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Seán is currently undergoing a twelve week rehabilitation programme in the National Rehabilitation Centre. supportsean.com

Seán Cox to leave medical setting for first time in a year to attend charity match in his honour

A Republic of Ireland XI will take on Liverpool Legends at Aviva Stadium on Friday.

SEÁN COX IS planning to attend a charity match in his honour at the Aviva Stadium on Friday, the first time he has been outside a medical setting in almost a year.

The 53-year-old Meath father-of-three sustained life-changing injuries when he was attacked outside Liverpool’s home ground Anfield before a Champions League football match last year.

The brain injuries he suffered as a result of the attack has meant he will need ongoing care for years to come and almost €2 million has been raised to help his family.

As part of fundraising efforts, a charity match between a Republic of Ireland XI and Liverpool Legends in aid of the Sean Cox Rehabilitation Trust will be held at the Aviva Stadium this coming Friday, 12 April.

Robbie Keane is to captain the Irish team and the Irish squad is to be managed by Mick McCarthy.

Cox is a lifelong Liverpool fan and his club is to be represented by club legends including Robbie Fowler, Steve McManaman and Ian Rush.

Speaking this morning on Newstalk Breakfast, Cox’s friend Stephen Felle revealed that it is planned that Seán will attend the match on Friday.

“We’re delighted to say that Seán is going to be there in person.”

It’s going to be Seán Cox’s first move outside a medical environment in almost 12 months, so it’s very special for the family, and it’s very emotional for (his wife) Martina. I was speaking to her this morning and I said, ‘does Seán know he’s going?’, and she said he does. She keeps reminding him and he keeps smiling and he can’t wait. So he’s going to be in the Aviva on Friday.

Felle added that his friend’s health remains the priority and that this would be the most important fact to consider should he not be well enough to attend.

“It has taken a lot of planning. He is obviously medically dependent, and in terms of the logistics of getting him to there and making sure he’s properly cared for when in the stadium, has taken some work.,” Felle said.

The caveat is if Séan got an infection or a cold or something happens between now and Friday, we might have to change the plan. But as we sit here now, that’s the plan.

Tweet by @Liverpool FC Liverpool FC / Twitter Liverpool FC / Twitter / Twitter

Felle also said that Cox faces a long and expensive road in his ongoing treatment and that the public have been exceptional in how they’ve helped him and his family.

He leaves the national rehabilitation centre at the end of June, at which the plan is for him to go to the UK to continue that very intensive, high-quality type rehab. The cost of that because it will be in private care, the travel, the logistics of it with the family having to be there with him and that will continue for many years.

“That augmented by their home needing to be redone and needing private nursing home care here in between going back and forward to England, we’re running into lots and lots of millions of euro. But the public have, like you alluded to, taken Sean into their arms.”

Tickets for charity match can be purchased through Ticketmaster and donations can made to Seán and his family on the Go Fund Me page Support Sean Cox.

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    Mute John
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    Apr 7th 2019, 10:39 AM

    Keep going Sean, best of luck with the rest of your recovery.

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    Mute Honeybee
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    Apr 7th 2019, 10:41 AM

    It’s wonderful that Sean will be going to the match but so very sad that his life is so changed now, I hope he really enjoys this match , heartbreaking for his family.

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    Mute Flaming Mo
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    Apr 7th 2019, 10:44 AM

    It’s terrible that he has to go to the UK to continue his treatment. Hopefully there will be a packed house for the charity match which will help to raise as much as possible for his recovery in the years to come.
    Get well soon Sean.

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    Mute Aisling
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    Apr 7th 2019, 11:25 AM

    @Flaming Mo: there must be some sort of quota on the amount of time you can spend in the rehab in Dun Laoghaire? So ridiculous. The service should be there as long as you need it

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    Mute Ciaran
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    Apr 7th 2019, 11:45 AM

    @Aisling: take a look at the magnificent work that’s done in Dun Laoghaire rehab first instead of speculating.

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    Mute Honeybee
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    Apr 7th 2019, 12:00 PM

    @Ciaran: I think Ciaran that you misunderstand Aisling’s comment,nothing is implied about the quality of care but obviously the demand for their services is under pressure.If Sean requires further care and must go to England then we must not be providing a like service here and this is the point she was making. A similar case was made some time ago by the family of a young man with an acquired brain injury from a cycling accident

    https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/health/dad-reveals-disdain-irish-health-11781976

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    Mute Ciaran
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    Apr 7th 2019, 1:36 PM

    @Honeybee:

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    Mute Paul Murphy
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    Apr 7th 2019, 11:18 AM

    I think the Italian football authorities need to pick up the tab for all his future medical care as a gesture against football related violence

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    Mute Paul O Riordan
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    Apr 7th 2019, 11:06 AM

    Never has our anthem been more apt.
    Ynwa Sean get well soon

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    Mute sams theman
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    Apr 7th 2019, 12:29 PM

    @Roy Dowling: this isn’t the place for that Roy

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    Mute Kevin O Sullivan
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    Apr 7th 2019, 12:46 PM

    @Roy Dowling: not really the time or place Roy.

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    Mute Jason Higgins
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    Apr 7th 2019, 1:43 PM

    @Roy Dowling: Get a life you fool

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    Mute Robert Nash
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    Apr 7th 2019, 4:10 PM

    @Roy Dowling: dope

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    Mute Willy Motley
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    Apr 7th 2019, 4:41 PM

    @Roy Dowling: there’s always one clown

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    Mute Anthony Shoulderhead
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    Apr 7th 2019, 5:13 PM

    @Willy Motley: He’s right though

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    Mute sams theman
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    Apr 7th 2019, 6:48 PM

    @Anthony Shoulderhead: right or wrong petty football rivalry has no place on this thread Anthony

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    Mute Anthony Shoulderhead
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    Apr 7th 2019, 6:57 PM

    @sams theman: Yeah I know, but he is right

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    Mute Brian
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    Apr 7th 2019, 7:35 PM

    @Anthony Shoulderhead: I have no words for you.

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    Mute Billy Nomates
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    Apr 8th 2019, 12:53 AM

    @Paul O Riordan: unless you are Karius

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    Mute David Weston
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    Apr 7th 2019, 11:36 AM

    Best of luck Séan , a nation rooting for you

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    Mute Mel Fitzpatrick
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    Apr 7th 2019, 11:54 AM

    The very best of all things good and positive to Sean and his family.

    I really hope he enjoys his day out and the England rehab works wonders.

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    Mute Sportmad
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    Apr 7th 2019, 12:13 PM

    Well done Sean and in fairness to all the teams and supporters today what a gesture and worth while cause YNWA

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    Mute John Waters
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    Apr 7th 2019, 8:04 PM

    Great news and good health in the future. A brave man.

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    Mute Don
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    Apr 7th 2019, 5:03 PM

    YNWA

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