Whitchurch Alport have been lauded as an example of how football clubs can work together to help communities across England by fellow North West Counties side City of Liverpool FC (CoL).

The Reds ensured they did not arrive for the league clash with CoL empty-handed as players, staff and supporters came together to deliver a series of care packages for the 'Purps' foodbank, which provides for the needy across the city.

Paul Manning, CoL chairman, admitted that he and his fellow committee members were blown away by Alport's gesture – the second time they have donated – and insists the donations have created a strong bond between the two clubs, despite their differing social and economic backgrounds.

"We've had a year away from them but to see them rocking up with the dry goods, the deodorants and things for a care packs, was just fantastic," said Paul.

"It was yet another humdinger of a game and while everyone was competitive and wanted to win, there's definitely a real mutual respect between the two clubs.

"Whitchurch is not a big city and Liverpool is, but that makes it even more impressive because we've never come away with the impression that Alport are patronising or pitying us. It's never been like that and always that they are appreciative of what we're trying to do in our community.

"We've always gladly accepted that kind of charity on behalf of the people we represent because they are the ones who suffer from austerity policies, which were disgraceful, and our football community came together to combat that.

"We are a big society and we're going to get bigger with the support from clubs like Alport, which is always reciprocal."

CoL are a co-operative with an emphasis on providing services and comfort to members of the community who need it most, which Paul believes he sees in Alport's own fundraising initiatives, such as Whitchurch boy Zac Harris's operation.

He added: "We've found a lot of synergy in our very season of playing in the league with Alport. We started our foodbank from the opening home game.

"Whitchurch had seen our work and the very first time we'd played them in a midweek game in September 2016, they arrived with a car full of food.

"They had stopped along the way and brought it with them, and we were blown away by it. It was the first time an away team had brought supporters to the ground and a foodbank contribution. With the game and result, it was a brilliant event.

"From there, we reciprocated in the away game a few months later. We brought a coach load or at least a couple of hundred supporters and we had a bucket collection for Zac, who is well known on your pages.

"We think the mutual respect between the clubs grew from there. We like Alport; at the time, we weren't popular having taken a older club's place.

"In that sense, the relationship with Alport was important because they saw up close how community-minded we were."