events took place, and it has shaken everyone to the core.” The attack has profoundly impacted the entire community, including the Southport FC players. “There are no words that are enough to say to the families of those affected by the tragedy,” said Bentley.
“I’m on a WhatsApp group with friends, and the day it happened, they were all saying how much more they were going to hug their kids that night.” The town has been mourning, but its spirit is still not broken. As the community begins to heal, Southport Football Club remains committed to providing support and unity.
The club’s actions in the face of tragedy have demonstrated the power of community spirit and the enduring impact of sports on people’s lives. While the scars of this tragedy will undoubtedly linger and haunt the people of Southport for a long time, their resilience and compassion have shone through the hope for a brighter future..
