Steven Naismith donates tickets to unemployed fans

Everton striker Steven Naismith has launched a scheme to donate match tickets to unemployed fans in the Liverpool area.

The 27-year-old has bought tickets for all of the club's home games during the 2014-15 Premier League season.

"I come from Ayrshire in the West of Scotland and spent a lot of my life in Glasgow, a city that, at times, has suffered from high unemployment. Historically, a lot of this was the result of a decline in heavy industry and shipbuilding," ITV quotes Naismith as saying.

"Liverpool has a similar history and I am aware that, through no fault of their own, there are many unemployed in Liverpool trying hard to find a job and may not be able to afford a ticket.

"I thought this might be a small gesture to help those in that situation to enjoy a day out at one of our league matches."

The Scotland international joined Everton from Rangers in 2012.