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Review: YNWA – The Official History of Liverpool FC

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YNWA-3-6830957It is perhaps fitting that the 2nd run of Nicky Allt’s YNWA: The Official History of Liverpool FC comes this season, on the eve of Liverpool travelling to Old Trafford for a game that could prove to be massive turning point in the history of both clubs, with the balance of power shifting back in the direction of Merseyside.

Much like many of Liverpool’s recent seasons, Allt’s show goes through the gamut of feelings and emotions through the course of 2 hours, from the founding of the greatest football club in the world, through joy, despair, laughter and mourning.

The superb cast takes fans through the club’s history, decade by decade, pinpointing key events and victories with humour, and no small part of familiarity. While Blues may not feel particularly keen on seeing this show, there is a great deal of warmth regarding football in the region in general but seen through a very keen, Red eye.

Told from the viewpoint of a very, very Red family from the Anfield area, the history of the club is recounted through these family members as they bury their granddad, then reminisce and celebrate his life as pure-blood Liverpool fan.

Taking on a number of roles each, the cast, including locals such as Mark Moraghan, Jake Abraham, Lenny Wood and Rachel Rae, barely stand still for a second and all have their part to play in running through the last 121 years of the clubs history, with Lenny Wood being a particular stand-out.

If there is a moment in Liverpool history that stands out for you, chances are it’ll have it’s time during the 2 hours, and legends from Elisha Scott through to Steven Gerrard receive their fair share of praise and adoration.

Special mention must go to the compassionate and careful handling of both the Heysel and Hillsborough tragedies, which brought back many painful memories for much of the audience – and, no doubt, cast – and credit must go to Nicky Allt’s writing and Lindzi Germain’s performance of a mother sending her son off to Sheffield, only to never see him return – a very sobering moment in a performance of music and laughter.

With songs from local bands, such as Cast, as well as well-known terrace songs that we all know and love, we’re given the opportunity to recall all of our favourite moments, players and achievement in an atmosphere that feels every bit as close and unified as the Kop itself. If you find the time to attend, by the end, you’ll find yourself standing, arms in the air, singing You’ll Never Walk Alone as if celebrating the club’s 19th league victory.

It’s hard to recommend YNWA: The Official History of Liverpool Football Club anymore and if you’re from (or happen to find yourself in) Liverpool and are fortunate enough to have been raised by a family of Reds, then you’d only be letting yourself down if you didn’t find the time to take it in at least once.

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I'm a 32 year old Liverpool fan, living in the heart of the City Centre. I've supported the club since the day I was born and have been writing articles for L4L for over 3 years, writing close over 350 articles in that time. My favorite player of the past generation is Sami Hyypia.

I am the current editor for L4L, with my day job being in R&D for the NHS.