Last updated 19:45, Thursday, 31 July 2008

PHIL Neal, one of the greats of English football, will be helping to Paint the Town Red on August 30 in Workington.

pain town red logo plus other story to come and hopefully pic

The former Liverpool and England international plans to be in Workington all day helping people to celebrate the town.

And it won’t be the first time that he’s been here.

As a footballing apprentice he played for Northampton against Workington Reds in the fourth division days of the early 1970s.

Phil, who hopes he can fit in a visit to Reds’ Borough Park, said: “I am looking forward to coming back to somewhere I played - one of my apprentice grounds.

“I’m going to be meeting people, helping them celebrate their town. I think it’s going to be an enjoyable day.”

Now 57, Phil was just 23 when Liverpool manager Bob Paisley signed him - Paisley’s first signing for Anfield - after taking over from Bill Shankley, who once managed Workington Reds.

Phil, who was aware of the connection, recalled: “He used to be down at the training ground and I got to know him quite well.”

The defender made 648 appearances for Liverpool - many as captain - scoring 60 goals and 50 appearances for England scoring five goals.

His club honours include four European Cup titles and seven first division championships.

He also won the League Cup four times, the UEFA Cup once, the Charity Shield five times and the European Super Cup once.

Phil also managed Bolton, Coventry, Cardiff and Manchester City and has been an England coach.

He now does work for Liverpool on the club’s television and radio stations, and corporate work on match days.

And he’s still playing. He recently took part in an old boys’ tournament in Belfast in which Liverpool beat Manchester United 4-1 in the final.