Liverpool FC Forum

by **Emerald Red** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 7:01 pm

Thought I'd break up the monotony (if it's possible) with a different thread that doesn't involve dire speculation, or notions of despair.

Of course the relevance of this question is lost (or maybe not) on native Liverpaudlians (was either red or blue) but for people not living there like myself, the reasons for becoming an adopted Scouser were usually just a case of seeing games on TV and watching them lift cups year in, year out. Naturally people flocked to something that was the most successful at the time, or in some cases it was just a case of supporting a side for more sentimental reasons - like myself.

I grew up hating football. It bored me. Whenever I seen it on TV, I just didn't get it. As a child, I'd better things to be doing than staying in watching football. Like going out and catching bugs...and starting the occasional fire here and there and the usual mischief that an inquisitive child gets up to. I was the kind of child that read astronomy books and could name almost every single dinosaur on sight at the age of 8. I'd dreams of being a scientist, or some sh*t like that. Where did it all go wrong in my youth, I wonder! I blame it all on Liverpool FC.

I wasn't enterested in football, but I'd a strange draw to LFC. During the late 80's, I'd watch my brother (also an avid red) have numerous arguments with his best mate at the time, who just so happened to be a Manc supporter. Now, being a Manc supporter during this time would have meant to have to endure points of debate which they just couldn't argue with. They were suffering. They hadn't won anything in a long time, and we were just decades ahead of them. But still they argued that they were the better of course. It couldn't be debated and tempers flared. Often I'd see my bro getting into scuffles. I could never really understand it myself.

I never did understand, until 1989 that is, and a certain game in the league against Arsenal, and a certain player called Michael Thomas! I'll say no more. That day I saw my brother reduced to tears, and I didn't like it. I asked him why he was crying, and he was so choked up he couldn't answer. I asked my ma, and she said it was because his team lost. I never understood the gravity of the situation at the time and what the game meant. I thought it was a cup final - which it essentially was - but I still couldn't grasp why my brother was in such a state, but I wanted to know. So I followed. But only with a mild intent. I wasn't blooded yet.

The following year was a blur. I never knew or understood how bad the previous season had been for LFC. It had been through arguably the worst disaster in world football, of which I only paid a fleeting interest to on the news. I never knew what it was, or that it involved the club that I'm so passionately devoted to today. We'd also just lost the league title in the most dramatic way ever also. Another pain that I was immune to back then. One that I am thankful for missing. But that pain would soon be something that I would all become to familiar with, and would stay with me for years to come after this one. By this time, I'd only a passing interest in the team. I often knicked my brother's new home Candy shirt (the one with the white specks through it, quality shirt that) and wore it about because it looked so class. I liked the attention it was getting me from some, and disliked some of it from others.

The year of our last title winning season past me by. I was too busy just being a kid to care. But the bedrocks of becoming a red were now in my system. I just didn't know it yet.

One of the friends I'd made remembered me as someone who he'd seen around wearing that famous Candy shirt. Like my brother's friend, he'd supported the Mancs. History was repeating, only this time the chip had been on his shoulder and now it was going to be laid on mine. He'd constantly remind me during the early 90's of defeat after defeat that Liverpool were taking. I didn't really care at first, but I wanted to at least say something about it as it seemed to me he was taking pleasure from it with a sly smirk on the side of his face. so I learned. I read books, watched games, and somehow it wasn't making any sense. Like it never did. Only this time it didn't make sense because Liverpool were meant to be the side winning things. The more I watched, and the more I learned, the more I wanted them to win. I'd caught the bug. I was now officially a supporter. I just didn't know it.

Then something happened. The Mancs won the Premiership for the first time and the torment began. Manchester United shirts came out of the woodwork. Then they released that awful f*cking song in the charts and it really started to p*ss me off. I wanted something to sing about, so I expected Liverpool to win something in the coming season. We never. So year after year I kept the promise that we were about to win the league again, so then I'd know what my brother felt like. That day came when we eventually played the Filth in the FA Cup final of '96. I wanted one over on them. To shut them up. Of course a certain French whore popped up to rob my glory. I got phone calls of mockery. I tore the shirt off my back and I cried. I now felt like my brother had all those years ago. I was now a Red for life!

So now today I still wait for the sense of feeling that those true fans got all those years ago when we lifted the title year after year. All my years as a red have been confined to misery, apart from the odd year of glory, and of course Istanbul! That win was for all true hurting reds. Not the glory seeking ones of yesteryear. It belongs to those that have suffered. I grew up in the shadow of the Manc's domination, supporting the greatest football club that the English league has seen. I've always believed in that. I've always believed in Liverpool FC. I've always believed that the glory days will return. I believed then, and I still do now and always will! 16 years a Red!

