I knew that I would cry when I visited Anfield, and I knew the exact moment upon which I would feel the tears flowing down my cheek- the singing of Gerry and the Pacemakers “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” Now bare in mind I am not a Liverpool fan. I’m actually a fan of, well what team I’m actually a fan of isn’t important right now.
What’s important is how beautiful and moving that song is and how much it means to tens of thousands singing in unison as they hold their scarves up high.
They played and sang #YNWA at Soldier Field in the summer of 2014 before Liverpool beat Olympiacos in a preseason friendly held in my hometown.
However, comparing that rendition of the stadium sing-a-long to this instance, the first in a league game since the Hillsborough verdict, is basically like comparing the Epcot Center version of Germany to the actual nation of Germany.
With every thing that the Liverpool fan base has been through over these past couple decades, and the personal connections I have to the song…such an amazingly powerful moment. Watch the video at this link.
And thus, This is Anfield, through the eyes of someone seeing it for the first time. Liverpool beat Watford 2-0 in the final league home match of the season, but this article isn’t a game recap; it’s about the wholistic experience.
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It was really cool that I happened to be seated next to another American, also at the game by himself, also a Premier League expert and aficionado. He was an elder gentleman who worked in merchant marine and was very well traveled, but claimed Baltimore as his current home. He was from San Francisco originally and arrived just before kickoff because his train suffered major delays due to, and I am not making this up, someone committed suicide by throwing themselves in front of the train from Manchester to Liverpool.
Yikes! As my new single serving friend said to me “how can anyone commit suicide on a day like this?” as he referenced the picture perfect weather- 78 degrees and sunny at kickoff.
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Hillsborough
April 25th brought the final ruling of new inquests made into the Hillsborough Disaster of 1989. The jury found that 96 Liverpool fans were “unlawfully killed” due to grossly negligent police actions. The jury’s conclusion blew the lid off a law enforcement cover-up which carried on for almost 27 years.
The momentum of the case shifted for good about a year and a month ago when the match commander at Hillsborough told a jury he “was probably not the best man for the job on the day.”
Former Superintendent David Duckenfield was in charge of policing at Sheffield Wednesday’s stadium when 96 Liverpool fans were fatally crushed in 1989. The crushing was ruled to be caused by Duckenfield’s inaction and faulty decision making at the stadium that day.
New inquests found that he had had “no recent experience” of policing at the ground before the disaster. Duckenfield, now 70, said, with the benefit of hindsight, it was a “serious mistake” to take the commander role at the ground that day.
Also, if you haven’t seen the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary on the Hillsborough disaster entitled Hillsborough, you really should. Here’s this site’s review. We rated the film #1 on out all time 30 for 30 top ten list.
New supporter scarves have been created and you can purchase these on Anfield Road. Here is a link to some photos, as well as more on Hillsborough, and the three Hillsborough memorials you can visit within the city of Liverpool (at Anfield, downtown and at the cathedral).
Also, if you haven’t seen the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary on the Hillsborough disaster entitled Hillsborough, you really should. Here’s my review of it. I also rated it #1 on my all time 30 for 30 top ten list.
https://twitter.com/PaulMBanks/status/729382184948240384
Everton
I guess I’m obliged to do a small blurb about the blue side of Mersey, as you’ll never find two rivals closer to each other in any sport, in any league, any where in the world. Yes, Goodison Park, home of the Toffees is just over a mile and change from Anfield across Stanley Park, so of course I made the trek.
Everton is a very solid side though with a decent history. They boast of achieving many innovations in the game of football first.
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Everton’s stadium is…well, it looked like….well, let’s move on.
Caution Work Zone
Many of the buildings around Anfield are, let’s just say they leave a lot to be desired. Travelers to Liverpool can take in a tour that focuses on the areas hit by the Nazis during the blitz. There are quite a few buildings within walking distance of the stadium that resemble the pictures I saw on the blitz tour brochure.
As for the stadium itself, it’s receiving a major upgrade. They’re doing major renovations of the facility and adding a new main stand. Here’s a look at an artist rendering posted on a wall very close to the players’ entrance at Anfield.
https://twitter.com/PaulMBanks/status/729388070005555200
Scouse and Scousers
I had to pick up my ticket at the Hard Day’s Night Hotel (yes, the famous Beatles themed hotel in downtown Liverpool) after I flew into John Lennon International Airport. I had scouse pie and Carlsberg at the game, and by the end of a weekend in Liverpool I was saying “hiyah” and “byeah” like all the locals. #ItsLiverpool (Yes, I know the Scouser thing refers to the local accent more than the food)
In other words, I did every single Liverpool stereotype you could think of between Saturday and Sunday. It must have been convincing too because twice I got stopped by people on the streets asking me for directions to places, and not the other way ’round. On such a nice day like this you had to “walk out, waaaaalk ooouuttttt….” to get back to the hotel.
https://twitter.com/PaulMBanks/status/729654494078763008
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Speaking of rock stars, now better term could describe the aura of Liverpool Manager Jurgen Klopp in Merseyside right now.
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So how would I rate the Anfield experience overall? Well, let’s put it this way- to say that going to a game at Anfield is the same sport as attending a Chicago Fire match is like comparing a B-2 Stealth Bomber to a rusty old Cessna. The Anfield Liverpool experience is laser guided missiles while the atmosphere at a Fire game is bows and arrows.
It’s all the same exact thing- airplanes, weapons, football/soccer, but not really.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication and Bold Global.
He also consistently appears on numerous talk shows all across the country. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram