Reds fanatic Tyrrell Hatton backs Anne Williams Golf Day

The much-loved fundraising event, which aims to honour the legacy of Liverpool’s Iron Lady by supporting local charities, returns for an 11th time this afternoon.

Players of all standards will tee off at Huyton & Prescot Golf Club in an attempt to raise money for Carla Lane Animals In Need, this year’s chosen charity.

Hatton, who has claimed multiple PGA and DP World Tour titles, first backed the golf day in 2019 - and has been a constant source of support since.

• To donate to the Anne Williams Memorial Golf Day fund, go here

“After the success of last year’s event, and what looked like a fantastic day, we’ve sent over another custom prize,” said Hatton in a message to the organisers.

“This is in support of what Anne did - and also the work being done in her memory for this year’s chosen charity.

“I’m very happy to help where I can and wish you all good luck for your round. Most of all, enjoy your day.”

Formby-born Anne lost her son, Kevin, in the Hillsborough disaster. He was 15.

From that April afternoon in 1989, right through to her final days, she battled tirelessly to expose the truth about his death.

Her devotion and tenacity was awe-inspiring - and since her passing, in April 2013, fundraisers at the golf day have helped spread her legacy further still.

“To do this for Anne, and in memory of all she fought for, makes us very proud and humbled,” explained Ste Martin, one of four organisers.

“Year on year, although we don’t try to top the event, it just naturally happens. The stature of the day has travelled around the world, and we have an awful lot of support now.

“This year’s charity, Carla Lane Animals in Need, is just on the outskirts of Liverpool. They’re a small, volunteer-run charity.

“But just because you’re small doesn’t mean we don’t notice what you’re doing. And we have an ethos of supporting these smaller charities, who make a massive difference in their communities.

“And who doesn’t love animals? Carla Lane does everything from rehoming a hamster to rehoming a horse!”

Golfer Hatton, who will be aiming for glory at the Open Championship in Hoylake later this month, first came on board in the wake of Liverpool’s Champions League win in 2019.

The lifelong Red responded to the joy of beating Tottenham Hotspur in Madrid by engraving the dates of our six European Cup triumphs, as well as the locations of each victory, onto a wedge.

It sparked interest from the event’s ardent golfers.

“We were a little bit hard-faced in how we got into him!” laughs Ste. “He held a competition on Twitter, where people could win the wedge stamped with six stars.

“Being typical Scouse lads, we Tweeted him and said, ‘We’d like one of those for our event!’ And, to our complete surprise, a direct message came back!

“And now he’s an official supporter of our day, sending a custom, one-off prize for each tournament.

“We’re so grateful to him and his team - and to our ambassador Wayne Scholes. We’re so lucky to have these people on board, helping to make it a special day in Anne’s name.”

• To donate to the Anne Williams Memorial Golf Day fund, go here