Liverpool’s support is far and wide around the world
For as long as I can remember, football has been a major part of my life, so when selecting an area of interest to complete the most important piece of academic research I will ever undertake, there was never a debate in my mind that Liverpool FC would be the focus. Whenever I hear a Scouse accent, or see a Liverpool shirt, I am reminded of home, and of the family that I am a member of.
Since arriving at Lancaster University, I have been lucky enough to meet many new people from a wide range of places, and have noticed throughout that football is a bonding factor. It’s a topic of conversation that can bridge cultures and language barriers, breaching the awkward moments when making new acquaintances. In my first year, I lived with seven other people, guys from Hong Kong, Pakistan, China, and Lincoln, and girls from Hungary and Manchester. The boy who lived opposite me was an avid Liverpool fan – it was all we ever talked about. This fascinated me; a boy from Hong Kong, who had never been to Anfield, who had never experienced a trophy parade, or even had a player from his region play for the Reds, was so passionate about my local team. This interest evolved into my final dissertation topic: The Globalisation of the Liverpool FC fandom.
For 6 months, I sent out questionnaires to football fans all around the world, from Thailand to Toronto and Sao Paolo to Singapore. One thing I noticed was, no matter where the fans came from, they considered Liverpool FC to be an important component in their life. My main research interest laid in trying to understand why they would chose to support a team that had no real significance to them in the same way Liverpool has to me. The same over-riding themes presented themselves: history, passion, and a unique sense of belonging. I took my former housemate from Hong Kong to Anfield for his first ever match; he cried during You’ll Never Walk Alone, and lost his voice from shouting and screaming. I had tried to explain to him how it felt, but until we stood in the Kop amongst our fellow fans, he couldn’t quite comprehend it. When I walk into Anfield, my outside life is left at the turnstile, and I feel as insignificant as the fan I sit next to, I shout, cheer and hug strangers, and I feel like I am home, amongst the 45,000 others who are there, and it is the most wonderful feeling I regularly experience.
Finding the answers to explain this feeling and devotion to my friends who don’t follow football, and trying to understand how fans who do not experience Anfield’s glories, drove me throughout the dissertation process. Striving to find the answers to the question ‘why?’ is as strong a motivation as I have ever needed, and I feel like the data I collected went some way to answering this. Knowing that Liverpool was shown in Apartheid South Africa prompting unified support in an otherwise polarised country, or discovering that employing footballers from every continent influences the support of foreign fans has only cemented and strengthened my own support, and my follow supporters’ belief that Liverpool is the best team. The global nature of fan support (I received answers from South America, North America, Europe, Africa, Middle-East, Asia and Australasia) especially of Liverpool, has seen the club become the third most followed team in the world, with over 250 million fans world-wide; Liverpool as is set to overtake Manchester United to become the most supported British team in the world, and will only be trailing behind Real Madrid, within the next 5 years.
The current generation of Liverpool players have a global audience of millions watching them
I can remember my first ever Liverpool football match as clear as anything. My earliest footballing memories were of Michael Owen scoring against Wimbledon, and against Argentina in the world Cup (I know, they are pretty good footballing memories to have as your first) and from then, I just wanted to watch Owen, play for Liverpool, at Anfield. It came on December 28th 1998, my Mum’s birthday, against Newcastle United. I can remember us going 2-0 down and being upset, and then watching Michael Owen score, standing on my chair and being completely drowned out as my little girl screams were lost in the crowd. A player called Riedle, who for the life of me I can’t remember except for this game, scored one, then Owen scored what turned out to be the winner and Riedle completed his brace not long before the final whistle. From then I knew I would never tire of watching Liverpool play. For a long time, I never saw Liverpool lose, or draw, not until I went to see Lazio play with my brothers.
I can remember the first European night I was allowed to stay up and watch past half-time, which was then my bed-time. It was the 2001 UEFA cup final in Dortmund against Alavés, which was nothing short of a goal-fest, when a last in Extra-time cross by the legendary Gary McAllister was headed in my a defender, and we won thanks to the golden goal rule. I love that rule. I felt a bit sick as it got near the end, and I was very tired in school the next day, but it was an awesome feeling. I had been at my Gran’s house a few days earlier while my parents travelled to Cardiff to watch the Arsenal FA cup final where Michael Owen saved us and beat the Gunners; these two moments are the first time when I can really remember thinking that football will never be far away from my thoughts, and will always be part of my life.
The first (and only) time I got to see Liverpool in a final was in 2012. It remains the 3rd favourite match I have ever attended as a Liverpool fan (the first being the 2006 FA cup semi-final vs Chelsea at Old Trafford – I still maintain that is the loudest You’ll Never Walk Alone I have been a part of – and the 2008 Champions League quarter-final defeat of Arsenal at Anfield, where hugging a random stranger was absolutely the correct reaction to the 4th goal going in) I got my ticket and travel free courtesy of the club (i was employed as a bar supervisor at the time) and the whole event was absolutely unforgettable. I say that, I don’t think I have forgotten any of the momentous occasions that I have witnessed involving Liverpool throughout my lifetime.
