Liverpool legend Sir Kenny Dalglish leaves 30 school teachers ‘gobsmacked’

A group of English teachers put their language skills to the test after spotting Liverpool legend Sir Kenny Dalglish at the same venue as their conference and crafted a letter urging him to pay them a visit.

Entitled ‘Dear Hero’, the cheeky note was delivered to Dalglish at his table at a Wigan hotel.

A collaborative effort, it explained that 25 of the 30-strong group of primary school teachers were staunch reds and how they and their pupils would be blown away if ‘King Kenny’ could find time for a group photo.

“We were all on edge - thinking every creak and noise was him at the door,” explained course leader Madeleine Barnes. “We were more excited than the children probably!”

Dalglish, who won eight league titles at Anfield, duly obliged, sweeping into the conference room to an array of awestruck faces before quickly putting everyone at ease with a series of self-deprecating quips about his time at school.

The hugely successful former Liverpool player and manager was happy to take photos at each of the six tables in the room, having a quick word with the teachers along the way.

“When he finally came through the door we were genuinely gobsmacked that a man of his calibre could find the time to meet with us,” Mrs Barnes explained.

“We couldn’t believe it when he offered to have a photo with every group of teachers. He was the definition of a gentleman in every way - making some great jokes about teaching!”

The educators were taking part in a conference called ‘The Excellent English Teacher Programme’, with each teacher representing one of 30 different schools at the event.

The North West Learning Partnership run the course through primary schools in St Helens - St Marys and St Thomas; St Anns and St Michael with St Thomas (called The Three Saints).

The teachers were quick to share their snaps with Dalglish with colleagues back at school as well as family members.

“As the course leader, I certainly found it hard to get the teachers to focus on their learning as they all had their phones out texting the photographs,” Mrs Barnes said.

“The next day children all over the North West were in awe that their teachers had met a football hero.

“I think all 30 teachers have gone up in street cred since having a photo with Kenny.”