This Was Anfield

"Of course I didn't take my wife to see Rochdale as an anniversary present, it was her birthday. Would I have got married in the football season? Anyway, it was Rochdale reserves." - Bill Shankly

The government has finally put through Liverpool's proposed stadium plans, and while I'm excited to see them come to fruition, it will be with a heavy heart and a lump in my throat that I say goodbye to Anfield. I appreciate the fact that to ever have any hope of competing with the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, and begrudgingly Manchester United, Liverpool need to increase their capacity to something closer to 60,000. However, leaving Anfield would be gutting, its been the only place I've ever been that literally took my breath away. When Lori took me on the tour for my birthday, I barely said a word, I just drank in the atmosphere and experience; every ghost of Anfield in full view: Shankly, Paisley, Toshack, Keegan, Rush, Aldridge, Fowler, Owen. They had all been there, and now I was too. As the group was led to the tunnel and I came face to face with the famous, "This is Anfield" sign, everything seemed to move in slow motion, each of us in turn went and touched the sign as numerous Anfield Legends and Villans had before. We were then taken down the tunnel and caught the first glimpse of the pitch. All of the air in my lungs deserted me, to be pitchside, sitting on the bench, looking at The Kop, it was too much. I was going into acute cardiorespiratory distress, but I was attempting to sit there silently and reverently like everyone else, thankfully, I didn't topple off the bench and end up as a casualty, or maybe as an amusing anecdote for the tour guides to tell to other groups of Japanese tourists that come through.
My point is this, I wouldn't imagine my Anfield story is unique, hundreds of thousands of people have been through it over the years, and I couldn't have been the only one that was breathless on the tour, or had to blink back eye moisture while hearing "You'll Never Walk Alone" for the first time. Anfield is a footballing Mecca, and once its gone, there won't be many left, with Arsenal leaving Highbury, only Old Trafford and White Hart Lane will be left as the true footballing temples. I'm also nervous about the new stadium after seeing the adjustment pains that Manchester City are going through at their new digs. It just seems so sterile, the core of home fans don't know where to sit, the atmosphere is all but gone, Maine Road, from all accounts, was a complete hole, and it was completely justified and necessary - but it just isn't the same.
Many people have said that the Taylor Report killed The Kop, but judging from the praise and vitriol that spews from it match in, match out, I can say that the spirit is alive and kicking, even if people have to stay near their seats now. I just hope that this move doesn't put the final nail in the coffin, nothing would be worse than having a brilliant new stadium with all the punters from The Kop staying away.


(Readers Note: As you all know, its damn near impossible to write a flowing and cohesive piece on something that you are truly passionate about, when dealing with feelings that can't be put into words, the words get stuck in the ends of your fingers, and no matter how you write it, you're never happy with it, and know it could be said more eloquently. This made perfect sense in my head, and that's what matters really, you don't come here for literary genius, to be fair, I don't know why you come at all, but I KNOW its not for that)

Dude, Your Dignity

So, here's my proper opening Blog gambit - I thought that before I went into one over my everyday life, I'd need a fascinating or humourous story to capture everyone's attention and imagination, and here goes.

Lori and I were in town today, doing the usual Sunday shopping thing - we wandered down to my new academic home, 'The Avril Robarts' building, went for a fry up breakfast, enjoyed a surprisingly sunny day here on Merseyside. Our last port of call was the Tesco's grocery store, we whipped around, picking up various things for dinner tonight - Lori's "friend" invited herself over for dinner, and put requests in for type of wine, and asked if we could pick her up a few things, which I feel is completely taking the piss, more on her later - anyway - after paying for our foodstuffs we were wandering out when there was a big commotion at the entrance - some poor soul had set off the door alarm, the culprit was actually on his way into the store, so it was highly unlikely that he'd actually stolen anything. The security guard strolled over to the gent and casually asked to search his bag, the guy seemed a little wary, and soon, I could see why. He handed over his Virgin Megastore bag, clearly the magnetic offender, the guard said he'd just take off the security tag and he could be on his way. He thrust his hand deep into the bag and produced.......A hardcore porno movie. The clanging of carts and beeping of tills drowned out by the sound of a two dozen sets of eyebrows jumping in shock, surprise, and accusation. (Aside: Lori and I have been into the Virgin Megastore many times, and I can personally guarantee that they have the sketchiest and worst porno section I can ever imagine, we're talking Night Owl video style here. Now, I'm no conneiseur, but I'd think they'd put the hottest chicks on the front of the video to entice you to buy it, apparently not in this porno section - more cellulite per square inch than an Overeaters Anonymous meeting- grotesque, elderly faces contorted into what can only be described as....the rapture...but I digress) The man, clearly wanting to be anywhere but there, tried to play it cool, but with little result - his eyes cast down like a naughty child caught with his hand in the cookie jar, and he hurridly collected his film and vanished off into the fresh produce section, with tens of eyes following his every step. Now, from the glmipse I got, it could have been way worse - its not like the guy was buying Anal Pickups or anything - but still, my heart went out for him - he pops to the shops to pick up a bit of blue, and gets outed in the middle of a grocery store. If he was 13, he'd have been a god among his friends, seeing as he was closer to 33, he's just a bit sad. Funny how that works.

Well, here it is, I don't know what you expect from me, or this, but, here it is.....Here's hoping its all you dreamed of.