Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
LOU MACARI: A LEGEND FANS... A HERO TO THE TO UNITED HOMELESS
One of the heroes of United’s 1977 FA Cup final victory over Liverpool on his Mission to help people in need
WITH 401 appearances and 97 goals, Lou Macari is a bona fide Manchester United legend.
But for the 46 residents of the Macari Centre, the former United midfielder has achieved legendary status for what he has done away from the football pitch.
For the past four years, Macari, 71, has run the centre in Stoke, where he was twice manager and still lives, providing food, shelter and a safe haven for the homeless.
After watching a TV news report about the spiralling homeless problem in the city, Macari felt compelled to do something and jumped in his car to see the situation first-hand.
“It was pouring with rain, blowing a gale, but I went out to see how bad it was,” he recalled. “As soon as I’d parked my car, I found 11 homeless people sleeping in doorways. I saw another half a dozen around the corner and realised the homeless numbers were a lot bigger than the figures talked about.
“The next morning I went to the local council, to see if they could get me a property to help get these people off the streets.
“We got a building, started off with eight people, then 20-odd. And when we left there five months ago to move to the new base, we had 42.” The original base was too cramped and, when Covid-19 hit, the dormitory set-up had to change, so a new property was found down the road.
All the residents now have individual ‘pods’, a private space where they sleep, watch TV and, crucially, have a number over their door so all of them have an address.
The TVS were donated by the League Managers Association, while food is supplied by local firms and (Pearson 51, J Greenhoff 55) Nicholl, B Greenhoff, Buchan, Albiston, Coppell, Mcilroy, Macari,
J Greenhoff, Hill, Pearson
Subs: Mccreery (Hill 81)
REFEREE: Bob Matthewson
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supermarkets, all keen to help. “The help from all the local companies has been more than we could have hoped for,” said Macari.
“We’ve been successful because of that support. People come and go, some want to stay, everyone is different.
“I’ve made sure it’s not a case of me being Lou Macari, ex-united, Celtic and Scotland player, forget all that, I’m just here to help you, that’s it.”
Addictions to drink and drugs have led many
residents to the centre, while unemployment and family breakdowns have blighted others’ lives.
One resident, Tommy, 61, said: “A lot of the young people are taking drugs, which is sad. We’ve all got a weakness and theirs is drugs. But Lou has been amazing, with what he’s done here.”
Macari is realistic about how much he can do for those with addictions.
“I’ve realised that, no matter what I do, the drugs are in control,” he said. “The drugs are more powerful than my voice, which is sad, but we can only do so much.”
With United and Liverpool meeting in the FA Cup on Sunday, Macari recalls winning the 1977 final, to deny their arch-rivals the Treble.
United beat Liverpool 2-1 at Wembley, Macari’s shot deflecting off Jimmy Greenhoff for the winner.
“As I hit it, I shouted, ‘Get out of the way Jim’,” said Macari (in action for United, right). “It hit him on the shoulder and spun into the net. It started off as my goal, then it was credited to him, but I wasn’t bothered.
“We’d just beaten Liverpool to stop them doing the Treble, and to win the FA Cup was a magical feeling.”
Macari, like many from his era, is dismayed at the decline of the FA Cup, which still has huge significance for him.
“What’s happened to the FA Cup now is a disgrace,” he added. “Winning it was magical. It used to be the showpiece of English football, but it’s been allowed to diminish in value. It’s a great shame.”
One thing that has not diminished is Macari’s desire to help those who have fallen on hard times, his compassion truly humbling to see.