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Liverpool FC Women have paid tribute to former manager Matt Beard, who died at the age of 47 last week, ahead of their first game since his passing.
A minute's silence was held ahead of Liverpool Women training on Monday at Melwood, and the men's team paused ahead of its game with Southampton in the League Cup on Tuesday.
Liverpool Women's WSL game against Aston Villa Women on Wednesday night, which was scheduled to take place on Saturday at Villa Park, was postponed. The first match since Beard's passing was against Sunderland Women in the Women's League Cup.
Before kick-off, there was a perfectly observed period of silence. The Liverpool players, many of whom had worked directly with Beard with the Reds and elsewhere, linked arms after an emotional rendition of You'll Never Walk Alone.
Gemma Evans gave Liverpool the lead in the game and shortly after, fans in attendance in St Helens chanted "Matt Beard's Mighty Reds" as their former head coach was remembered.
That was throughout the 13th and 14th minutes, in reference to the years 2013 and 2014 when Beard led the club to back-to-back WSL titles.
Captain Grace Fisk paid tribute to Beard in the pre-match build-up to the game. "Hearing about the loss of Beardy was devastating news and something that we could never have imagined," she said.
"He held a special place in all of our hearts and was different to any other manager I’ve worked under.
"He treated us like family and we treated him like family. I’ve known him for many years and he’s pretty much the reason why I am where I am today.
"He was the reason I went to West Ham and the reason why I came to Liverpool, so he’s pretty much carved out my whole career. You only needed one or two conversations with the man and he had you, completely invested and trusting of what he said.
"His character and warmth was the best part of who he was, and you knew when you signed for him he was always going to look after you.
"Football aside, he was always asking: ‘How’s your family? How are your dogs? You watch the Millwall game?’
"He was always asking about those kinds of things and he was just so much more to people than a football manager usually is.
"He was such a caring and lovable man and I can’t express how much my thoughts are with Debbie, Harry, Ellie and the rest of the family at this incredibly difficult time."
Earlier today, Liverpool announced that a book of condolence has been opened for those who would like to pay tribute to Beard.
English (US) ·