'Thank You' Sean Cox thanks supporters

Thank You! Sean Cox gives the thumbs up for all the support he's received ahead of Legends game at Aviva Stadium

Supporters will make their way to the Aviva Stadium on Friday night for the Sean Cox fundraiser between Liverpool FC Legends and the Republic of Ireland XI - and expected to be among the attendance will be Sean himself after giving supporters a special thumbs up and 'Thank You' in a video message. 

Almost a year ago Sean suffered a serious brain injury outside Anfield where he had travelled to watch his beloved Liverpool take on AS Roma in the first leg of the UEFA Champions' League semi-final. 

The Dunboyneman spent five weeks in a specialist neurological unit in Liverpool before he was transferred by air ambulance to Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, where he spent a number of months. He was then moved to the National Rehabilitation Hospital, Dun Laoghaire where he has remained. He has made two trips to his home in Dunboyne with the planned trip to the Aviva, the latest foray out of the hospital environment. 

Over the last year various fund-raising events have been held for Sean including the well attended, well organised 'Sixes for Sean' soccer tournament in Ratoath in January - and at that stage the Sean Cox Fund had generated €1.1m Friday night's game is expected to add considerably to that fund with a full-house expected. At that Ratoath event she described the support she and her family received as “emotional.”
Friday's game will feature of host of famous players including John Aldridge, Ronnie Whelan, Jason McAteer, Ian Rush, Ian Rush, Robbie Fowler, Phil Babb, all players Sean would have seen over his years as a long-standing, passionate supporter of Liverpool FC. 

Sean's wife Martina has spoken about the "heartache" that comes with the harsh reality that Sean has missed out on various family milestones. She has spoken also about how the family greatly appreciates the support they are receiving from the football community and beyond and how signs of recovery shown by Sean mean so much. 

She has described about how when Sean opened his eyes for the first time in Beaumont Hospital it was like winning the lottery. "It was massive for us,” she said.
Friday night's game kicks off at 7.45. Tickets start from €20 for adults and €10 for under 16s, with a family ticket (two adults and two children) priced at €70.

Tickets available from Ticketmaster.ie