Liverpool FC Forum

by **112-1077774096** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 8:29 am

just saw this on the official site, celebrities who support the reds, he comes off as an ok guy really.

"It wasn't down to me!" insists the Prime Minister's son when asked if he put a word in to get Steven Gerrard an MBE.

Despite his protests, Euan Blair is proud to confess that, thanks to him, his dad is all-too-aware of the success enjoyed at Anfield in the last few years.

"We didn't watch it together but I can tell you he did watch the Champions League final," confirms Euan.

"Of course he was supporting Liverpool – he's got a real soft spot for us actually."

His accent might be more Downing Street than down The Arkles, but Blair junior breaks no sweat legitimising his passion for all things Red.

"From about the age of three my granddad Tony Booth had pretty much ensured I wasn't going to watch any other team," he explains.

"He grew up in Liverpool and became a little bit of a celebrity in the Sixties doing a TV show called Till Death Do Us Part.

"My mum grew up in Liverpool too and she's a fan, though she's not much of a football watcher."

Although he took his allegiances from his mum's side of the family, it was his dad who accompanied him to his first game while he was still Leader of the Opposition.

"The first game I can distinctly remember was in the 1994/5 season," recalls Euan, who now lives in the US where he attends Yale.

"It was against Aston Villa and we won 3-2. We both thought the atmosphere was just fantastic. I was blown away by it as a 10-year-old kid.

"He actually took me to a few games while it was still possible for him to do that, obviously before he became Prime Minister."

The 23-year-old admits he enjoyed the comfort of an executive box during his first few visits, though these days he's far more comfortable mingling with the man-on-the-street.

He said: "Lately I've sat towards the left of the Kop. Don't worry, I know all the words to You'll Never Walk Alone, I'll sing them if you want?

"I used to get up there quite a lot but obviously it's not as easy now with me living in America. I do get home quite a bit though and make a habit of coming to games each time. The last one I got to was PSV."

As well as sitting in the Kop, Euan can also boast that he's scored in front of it.

"I became friends with Phil Thompson's son through his grandfather, because he knew John Prescott really well. They used to be on a ship together I think. Anyway, that's who I go to a lot of games with.

"We actually got to have a kick around at Anfield after Liverpool played Newcastle in Gerard Houllier's last game in charge.

"We had a little penalty shoot-out at the Kop end, which I won. I'll always be able to say I've scored in front of the Kop!

"I also had a little game at Melwood once when Houllier was manager. That was pretty incredible."

All this extra practice no doubt helped him win a place up front for the Yale soccer team, though Euan probably doesn't turn up for training in his customised Liverpool top…

"I have had a Blair shirt but it was number nine not number 10! It was the white away kit from the 2003/4 season. The thing is, I only wore it once because it attracted too much attention!"

Being bezzy mates with the son of a club legend also means he's schmoozed with some of the players – and even the PM's firstborn confesses to getting a little giddy meeting his idols.

"I've met Jamie Carragher, Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard a couple of times at a few functions and what-have-you," he said.

"After Liverpool played Chelsea in the Champions League semi, which was the most incredible match atmosphere I've ever experienced, we also went out with a few of the players. That was great fun, obviously.
"Yes, I've asked them for autographs. I managed to get a shirt signed by them all. Any Liverpool fan is going to be excited meeting the players."

Despite living in America, where he's studying International Relations, Euan keeps abreast of all the latest Reds news with daily visits to the club's official website. He's even got an e-Season Ticket.

"I listen to the game regularly on your site, actually. Steve Hunter is brilliant."

He's clearly a fan, then, but is he sure he never put a word in for Stevie? And what's more, is there any chance of sorting Carra out with a knighthood?

"I'll try, I'll try!" he laughs.

