IT'S a long time since I put on football boots for an 11-a-side match, but I am looking forward to Easter Sunday when I will be reunited with many of my old Liverpool team-mates.

We are playing a Celebrity XI in aid of the Asian Tsunami Appeal at Anfield and it will be just like old times. Among my old mates who have said they will play are Kenny Dalglish, Alan Hansen, John Barnes, Phil Thompson, Bruce Grobbelaar and John Aldridge, while the celebrities will include Bryan McFadden, Nicky Byrne, from Westlife, actors Shane Ritchie and Ralf Little, athlete John Regis and the former Ireland international Niall Quinn.

The Liverpool team will be under our ex-manager Roy Evans and Harry Redknapp is taking charge of the celebrities.

It should be a great occasion in aid of a very good cause. All the details are on the Liverpool FC website.

I have been playing small-sided matches for a long time since retiring from the game, but I don't play 11-a-side games too often.

I turned out last year in Florence, in Italy, in front of a 40,000 crowd alongside Paul Gascoigne and Paulo Di Canio. We drew 5-5 against a team which included Rod Stewart and I scored a couple of goals.

Although I don't miss playing so much these days it is always good to take part in games like this, particularly in front of big crowds, although I must admit it isn't so good the next day!

In fact, I find I enjoy playing now much more than I did when I was playing at the highest level. I suppose that could have something to do with having no pressure on the field.

I try to keep fit by doing some running, but since I took the job at Chester I tend to stand back in training and watch what's going on. You miss so much when you are involved in training matches.

As well as meeting up with former team-mates for various charity matches I try to keep in touch either socially or professionally. Since I have been manager at Chester I have been in contact with various people associated with Liverpool FC for advice. There is so much to learn in this job.

Finally, I would like to thank all the City fans who got behind the team against Southend last Saturday. I thought we gave our best home performance of the season and the supporters were fantastic.I hope we can carry on like this until the end of the season.