Forever a Red!

by **lakes10** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 7:14 pm

about 27 years.....have to say before that, before I knew what footbal was about I was a West Ham fan.( Well for the year they won the fa cup).

by **LFC2007** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 7:30 pm

I've been a red all my life, since I can remember being alive basically.

My best memories of Anfield have to be Olympiakos and Chelsea in 2005 - simply out of this world.

Worst footballing memories? FA cup final '96 - although I didn't go to that game it was a killer watching it on tv.

by **Sabre** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 7:34 pm

I'm Spanish and my home club is Real Sociedad.

When my home club won the liga twice and was reaching Europe semifinals, Liverpool was dominating Europe and then when I was 5 or 6 the admiration started, but I wasn't a red.

Then John Toshack came to San Sebastian in 1985 and he started to talk about Swansea, Wales and especially about Liverpool. Since I admired Toshack a lot, I started to be happy when I watched the english games and Liverpool was playing, then I started to be a red, and Liverpool was my official english club.

I was a kid and I liked Liverpool. THen John Aldridge came to my club, he was a legend, I fell in love with his game. He attacked the head balls as I hadn't seen since Satrustegi times, he had a powerful neck. His movements in the area were absolutelly spot on, and when he wasn't moving to be in the right place to score, he was moving to drag a defence with him so that other scored. Absolutelly legend. And the man talked a lot about LFC aswell and then, when I was 13 or so, I started to be happy when I knew Liverpool won, and sad when I knew Liverpool lost.

There was 2 facts outside the pitch that linked to me to LFC aswell. One was Hillsborough, and the other one 300 LFC fans that were in Barcelona supporting John Aldridge in one of the high stands of the Nou Camp. In that 2-3 victory we had 300 very especial fans, and they just were there because Aldridge was so great.

I think that was the moment in which I felt like a real red. I had an Spectrum and I picked Liverpool in the english games. I bought a Spectrum game, just because it name was "Kenny Dalglish" (Yes, Dalglish had it's own computer game).

Dalglish' crappy speccy game

And some years back I had the chance to know deeper about the club thanks to this forum. The stories of Toshack and aldo, the fame of the early eighties, plus the TV games and press articles got me started about Liverpool, and thanks to you I've learnt deeper.

It's difficult to say where lies the frontiere. There's one moment in which you don't choose which teams you support, you simply are happy when they win, and sad when they lose. I think it was around when I was 12 or 13 years old.

by **account deleted by request** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 7:39 pm

1965 FA cup final. It was the first game I ever watched on TV. I had heard of Liverpool (the city), I hadn't heard of Leeds, so I chose Liverpool. Supported them ever since. Can't say I remember much of the 1966 title win, so maybe it wasn't till the 66 World cup that my interest in football really blossomed, but there was only one team for me Liverpool.

Started going to Anfield 1968, and hardly missed a home game for years after that, I was hooked.

by **hunterz** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 7:39 pm

wow,what a true fan you are..I couldnt ever imagine myself crying in any case..not even when liverpool lost to AC Milan during the previous champian league..Respect :bowdown

A good post and thread.. :buttrock

by **destro** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 7:44 pm

Started my life as a supporter of THE greatest ( Dudek

) football team 27 years ago when i was 7 or 8. I consider myself one of the lucky ones due to the fact i was actually born and bred in Manchester

Many thanks to my best friend in school at the time who supported Liverpool and managed to convert me, the best thing i ever learnt in school and i havent looked back since

First game i can remember was against Man City at maine road F.A cup we won 4-0 but i remember it more for the abuse John Barnes received from the nobs in the Kippax

by **Alonso14** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 7:51 pm

Robbie Fowler.

by **hunterz** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 8:00 pm

I'm a Singaporean,and actually I wasn't abit like and enjoy soccer at all.I thought it was stupid to have 22 adults chasing a ball around the field..However after I know a group of friends that played soccer,I was "hooked" on the game.

Back than,everyone that I knew supported an EPL club,that was about 1995..my best friend supported newcastle while the rest,as expected supported the irritating Man U.I wanted to have a club to support but did not want to follow the hype of supporting Man U,however as I do not know what other clubs to support I did not support any.

My first knowledge of Liverpool came ironically from a barber shop..I was there waiting for my turn to come as I spotted a soccer magazine,thinking that this might be a good chance to learn more about soccer,I picked that up and I found a club called Liverpool that had a very good records in the past, even better than Man U that was sweeping away most of the titles at that time..Finally a club more superior than Man U,I thought to myself..that was the day that I considered and proudly declared myself a Liverpool fan.