Euan Blair's all-time XI
Based on players he's seen only:
Grobbelaar
Carragher
Hyypia
Rob Jones
Riise
Molby
McManaman
Barnes
Gerrard
Fowler
Rush

by **112-1077774096** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 8:33 am

the other celeb they have done is les dennis

His dad was an Evertonian who played for Liverpool, yet he was named after an Old Trafford great. No wonder it took Les Dennis all of 11 years to decide where his colours lie.

"Our whole house was totally messed up," says the former Family Fortunes host.

"My dad Leslie was on Liverpool's books in the Thirties but he actually supported Everton - he was in the Boys' Pen when Dixie Dean scored his 60th goal in a season.

"Then my mum was a Manchester United fan, even though she was a Scouser. I think it was because she absolutely loved Denis Law, that's why I was christened Les Dennis Heseltine.

"I remember my dad wanting me to be an Evertonian but I watched the 1965 FA Cup Final when I was 11 and decided I was a Red. He called me a turncoat."

With his mind finally made up, Les didn't waste any time getting his Anfield initiation, starting in the Kemlyn Road Stand before graduating to the Kop in his late teens.

"The atmosphere used to be out of this world," said the 52-year-old, whose hero was winger Peter Thompson.

"I remember being in the Kop at half-time during this really boring game. This pigeon landed in the penalty box and everyone went quiet.

"It very slowly worked its way to the goal line and when it went over the place just erupted like we'd won the European Cup. You don't get that kind of thing anywhere else."

Despite having football in his blood, Les was always more comfortable on the stage than the pitch.

"I was at Quarry Bank School with Steve Coppell and Brian Barwick. They were both in the A-team but I could only get in the B.

"My dad would come and watch me but I was always :censored:

. I think that's why I went into showbiz, because I felt I had to prove something to him."

His sporting ambitions may have been curtailed at an early age, but the entertainer has still managed to fulfil the dream of every young football fan – lifting the FA Cup.

He explained: "I was in Stringfellows after the final in 1989. Kenny Dalglish came in with the cup and let me drink out of it!"

Les doesn't get up to Anfield as much as he'd like nowadays, but he knows he can always turn to the club he loves when things start to go wrong. Like when he does his toe in during panto rehearsals…

"I hurt my foot rehearsing for Cinderella in Southport years ago. The producers didn't think I'd be able to take part, it was quite serious at the time.

"Anyway, they got in touch with Liverpool Football Club and I ended up having physio with Ronnie Moran! He gave me a toe massage and I was okay to take part. He was a great bloke, dead down to earth."

Mind, the presenter did manage to put Ronnie's back up when the Reds travelled to Wembley to take on Wimbledon in 1988.

"Before the final, Russ Abbott and I ended up on Grandstand with Des Lynam asking us what the score was going to be. I said 3-1 to Liverpool, then after we lost Ronnie came up to me in the players' lounge, gave me a dirty look and muttered, Bloody 3-1!"

Les doesn't mix in showbiz circles, but he is mates with one other would-be member of the Celebrity Kop Club – Stan Boardman.

And it was down to the Scouse comedian that a pair of Anfield greats gatecrashed the christening of Les's son, Philip.

"Stan was coming and he called me on the morning to say he'd been playing Sunday League and was wondering if he could bring a few of the lads down.

"I said no but eventually he persuaded me. Anyway, when he arrived it turned out Ron Yeats and Ian St John were in his team! I couldn't believe it.

"I took Philip to a game against Spurs in the Eighties and Ian St John was there. He asked if it was my son's christening he'd crashed. He kept apologising, though of course I didn't mind."

While work commitments make returning home tough, Les is certain he'll become a Kop regular once again before his days are up.

"I'm sure I will," he insists, "I thought I was going to be in Coronation Street for a while last year and I'd have had to have moved back up. It would have meant me getting to more games, but it wasn't to be."

Les Dennis's All-Time LFC XI
Bruce Grobbelaar
Chris Lawler
Gerry Byrne
Tommy Smith
Alan Hansen
Peter Thompson
Ian Callaghan
Steven Gerrard
Sammy Lee
Kenny Dalglish
Alun Evans

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