Everton Football Club have hosted their first-ever Ramadan Iftar event at Hill Dickinson Stadium, bringing together members of the local Muslim community, supporters and civic leaders for an evening focused on reflection, understanding and community spirit.
The event, titled Ramadan Mubarak, took place during the holy month of Ramadan and was organised by the Club’s Equity and Inclusion team as part of its ongoing All Together Now initiative.
The gathering welcomed people from across the Liverpool City Region, providing an opportunity to learn more about the significance of Ramadan and to strengthen ties between Everton and local communities.
Everton hosts first Ramadan Iftar at Hill Dickinson Stadium
Iftar is the evening meal with which Muslims break their daily fast during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.
Throughout the month, Muslims fast from dawn until sunset, using the period for spiritual reflection, prayer, charitable acts and strengthening community connections.
Iftar meals are traditionally shared with family, friends and neighbours and are widely seen as a symbol of unity and generosity.
Everton’s event reflected those values by creating a space for people from different backgrounds to come together in the spirit of Respect, Celebrate and Empower.
The evening brought together representatives from the local Muslim community alongside Everton supporters, including members of the Fan Advisory Board and Fans’ Forum, as well as staff from both the Club and Everton in the Community.
Proceedings began with an opening talk from Sheikh Abdul Karim, a respected elder and local Imam, who spoke about the meaning of Ramadan and its wider significance.
In his address, he explained the importance of the holy month to Muslims and its role in strengthening community bonds.
Sheikh Abdul Karim later led guests in prayer shortly before the fast was broken.
Guests also heard from a panel of speakers who discussed what Ramadan means to them personally and how they balance fasting with their professional and personal commitments.
The panel was chaired by Everton Impact and Inclusion Advisor Sana Aboarook.
It featured local entrepreneur and Everton Fan Advisory Board member Fawad Munir, Layla Hussain from the Liverpool City Region Race Equality Hub and Dr Leon Moosavi, a sociologist at the University of Liverpool.
Panel discussion explores Ramadan experiences and representation
Another contribution came from Dr Muhammad Zaman, a dentist and co-founder of Scouse Muslims.
He spoke about growing up as a Scouse Muslim and the strong sense of community support he has experienced during Ramadan.
Following the discussions, attendees were invited to observe the early evening prayer, one of the five daily prayers performed in Islam, before coming together to break the fast.
Guests then shared a traditional halal Iftar meal prepared by Everton’s Culinary Experiences Partner, Aramark.
Ben Osu, Everton’s Head of Equity and Inclusion, said:
“It was incredibly special to host our first Iftar at Hill Dickinson Stadium and bring together members of the Muslim community, Everton supporters and colleagues from across the city, the Club and Everton in the Community in such a meaningful way.
“Ramadan is a time of reflection, compassion and community, and events like this help us better understand each other’s traditions while strengthening the connections that make our Club and our city so unique.
“I would like to thank my colleague Sanna Aboarook, whose passion and dedication helped make this event possible, as well as Evertonian and Fan Advisory Board member Fawad Munir for his cultural insight and support in helping us engage with the community and shape the evening.
“Everton’s DNA has always been about bringing people together, and evenings like this demonstrate the power football has to create understanding, respect and shared experiences.”
The Ramadan Mubarak gathering is part of a series of events within Everton’s All Together Now campaign, which promotes equality, diversity, and inclusion across the Club and the communities it serves.
Last month, the Club’s Equity and Inclusion team also hosted an LGBTQ+ event at the Royal Liver Building, featuring a panel discussion in which speakers shared their experiences and perspectives, followed by a Q&A and an informal networking session.