My most memorable moments I had was the match during the mid 1990s when Liverpool beat Newcastle 4-3,with fowler scored a fantastic goal from outside the penalty box..I deliberately woke up in the middle of the night to check the score because that was the first time that I betted with my friends and demostrated my trust and loyalty as a Reds..My newcastle fans dared me to bet with them,theres four of us..three of them newcastle fans and Im the only Liverpool fan,so naturally we betted our fav team..You could imagine how stressed I am because if I lose I would lose to three person and how happy I am to find out that I won..Liverpool made me very proud that night!!!!!!!! :eyebrow

by **Igor Zidane** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 8:02 pm

Supported LFC all my life (38 years), me dad was a mad red and went the match every week , Liverpool one week and Everton the next , he never supported Everton , he just loved watching footy.

I nearly started supporting Birmingham in about 1975 , i've no idea why must have been something to do with trevor francis , he was good. Anyway me dad soon drummed that out of me and i've loved Liverpool ever since.

Best moment European cup final 1977.

Worst moment April 15 1989.

by **NANNY RED** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 8:23 pm

My first real memory of becoming a red was on the way home from Norris Green Swimming baths when i was a kid. Being the only girl apart from me mam in a male and football mad household i was always aware that it was something special from the lads but id only watched it on telly but that day on the bus changed my life forever.

We used to live in the town and the bus from the baths used to go past the kop and stop at the bus stop opposite, loads of people used to get on and start talking about Roger Hunt missing this or Saint scoring, but there was still fifteen minutes left to go, so us being nosy we decided next time we would get off the bus and go and see what all the exitment was about, and thats what we did. In them days they used to open the kop gates with about 20 or 15 minutes to go and you could just walk in and try and get a veiw of the match and us being girls the men always made room for us, they didnt mind back then if you tried shoving past them to get a better view.

Anyway that day we were playing West Ham i got my first glimse of Bobby Moore and it was the first time id ever seen a black man never mind a black footballer he was Clyde Best great silky skills he had, well that day we won 1 -0 i cant remember who even scored for us but i was there when the goal was scored and i new then that this is where i wanted to be every saturday instead of going the baths.

I remember when we got home me dad was going mad because we were so late getting home from the baths, and when i told him were wed been he went even madder cause we had gone on our own. Anyway that night after theyd all been into town for there saturday night drink he told me if i wanted to go the match i had to go with him, hed had a few bevys and come Sunday morning he couldnt remember telling me, but i kept on and on at him until he finaly gave in and took me, but hed got tickets in the main stand and although i enjoyed the match i kept looking over at the kop singing and swaying, thats were i wanted to be not sitting down. But me being the only girl i finally got what i wanted and for the next season i got an early birthday pressie a season ticket for the kop.

Since then my life was always about football, going away on a coach from Lewises to St Ettienne which took 2 days to get there and it only cost 29 pound, to Rome, Wembly ,Paris , Heysel even as far as Russia , what great laughs and memories we have had on our travels the only dissapointment i have got in that time was i moved from liverpool (still went the games though home and away and to europe) was that when my son was born my brother got to him first and he became a blue :angry:

by **whatahitson** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 8:28 pm

I have been a red for 23 years. I was 8 years old (1983). I dont remember much about the first few years, only that i supported Liverpool. I cant say why I started to support them either, probably because they were the first team I saw on telly?

My first game I remember properly was the 1986 cup final...omg what a game (sorry Everton fans). That day was just amazing!! I remember getting up early, sitting down with my crayons and making a poster of my favourite team whilst watching fa cup match of the day.... (i think it started at about 11am). Seeing the coach leave the hotel and reaching Wembley... (goosebumps). The game was fantastic... After the game I went outside and played footy all evening in the middle of the road with my mates (only two cars in the street)

Being a liverpool fan is one rollercoaster ride we had the highs of the 70's and 80's, the very lows of the 90's and the highs/lows of houlier, but now oh yes now I believe that we will once again see those highs coming back to Anfield and beyond.

by **Igor Zidane** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 8:29 pm

Crackin story that nan , that's just sick that bit at the end though.

by **Sabre** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 8:33 pm

Who said there can't be good threads at this part of the year?

Nice stories!! All of them. :buttrock

Keep them coming.

by **mikopool** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 8:40 pm

I moved to Scotland when I was 7 years old, when I was leaving my grandfather said " they are going to ask you what football team you support, and by god you better say Liverpool " Initially being Canadian, didn't know anything about football (being 7 and all) after a month of being in Scotland, I caught a Liverpool match on the telly and watched Liverpool lose, but the crowd was still singing at the final whistle, I thought to myself " why would they still sing even if they lost? They must be a special team " the rest was history, I am 23 now which makes it 16 years of being a red, once my grandfather died I got a solid black Liverbird to cover the whole front of my right bicep as a memorial to him and to pledge myself to the club I grew up with.

Best moment for me was obviously the champions league win, worst moment for me believe it or not was when we drew Sheffield Wednesday on the last day of the season to miss out on the champions league in 95.

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