All of my major footballing memories, however, centre on watching my team in the flesh, or on the TV from Liverpool. This experience is vastly different to many millions of Liverpool fans around the world. I am soon to travel to the far-east (Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore) and down-under (Australia, and New Zealand) and may get a taste of what it is like to support a team from thousands of miles away. Will it dampen my fanatical support? Will it heighten my love for my home city and club? Will I find another local team to align some of my physical support to while I am away from Liverpool?
Support of LFC is bringing people together the world over
Despite the loss of money, time, sanity, voice, I would not change supporting Liverpool for the world. I felt true elation, absolute happiness, on May 25th 2005. That final, when everything felt lost, and despair and pain were the only emotions experienced by literally millions of reds, was so fantastic when we completed mission impossible. I have the DVD’s, and the documentaries recorded, I know the significant bits of commentary relating to the final, can remember going with my brothers and my Dad to watch them parade the trophy the night after in the sun thinking it just doesn’t get better than this. After completing my research, I noticed similar events were the favourite moments of fan’ support from around the world. How great, unbelievable, amazing is it that one random summer evening can join strangers from opposite sides of the globe?
Having chosen this topic largely because it would hold my interest for my entire dissertation year, and to answer my own, and my friends’, nagging football questions, I found that football and academia is a match made in heaven. By asking everyday questions and studying them within an academic context, I not only broadened my knowledge of globalisation, football psychology, and the footballing world behind the media portrayal, but also began to understand how important football, and Liverpool, is to those who do not live solely within Merseyside. It has increased my interest of football around the world, and has only increased my passion for Liverpool. I ask more questions and I am more observant of everything to do with the club. As I travel, it is adding a new dimension to my plans, and will influence my interactions with people, with whom I may have no other connection that football.
Where are you from? Why do you support Liverpool? What are your outstanding memories of the red-men? I’d love to hear from you, so comment below, or find me on twitter @LizHannah25.
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Well written Elizabeth. About time someone gave us (the non-British section of the Kop, ;)) a voice.
Like many, many, MANY supporters who have never seen Liverpool play in the flesh or been to Anfield, I say it’s a self-adopted invisible bond which allows us to reach out to LFC. While we (and I say the WE with nonchalance) have won the odd competition since I started supporting LFC (ironically, my love affair started due a certain M. Owen, :D), there have been other clubs who have been much much successful than us. So it’s not the success nor the mega-bucks and the subsequent inflow of phenomenal global talent which attracts us to LFC. Nor are we born Scousers.
So, maybe it’s because LFC is a people’s club with a rich history. Maybe it’s because LFC can be viewed as an underdog in this world of the Chelseas, the MAn Citys, the PSGs, the Real Madrids….and everyone loves an underdog, that too one competing in one of the toughest leagues in the world. Maybe it’s just because it’s LFC. Period!
Hi there, I don’t normally respond when I read articles on LFC, But your piece was so interesting you’ve forced me add my memories of our great club. I grew up a little over two miles from Anfield a place called Norris Green, and why did I become a Liverpool supporter? Simple really, my dad, my mam, my four brothers, and my three sisters were all Liverpool supporters. I was not going to be any different!
Although my very first recollection of anything Liverpool was the cup final defeat by Arsenal in 1971 and that Charlie goal, what I remember fondly till this day are the radio commentaries of the mid to late 70’s which weal used to listen to on the family stereogram. By today’s standards admission prices back in the 70’s were relatively cheap, but with 8 in the family we weren’t always able to afford to go the game, coupled with that, football on TV back then compromised of highlights on MOTD Saturday night and The Match on Sunday afternoon, miss them at your peril! With that in mind those radio commentaries were an important part of our family sporting entertainment.
Night matches were something special at Anfield even when you weren’t there, Living so close to the ground you could look out the back garden and see the glow of the floodlights light up the night sky, it was brilliant knowing the best team in Europe was playing under those floodlights so near to my home. I used to love it when the team scored a goal I would run out to the back garden as quickly as I could and you be able to hear the roar of the crowd celebrating the goal for a young lad that was so special.
Although they remain abiding memories of my early days supporting my team, the memory I cherish the most was as to be St Etienne. I was there! Unbelievable unforgettable. We are so lucky to Liverpool supporters aren’t we.
