Matt Beard's heartbroken family see over £32k raised within hours – 'Blown away'
Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version or go back to LFC Live.net.
Jacqui Oatley has been ‘blown away’ by the support shown to the family of Matt Beard following his tragic death over the weekend, having set up a JustGiving page to support his loved ones.
Liverpool Football Club announced the death of the former LFC Women’s manager on Saturday evening at the age of just 47.
Following his passing, football commentator and sports presenter Oatley set up a JustGiving page to support Beard’s wife, Debbie, and family with immediate funeral and living costs.
READ MORE:Liverpool FC issue statement as Matt Beard dies aged 47READ MORE:Matt Beard death: Robbie Fowler and Everton boss lead tributes to 'lovely man and top coach'
“On Saturday September 20th 2025, the wonderful and much loved football manager Matt Beard suddenly lost his life,” Oatley wrote on JustGiving.
“While Matt's wife Debbie and children, Harry and Ellie, attempt to navigate the shock of this heartbreaking tragedy, we wanted to help Debbie with the immediate stress of funeral fees and the cost of living.
“All donations will go directly to Matt's family, helping them to cover essential costs during this incredibly difficult time.
If friends or supporters wish to ease the burden of funeral costs, etc, here’s a way to support Matt’s wife Debbie as she and the kids attempt to process the sudden loss of this lovely man.”
Receiving thousands of pounds in donations within hours, she then posted again hours later saying: “Blown away by the way the women’s football community is wrapping its arms around Matt Beard’s widow Debbie, kids Harry, Ellie and all the family.
“The kind words alongside the donations mean so much to them right now”.
Oatley had earlier paid a heartfelt tribute to the former Liverpool manager on her social media page.
“Stunned and heartbroken by the news of Matt Beard’s sudden death,” she wrote.
I first met him when he was an estate agent in Ealing in the early 2000s, while he was assistant coach to Keith Boanas at Charlton Athletic Women.
“He showed me round a house - I was at the BBC covering men’s/women’s football at the time.
RIP Matt, we won’t forget you”.
In a follow-up post, she wrote: “You may have worked out by now, after seeing the heartfelt tributes from his former players, fellow managers, coaches and journalists, that Matt Beard was a very special person.
“He was also a hugely significant figure in the evolution of the women’s game in England.
For now, we’re all thinking about the wonderful person who’s left the touchline forever - and sending all the love in the world to the family members Matt adored so much”.
Article continues below
Beard enjoyed two stints in charge of Liverpool FC Women, leading the Reds to back-to-back Women’s Super League titles in 2013 and 2014, before returning to the club in 2021 and winning the FA Women’s Championship in emphatic fashion and promotion back to the WSL at the first time of asking.
He parted company with the club back in February, and was most recently in charge of Burnley Women.
If you wish to show your support to Matt Beard's family, you can visit Jacqui's JustGiving page as tributes continue to pour in for the former Liverpool Women's manager.