LIVERPOOL FC players have pledged their support to a charity being set up in memory of murdered toddler James Bulger.

The James Bulger House Appeal was launched a year ago this month, with the target of raising £1m to create a Red Balloon learner centre where badly bullied children could recover from their ordeal.

James’s mother, Denise Fergus, and her husband, Stuart, enlisted the support of the Liverpool squad, including captain Steven Gerrard, during a recent behind-the-scenes visit to their Melwood training ground and Anfield stadium.

Together with their three sons, Michael, Thomas and Leon, the couple spent a day meeting players and backroom staff.

Mrs Fergus said: “It was a real honour and thrill for us watch the training session and meet all the team, because we are all very big Liverpool fans.

“We had some lovely photographs taken with the team and the Champions League trophy, and all the players and the staff were very kind and generous with their time.”

Father-of-two Gerrard, 28, said: “It was a pleasure to invite Denise and her family to Melwood to meet the players.

“Red Balloon is an important project and I want to encourage people make donations to this very worthy cause.”

Defender Jamie Carragher, 31, added: “The work that Red Balloon is doing with bullied children is second to none.

“I have no doubt we need James Bulger House to support victims of bullying here in Merseyside.”

Red Balloon aims to raise £1m in order to create a safe place in the city where bullied children can study.

It runs similar facilities in Cambridge, Harrow and Norwich.