Keep up the good work
Regards
Tommy
” ya gerraaaaaaard ya beautyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy what a hit son what a hit” he said yesterday he wouldn’t wake up in the Uefa cup tomorrow. Liverpool champions here go” those were the memories I live with as Liverpool supporter but indeed there are other vivid memories of lfc.
the Andy Gray’s words sums up all. the mission impossible s nothing without Steven gerrard’s olympiakos.
first and foremost why am I Liverpool supporter? how did I become Liverpoolfc supporter?
I am African in Kenya especially the northern part. It was in 1998 at the world cup when I saw Micheal Owen’s solo goal against Argentina. that guy impressed me. that was my first time I watched football on the telly and he left me saying ‘what a talent”. from that day I started to follow him to Liverpoolfc. then came the amazing thing I ever saw in a football match- the Liverpool anthem- You Will Never Walk Alone. that is what made my hair to stand and hairs on my back stood. without hesitation I became a supporter.
the passion the history the world wide support and above all being a member of family strengthened my support.
as I write this comment, I am with manure fan telling me Suarez has left and goals will dry up at Liverpool (he doesnt knw the team is still there – Sterling sturridge Steven Allen Henderson and the summer signings ) and revokes me saying that they have bought world class striker in the form of Falcao( he doesn’t know we walked out of the deal basically he is hungry 4 wealth and not trophies) . I replied he is injury prone but we have a system a philosophy called death by football- ask arsenal reverting tottenham and they will tell you we have experienced it but that is death by footballin transition.
sit back and tighten your belt we are in for a hell of a ride.
I support Liverpool and well just a fan of football in general and the first time at anfield I was in the away end but got to see my team win, the second time in the kop best experience of my life, Bt this year I visited Dortmund to watch Bayern vs Dortmund in the final of the dlf supercup while Dortmund have a amazing stadium and the fans and experiance is amazing all round for me the one and only part that will stay with me is just after the players came out we sang YNWA truly unbelievable a group of 40000 odd thousand fans singing a song you associate with your own club
Incredible read Elizabeth.
Firstly, welcome to the Live4Liverpool team. As a fellow writer I’m looking forward to reading more pieces from you.
I’m English, but have travelled & lived abroad in numerous countries. In Africa, Asia, Americas & Europe. And supporting the Reds when abroad brings into context how incredibly committed such fans are.
I’m going to contact you on twitter and share this article as well as its great. Would really like to see the analysis & numbers behind your dissertation.
1965 FA Cup FInal and the question I was asked as a boy of 8 ‘who do you want to win?’. Liverpool played in all red, I wanted them to win and have been a die-hard Liverpool FC fan ever since. I grew up on Anglesey but in those days a trip to Liverpool was a trip to Alder Hey hospital for a very sick brother, never the money for soccer or the length of travel it took back then. Soccer was Match of the Day only. I left UK in 1977 after a stint at Leed’s Uni and I have been to Elland Rd, Old Trafford and Portman Rd to see games but still never to Anfield. Now I live in Canada, trips to UK are infrequent and to see my parents in Devon in June/July but I have traveled to Baltimore to see LFC on their pre-season tour and blessedly, Canadian TV coverage means I get to see just about every LFC game live now, unlike 20 yrs ago when there was none.
Now I am a university professor and one of my favourite bonding moments is the presence in my classes of students from allover the globe who also are LFC fans.
I will get to Anfield, hopefully in 2015 and now I have Twitter contacts to help get a ticket or 2 as I have 2 daughters committed to ensuring Dad gets his lifetime wish fulfilled! Meanwhile, an EPL title and CL #6 beckon.
Wow!!! Really, wow! I will not lie abt being a new generation fan. But all I can say is ever since I started understanding int soccer, there has neva been any other club besides liverpool for me. I started following liverpool 2006. And it took me days to fall in love with the club. I don’t tink I had ever felt more heart brking than wen we lost to Ac milan. But somting told me I was jst @ the beginnin of somting dat will complete me.
And Then came el nino… a whole page is not enof for me to describe wat I was feeling everyday jst tinking abt LFC with Torres in it.
But wen he left, I wished him well, but liverpool was alwaz the priority, den I realised it. Distance, origin or anyting tangible, cannot stop me from loving this team.
Yes, we don’t buy world stars. We are not in london to attract players, or neither have I seen a Nigerian(except moses) play for us. But the connection; passionate, invaluable, unexplainable identity, I have with this club will never waver. Bcos I live liverpool, and God help me the day I finally get to sing YNWA in the stands with my follow scousers bcos that is the one day I’m ready to put everyting on the line to xperience.
I have been travelling around SE Asia for a few weeks ready to start a new adventure teaching English here, and so Hadn’t managed to see these comments until I found a place to live. Thanks for all this feedback, it really means a lot. When I chose this research topic, I wanted to do something close to me, which led to football, and this is something that hugely interests me. It’s great to here why people chose LFC, where they come from, and what LFC means to them. YNWA.