My big liverpool heart - Youll neeeeeever walk alonnnnnnnnnnneeee
Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2004 1:37 pmRecently in this forum I've had all sorts thrown in my direction.
Some have tried to deny me the right to be part of the greatest footballing democracy in the world. A club that was born from the proud sacrifices of thousands of Irish imigrants that left their beloved Ireland to seek a better more and a prosperous life in the greatest sea port in the world.
For once upon a time Liverpool was the gateway to the new world, the place that maintained and upheld the total wealth and dominance of the British Empire. The city that brought the delights and the riches of the commonwelth of great nations to British shores. Here many of my kin folk went in search of the basic human aspirations. The sought,their humanity, their right to life, their right to eat and their right to work and earn food to feed their children. Most importantly they sought a chance of a brighter and better future. They came and help build a small sea port into a city that all the world would come to honour.
Liverpool offered Irishmen and women the freedom their own country could not give them. From this influx was born names such as Lennon and McCartney. But most importantly form these masses of Irish imigrants were born the foundations of two great football clubs. One that would one day rival any in its own land and one that would teach nations what football should and could be a conquerer of nations.
The team born to conquer the sporting world would rely on its birth right of Irish, Scottish and Welsh imigrants who would augment, the indigenous masses of hardworking Anglo Saxon stock and togather they would build a great legacy of a city, Culture and sporting success.
But this clubs greatest hour would be born from the belief and conviction of humble Ayrshire miner. A man who having worked his young life in darkness of the coal mines in the same place that great men and great reformers such as Kier Hardie where born. This miner was destined to lead millions of dreamers out of the darkest pits and into the brightest of light.
This Little man who had played for or managed Carlisle, Preston North End, Grimsby, Workington and Huddersfield would make the dreams of poor Liverpool factory workers and Liverpool dockers come true.
He left his home of Glenbuck and delivered to the people of Liverpool his promise of the greatest football club in the world. He met his standards and delivered on his word. He gave many of us our dreams and we honoured him, rightly. Bill Shankly was truly the greatest ever football manager and he set the standard that all those who came after himwould follow. He made promises and then, to his word he honoured them. Those who were old enough here, knew him well, those of us, like me remember only his greatness, I have only memories of a straight talking little Scotch man, that made me love football. I suppose my memories play tricks and thats why I like G. Strachan so much. I long for the candid and witty genius that was Bill Shankly.
I was an 8 years old boy many miles away in Belfast when he hung his boots up in July 1974. I cried more tears that day
than ever in my life and perhaps more than many of you who think your more entitled to be a Liverpool fan than me.
I have cried many more tears both for joy and with great great sadness.
I have been told that I have no right to belong on the streets of Liverpool they are not my streets, more importantly for me I have been told that I don't belong in the stands of my beloved Anfield. If this was true how many outsiders would not belong, I have stood in the Kop on great European nights and I have been there for both victories and defeats as have so many of you and yet someone tells me I don't belong. I have met hundreds and thousands of die hard Liverpool fans, I've met ex players and coaches even an ex manager not one of them in my 30 years as a fan and supporter has ever told me I don't belong. Shame on those who do.
More importantly I'll be back there in a fortnights time, should anyone think I don't belong just Look out for the big Irishman with the liverpool badge on his heart you come and you try to stop me.
Some have tried to deny me the right to be part of the greatest footballing democracy in the world. A club that was born from the proud sacrifices of thousands of Irish imigrants that left their beloved Ireland to seek a better more and a prosperous life in the greatest sea port in the world.
For once upon a time Liverpool was the gateway to the new world, the place that maintained and upheld the total wealth and dominance of the British Empire. The city that brought the delights and the riches of the commonwelth of great nations to British shores. Here many of my kin folk went in search of the basic human aspirations. The sought,their humanity, their right to life, their right to eat and their right to work and earn food to feed their children. Most importantly they sought a chance of a brighter and better future. They came and help build a small sea port into a city that all the world would come to honour.
Liverpool offered Irishmen and women the freedom their own country could not give them. From this influx was born names such as Lennon and McCartney. But most importantly form these masses of Irish imigrants were born the foundations of two great football clubs. One that would one day rival any in its own land and one that would teach nations what football should and could be a conquerer of nations.
The team born to conquer the sporting world would rely on its birth right of Irish, Scottish and Welsh imigrants who would augment, the indigenous masses of hardworking Anglo Saxon stock and togather they would build a great legacy of a city, Culture and sporting success.
But this clubs greatest hour would be born from the belief and conviction of humble Ayrshire miner. A man who having worked his young life in darkness of the coal mines in the same place that great men and great reformers such as Kier Hardie where born. This miner was destined to lead millions of dreamers out of the darkest pits and into the brightest of light.
This Little man who had played for or managed Carlisle, Preston North End, Grimsby, Workington and Huddersfield would make the dreams of poor Liverpool factory workers and Liverpool dockers come true.
He left his home of Glenbuck and delivered to the people of Liverpool his promise of the greatest football club in the world. He met his standards and delivered on his word. He gave many of us our dreams and we honoured him, rightly. Bill Shankly was truly the greatest ever football manager and he set the standard that all those who came after himwould follow. He made promises and then, to his word he honoured them. Those who were old enough here, knew him well, those of us, like me remember only his greatness, I have only memories of a straight talking little Scotch man, that made me love football. I suppose my memories play tricks and thats why I like G. Strachan so much. I long for the candid and witty genius that was Bill Shankly.
I was an 8 years old boy many miles away in Belfast when he hung his boots up in July 1974. I cried more tears that day
than ever in my life and perhaps more than many of you who think your more entitled to be a Liverpool fan than me.
I have cried many more tears both for joy and with great great sadness.
I have been told that I have no right to belong on the streets of Liverpool they are not my streets, more importantly for me I have been told that I don't belong in the stands of my beloved Anfield. If this was true how many outsiders would not belong, I have stood in the Kop on great European nights and I have been there for both victories and defeats as have so many of you and yet someone tells me I don't belong. I have met hundreds and thousands of die hard Liverpool fans, I've met ex players and coaches even an ex manager not one of them in my 30 years as a fan and supporter has ever told me I don't belong. Shame on those who do.
More importantly I'll be back there in a fortnights time, should anyone think I don't belong just Look out for the big Irishman with the liverpool badge on his heart you come and you try to stop me.
