Liverpool FC’s first Durban store opens at Gateway with Lucas Leiva

The Premier League trophy is coming to Gateway, and Lucas Leiva is coming with it. For Durban’s Liverpool supporters, Saturday’s shopping trip suddenly looks a lot more interesting.

KwaZulu-Natal’s first official Liverpool FC store will open at Gateway Theatre of Shopping on Saturday, 3 October 2026. Former Reds midfielder Leiva will meet supporters and sign player cards, while fans will have a chance to see the Premier League trophy up close.

A DJ, raffles and opening discounts are also on the programme. Old School, the South African brand operating the store, says more than 2,500 supporters have already registered for tickets to the celebration.

The Gateway branch becomes Liverpool’s third official store in South Africa, following the Canal Walk store in Cape Town and the Mall of Africa branch in Johannesburg, which opened in May.

For KZN supporters, the lasting attraction is having a dedicated local shop for official club merchandise. The range includes football shirts, clothing, accessories, gifts and signed collectables, with an in-store printing service for fans who want to personalise their kit.

That should also make shopping for the Liverpool obsessive in your life a little easier. Shirts aside, there are mugs, books, stationery and children’s keepsakes to browse.

Leiva’s appearance gives Saturday’s celebration an extra pull. The Brazilian midfielder spent a decade at Anfield between 2007 and 2017, making him a familiar face to supporters who followed the club through those years.

Old School CEO Daneel Steinmann says requests for a Durban store followed the Cape Town and Johannesburg openings. Less than five months after those branches launched, KwaZulu-Natal joins the club’s growing South African retail footprint.

A chance to watch the Merseyside derby at Anfield

The opening also brings a competition for supporters hoping to take their allegiance all the way to Liverpool.

A trip for two to watch Liverpool face Everton at Anfield is up for grabs, with the Merseyside derby currently scheduled for 30 January 2027. The prize includes return flights, airport transfers, two nights’ accommodation and The Beautiful Game VIP hospitality package.

That means Main Stand match tickets, access to the hospitality lounge from three hours before kick-off, a three-course matchday menu and a visit from a former Liverpool FC or LFC Women player, plus a matchday programme and gift.

Entry comes with a spending requirement: every R3,000 spent in a single transaction at an official Liverpool FC store in South Africa earns one entry. Purchases at Gateway, Canal Walk and Mall of Africa qualify.

The competition runs in-store only from 1 to 31 October 2026, with the draw on 2 November. Gift card purchases are excluded, terms and conditions apply, and the fixture may move because of competition or broadcast schedules.

An Anfield trip might be the big prize, but Saturday offers something considerably closer to home: a meeting with Leiva, a look at the trophy and a new Durban address for all things Liverpool.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

What: Official Liverpool FC Store opening celebration, featuring Lucas Leiva and the Premier League trophy.

When: Saturday, 3 October 2026. Check @lfcretailsa for celebration times and ticket registration details.

Where: Gateway Theatre of Shopping, Umhlanga. Shop G175, ground floor, near Entrance 8.

What’s in store: Official Liverpool FC kits, clothing, accessories, gifts, collectables and kit personalisation.

Anfield competition: In-store entries from 1 to 31 October 2026. Every R3,000 spent in a single transaction earns one entry. Gift card purchases are excluded. Terms and conditions apply.

More information: lockerroomstore.co.za

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