A LIVERPOOL charity is to relive the moment one of the best footballers in the world graced a local football pitch to help them raise funds.

In May, 1967, Ferenc Puskas, who died last week after a battle against Alzheimer's, flew into Liverpool Airport at the invitation of Bankfield House, a community centre until recently based in Banks Road, Garston.

The legendary Hungarian and Real Madrid player had accepted an invitation from the charity to play in a football game at Holly Park, the home of South Liverpool FC, against a team led by Liverpool FC and Scotland legend Billy Liddell.

The game attracted more than 10,000 spectators, some of whom could not even fit into the ground.

Now Bankfield House, which is currently homeless after losing its former base which now forms part of a housing development, is to remember the match in a four-day exhibition at Community House, Speke Road, Garston.

Brian Taylor, organiser of the event 39 years ago, and still the director of Bankfield House, said the match helped to raise £1,100, which today would be worth about £20,000.

He said: "At the time, we were having annual charity football matches to raise funds.

"I decided to try and liven it up a bit, which was tongue in cheek and I never expected any response from Puskas.

"After his death, we thought this might be an opportunity for the public to recall the day when he came to Garston. You can't imagine a professional player of his standard doing it these days.