From Iconic Milk Ad to Life Sentence: The Shocking Downfall of Kevin Spaine

A boy known for his iconic line in the "Accrington Stanley, who are they?" milk advert grew up to become a killer. Kevin Spaine was one of two boys featured in the famous 1980s Milk Marketing Board advert, which became a hit with Liverpool fans due to its reference to Reds star Ian Rush and the retro LFC kits.

However, Spaine's life took a dark turn into criminality. At the age of 43, he was convicted of murder and jailed for life after a brutal assault in an Anfield flat that claimed the life of his one-time friend Learoy Venner. The advert received renewed social media attention when Liverpool faced Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup, marking the first meeting since 1955-56.

When Spaine appeared in court, his defense claimed he was once a "very promising young footballer" and starred in the iconic advert in 1989. In the ad, Spaine is seen asking, "have you got any lemonade?" to which his co-star replies, "If you want." As he pours a glass of milk, Spaine famously reacts with, "Milk? Eurgh."

His friend then adds, "It's what Ian Rush drinks. He said if I don't drink lots of milk, when I grow up I'll only be good enough to play for Accrington Stanley." It's during this scene that Spaine utters the iconic line, "Accrington Stanley, who are they?".

Despite his early fame, Spaine's life spiraled into crime and drugs, leading to around 40 appearances in court for nearly 100 offences. His criminal record includes convictions for dealing heroin, wounding, and assault with intent to rob. His legal counsel stated that drugs had dominated his life for over 20 years.

The tragic events that led to Venner's death occurred on July 27, 2022. Venner was temporarily living in an Anfield flat that was being used as a drug den. After being refused entry, Spaine was let in and fatally assaulted Venner, leaving him unconscious. Spaine later claimed he acted in self-defense, but a post-mortem revealed Venner suffered severe injuries similar to those from a car crash.

Prosecutors argued that Spaine intended to cause serious harm, as he left Venner for dead without raising the alarm. After deliberation, a jury found him guilty, and he was sentenced to life imprisonment. Judge Brian Cummings KC highlighted the brutality of Spaine's actions, emphasizing that he had attacked a man in poor health and that his life had been marred by drug abuse.