'Shock & despair' - how Southport FC helped a town in mourning

Southport manager Jim Bentley (right) and his players and staff walked from the club's ground to place flowers at the police cordon on Hart Street

"It wasn't a nice walk," says Southport manager Jim Bentley.

"When we arrived at the police cordon, it really hit home. The majority of my players have kids and to see all those teddy bears, butterfly balloons, bracelets, candles, flowers and messages, it was incredibly moving."

On 29 July, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, were killed in a knife attack as they attended a Taylor Swift-themed dance class. Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, died from her injuries in hospital the following day, while eight other girls and two adults were injured.

The attack in the quiet seaside town in the north-west of England happened less than a mile from Southport Football Club, who opened the doors to their Big Help Stadium ground to provide a safe and supportive space for those affected by the horror.

In the days that followed, Southport supporters helped clean up after violence broke out, raised thousands of pounds for Alder Hey Children's Hospital - where some of the survivors were treated - while Bentley and his players visited the police cordon on Hart Street to lay flowers.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper visited the football club, while there was a moving tribute to Bebe, Elsie and Alice before a home friendly with FC United of Manchester, as Southport fan and Salvation Army member Brian Johnson addressed the crowd and said: "Fly high three beautiful butterflies."

"The grief and fear that Southport has endured will no doubt have a lasting impact on the community," Peter Mitchell, chairman of non-league Southport, says.

"But as a community club, we will remain a source of support for whoever may need it."

A minute's silence was held before Southport's friendly with FC United of Manchester on 3 August

'Everyone was hugging their kids'

Just three weeks ago, in a town known for its flower shows, amusement arcades and funfair, what should have been a joyful start to the school holidays turned into unspeakable tragedy.

Rob and Julia Urwin were enjoying a day out with their three-year-old granddaughter, Elsie, in nearby Formby when they first heard about the attack.

"We got a message from our daughter about some stabbings," Rob, a lifelong Southport FC fan and programme editor for the past 15 years, says.

"At the time, we didn't think too much about it. It was only when we got home that we realised the seriousness of it all."

Elsie's best friend at nursery, Rosie, is sister of Elsie Dot Stancombe, who was "lovely, sweet and gentle", her great-aunt said.

"The feeling in the town has been one of shock and despair," adds Rob, whose wife Julia is a club photographer at Southport FC.

"We are in close proximity to where the events took place and it has shaken everyone to the core."

Rob said that his granddaughter Elsie has been supporting Rosie by helping to make butterfly cakes.

Southport, a part-time club who play in the sixth tier National League North, had just returned from a weekend in Belfast, where they played a pre-season friendly against Cliftonville, when the attack happened.

News of the horror on that sunny Monday morning left a tight-knit community consumed by grief.

"The worst news coming out today, absolutely horrific, my thoughts and prayers are with the affected and their families," wrote Southport midfielder Danny Lloyd, a veteran of more than 100 Football League appearances, on X.

Captain Jordan Keane added on X: "Devastating. My thoughts are with everyone involved."

Three weeks on and many are still coming to terms with what happened, including Southport boss Bentley.

"There are no words that are enough to say to the families of those affected by the tragedy that has hit the town," says the Liverpool-born father-of-two.

"I'm on a WhatsApp group with friends and the day it happened they were all saying how much more they were going to hug their kids that night."

Southport's players and staff walk to the police cordon on Hart Street to pay their respects and lay flowers

'A chairman big on friendship & family'

Within hours of the attack, Southport FC had been transformed into a community support centre, with the Samaritans setting up a temporary base at the Big Help Stadium along with a team from Victim Care Merseyside.

"The football club became a focal point where people could go if they needed anything," Bentley, the former Morecambe and Rochdale manager, adds.

"The chairman is very much a people's person. He is big on communities, big on relationships, friendship and family."

The home secretary, addressing the House of Commons on 30 July, said: "When I visited this morning, many people were gathering at Southport Football Club, which had thrown its doors open for the community, and where youth workers told me that they were determined to keep supporting Southport children with events this summer.

"I hope that everyone will recognise the sense of community and solidarity among the people of Southport, who have come together to support each other in the most terrible of times."

A night of disorder in the town followed, yet the next morning, fans wearing Southport's yellow and black team colours were seen cleaning up the destruction.

"In the face of unspeakable tragedy and misplaced anger we saw the best of our community, with individuals volunteering to clean up the town centre, rebuilding mosque walls and boarding up damaged buildings," adds Mitchell.

Southport FC director Steve Porter and his granddaughter (left) carry a wreath onto the pitch alongside FC United of Manchester chairman Nick Boom and FCUM junior member Alfie Marran-Jones

'Three beautiful butterflies'

A scheduled pre-season match against Morecambe at the Big Help Stadium on 30 July was cancelled as a mark of respect but Southport did go ahead with a friendly against FC United of Manchester five days after the attack.

"It wasn’t about the football," says Bentley.

"It was about bringing the community together, as one, paying respects to Bebe, Elsie and Alice, their friends, family and loved ones, as well as those impacted by the tragic events."

Before the game, the manager, his players and club staff made the short walk from the Big Help Stadium to the police cordon on Hart Street to pay their respects and lay flowers.

"I've said to the players we've got to make sure that we represent the club, the badge, the town and the people of Southport in the right manner, even more so after the tragic events," adds Bentley.

FC United players also placed flowers at the cordon, while their junior members donated teddy bears to the dance studio where the attack happened "as a gesture of comfort and support".

Emergency workers were given free admission to the match, which Southport won 2-1, and the crowd of 1,029 helped raise £5,000 for Alder Hey Children's Hospital.

Taylor Swift songs were played over the speakers before kick-off and at half-time, while in a change to the usual music the teams walked out to Dolly Parton's 'Love Is Like a Butterfly'.

Then, before an impeccably observed minute's silence, the following tribute was read out:

Today the footballing communities of both Southport FC and FC United of Manchester come together to remember, and pray for, the victims and all those injured during the terrible events which took place on Monday.

We also wish to express our sincere thanks to all those in the emergency services, and the medical staff in the hospitals, for their bravery, dedication and continuing care.

Can you now please stand, if you are able, for a minute’s silence to remember Alice, Bebe and Elsie along with their families and friends.

Fly high three beautiful butterflies.

Alfreton Town supporters raised money for a wreath "in support and friendship with the people of Southport" before the two teams met in the National League North at the Big Help Stadium on 10 August