Hi everyone, I hope you are well. I wanted to share something with you about the Sleepout I am doing this October.

I am taking part in the Sleepout at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, and it will be the final Sleepout for me. It feels like the right moment to round things off and appreciate what these nights have meant over the years.

I have done the Sleepout twice at Goodison, and both times I stayed awake the whole night, just sitting with the memories. Some great times, a few too many not so great ones, all wrapped up in family, friends and the emotional chaos of supporting Everton. It is character building, never boring, and somehow always manages to pull you back in.

I was meant to do the Sleepout at Hill Dickinson last year, but life had other plans when Helen became seriously unwell. Stepping back was the only thing that made sense. My friend Pauls son Marcus stepped in and did the Sleepout for me, something I will always be grateful to him for. It meant more than he probably realises.

This Sleepout is hosted by Everton in the Community in support of Home Is Where The Heart Is, a charity doing important work for young people who need stability, support and a place where they feel they belong. Being part of this has always reminded me how much impact real community and proper support can have.

As it is the final Sleepout for me, this is the last time I will be asking. I am hoping to raise as much as I can before I hang up my sleeping bag for good. I will not be bothering you again after this, I promise. If you are able to support, share or donate, it would mean a lot and it genuinely makes a difference.

Thanks for reading, and thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way. It has never been taken for granted.

The EitC Stadium Sleepout helps raise vital funds for the charity’s Home Is Where The Heart Is programme, which is dedicated to helping those who are homeless or who are on the verge of being homeless.