I credit Iain, who grew up near Liverpool in a multi-generational Red family, for introducing me to the club when we met in 1977: its history, character and traditions, memorable managers and players, Anfield, the Kop, the English FA, European and world football. That year, and at subsequent times, we attended home games together and even made a memorable hitchhiking trip to London to watch the Reds play in the 1978 League Cup Final at Old Wembley Stadium.
Since then, it has been so much fun to watch media coverage of soccer increase, and the worldwide audience for top-flight football grow, particularly in the U.S. (Even at home, where Joanie is building her knowledge and love of the beautiful game!). The understanding and appreciation of what Liverpool represents as an organization and as a community, has become truly universal. Anywhere on the globe where I travel or live, a large part of my comfort in new places comes from the knowledge that I will always find shelter, sustenance, safety, and security amongst fellow Liverpool supporters. It’s true: You’ll never walk alone!
So, when Iain asked if we wanted to take the stadium tour at Anfield and visit the LFC Museum, we didn’t hesitate to say yes. For those of you who don’t care for soccer, or who may support another team, feel free to take a break until my next post, where I’ll share about our first climb. But for the rest of you, after the remarkable achievements of this 2021-22 season, I encourage you to listen to Gerry sing “Walk on…” while you enjoy this virtual tour with us.
After all this time spent soaking up all things Red, we were fortunate to watch on TV the last five matches of the year during our visit to England: three games in the Premier League, the FA Cup Final and the UEFA Champions League Final. It added some exciting evenings to our normally strenuous days out in the fells.
