Published Saturday 24 December 2022 at 9:56
A festive gesture by Liam Gallagher has been praised for giving a much needed boost to young people in Blackburn and Darwen who are being supported by a homeless charity.
Liam surprised all the young people staying with Nightsafe by tweeting to say that he has gifted them a pair of his adidas LG2 SPZL trainers.
The launch of the adidas LG2 SPZL trainers was announced earlier this year with him performing a charity gig in aid of Nightsafe at Blackburn’s King George’s Hall.
This was followed by a commemorative mural of Liam being painted on the side of the Nightsafe building in Blackburn town centre which has now become an iconic local landmark.
When the LG2 SPZL released they sold out in minutes and have become a coveted shoe amongst adidas collectors and Liam Gallagher fans.
The shoes Liam has gifted come with branded Nightsafe footbeds that were specially made up by adidas months ago after Liam suggested the idea to them.
The team at Nightsafe requested shoe sizes from their young people without them having any knowledge of what was planned for them.
Darwen born and bred designer of the adidas Spezial range Gary Aspden collaborated with Liam on the design of the LG2 SPZL trainers and said:
When we originally released the LG2 SPZL shoes in the summer, adidas produced a personal allocation of the shoes for Liam to give to family and friends.
He said back then that he would like to keep the majority of pairs from his allocation back to gift to the young people of Nightsafe as a Christmas surprise and he has kept his word.
adidas then made up a small quantity of Nightsafe branded footbeds to go in the box with them.
Liam has also signed some of the same pairs in small sizes that will be used to raise some much needed funds for Nightsafe in the New Year.
These will immediately become a collectible. It’s always nice to hear some good news at xmas.
Jan Larkin, Chief Executive of Nightsafe, said:
All the young people thought they were getting slippers when we asked them for their shoe size.
It’s a lovely gesture from Liam. We really appreciate Gary’s support.
It will also give our fundraising efforts in the new year a great start.
Information on the signed fundraiser shoes will go out on Nightsafe social channels early next year.
Councillor Phil Riley, the leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, thanked Gary for his ongoing support.
He said:
I only asked the other day what’s Gary got planned next, then this happens.
He’s a brilliant example of somebody who cares and looks out for opportunities to makes good things happen to benefit his local town.