I have said my whole experience in starting to support Liverpool in the 'You and Liverpool.. Why?' thread so I'll get to the point whereby I have a first brush with the lads.
March 2009, I vividly recall that I was in my school library on a mission to complete my school project. I was lazing around, most of us didn't have the motivation to complete it so I went out of the Multimedia centre. On the left of the exit laid a stack of newspapers. Eagerly as I thought I picked up the newspapers and flipped to the Sports section.
It was then I got a shock. 'Liverpool might be coming to Singapore.' was on the top of it all. There laid a picture of the lads who came to Singapore in 2001, I was never so excited about seeing them upclose. Last year when Brazil Olympic U23 team came for a warmup game, I saw the likes of Ronaldinho, Pato and Diego. The FA of Singapore promised for more top European sides with AC Milan and Porto thrown into the frame, but quietly I thought to myself the phrase 'top european side' meant that Liverpool was in it as well.
On my way home I whipped my phone out and texted my Dad about the possibility of them landing on Singapore shores. I was never this excited but his reply wasn't something to be proud of, instead he told me to stop getting carried away and focus on the present! I went on to buy local papers like never before since then, in hope of getting every piece of information on their whereabouts and all.
This continued so much and when news broke out that Gerrard will not be visiting because of a court case, my heart sank. But Liverpool isn't a one man team, is it? One week before their arrival it was where all competitions in the papers started to pop up, as well as promotions. You have to go on and spend money on sponsors like adidas, Carlsberg and Courts to go on and have a chance of redeeming tickets to meet the players/see them in training.
Adidas was a total let down for me because you have to be in the top 30 spenders to meet the players, and as I'm still a student money is going to be a big problem for me. Carlsberg was also a no-go, I am not 18 so I'm not entitled to buy their beers. Even if I got a ticket, I would be refused entry because of the plain simple fact I wasn't 18 yet.
Courts came calling in one of the papers soon and I was proud. I had to spend something like $30 (roughly 10 pounds), and then get the receipt and queue up at the Megastore the next day the first thing in the morning. I didn't know which players I was going to meet, all I cared about was even having the chance to meet upclose with them. The event was held on the 24th of July, Friday 2pm but I was still having school then. I didn't give a damn about it, the main priority was to get the tickets and then see what I can do about it.
I got the tickets at last and it was surreal. I never imagined meeting them in the first place, even a small autograph from Dossena or even the club doctor would make me go around the world already. Then I started to encounter problems, my school would end at 2.10pm on Friday and they went to announce that I have something compulsory at 240pm! Fussed and pissed as I was, I went on ahead and tried to get all of it out of my way. I was never going to give up a once-in-a-lifetime chance just for school. However, due to H1N1 precautions it was cancelled, so I rushed my way out of school at 210pm to the Megastore.
The queue was long and it was Arbeloa and Mascherano. I have never seen meself beaming so much, it was the proudest moment of my life seeing Masch and Arby 10 metres in front of me. I had a camera and obviously stuff for them to autograph. As I was in the queue I tried to take pictures of them but FFS! My camera went out of memory! Immediately I went on deleting lots of stuff, I was just thinking about making space for a picture with them.
Then it was my mum's turn to go up on stage with them and the next was me. I have never felt such adrenaline before. Supporting Liverpool from 6,281 miles isn't that easy as it is, and I certainly couldn't imagine going less than 1 metre up and then shaking hands with my idols and posing for pictures.
The moment came. It passed so fast, I shook both of their hands twice and I never wanted to let it go
. It was such a out of the world experience, I was overawed by the moment. I got their autographs on my shirt, as well as a nice picture with them! My only regret from that moment was not asking for another picture, but I certainly left the stage with what I wanted!
After they left at about 3:45pm, there was a lucky draw whereby we could redeem tickets for a training session taking place later in the day at 7pm. I didn't have the tickets to this, and the lucky draw had 50 winners so I thought I would have a more than awesome chance. For the past week or so I have been searching high and low for this training pass, sending in competition entries, but all to no avail. I am not a Liverpool Singapore fan club member which made things even more difficult. The numbers counted down and the chance of me winning it slowly diminished, before going up in thin air. All tickets were given out, some people winning as much as 3 times (from 3 passes) and I couldn't believe my bad luck. I was walking towards a lift to get to the carpark with my parents to head home, but someone tapped me behind from the shoulder and guess what..
She presented me with a training pass!!
She was a complete stranger from me and I was taken aback by her generousity. I had taken a look on eBay the night before and these tickets were going at $200 each, due to limited availability. I will also, never forget this moment where she gave me the pass, it was out of the blue and I didn't, in my wildest imagination thought that this would happen. Could never stopped thanking her, as well!
Quick as I could I rushed home in my mum's car, got changed and sped off in a taxi to the stadium. And it was a moment whereby I caught the lads displaying their skills on the training pitch! After it was all over I went on to the bus bay, waiting for the heroes to emerge from their buses. I couldn't do anything to get autographs whatsoever, it was near impossible but if I had stood at the right place then for sure I would have gotten Lucas' autograph as well!
Oh well the buses came out and I waved fanatically. Like never before. Am pleased to say Agger smiled back at me and did a small wave at me! That was for me! He was looking intently into me and he responded. Likes of Kuyt, Xabi also went on to wave but I can't be sure they were for me.
I also attracted Rafa's attention! He was serious as always talking on the phone (I suppose that was with Gerrard on the court case), but I shouted Rafa so loud that he turned and smiled! But that was about it though..
It was an amazing day the 24th July 2009, from start to finish I can go on and consider it the best day of my life (no matter how stupid that might sound). Matchday came on 26th July and in a flash it was all over. After that 5-0 win, they left the pitch and I never saw them in the flesh since..
They took the plane immediately after that win and headed back for Liverpool. Certainly they have left on me deep memories that I'll never forget in my life. Mind blowing, I don't have the previlege as compared to some of you living in Liverpool but I'll be going there in November, there at Anfield for a stadium visit.
Can't wait!
But wait
This is the proudest moment of my life.. to date. Sorry I've posted this a couple of times on here but I just can't stop going on about this picture!