I'm 21 and have been supporting the Reds since I was 7 or 8.
My Dad has always supported our local club, Falkirk, but it was my friend's Dad's love for the Reds that was totally infectious to me and completely sucked me in to the LFC family.
Dad took a small interest in football, watching games on TV, but never becoming involved passionately with anything going on. He even used to take me along to watch Falkirk during their home games, but we sat in silence and there was never really any connection to the team as I was always on my phone updating myself with the Liverpool score.
As I said, my friend's Dad on the other hand would watch Liverpool on the TV, go to the occasional match at Anfield and was always banging on about transfer stories and memories of previous triumphs. The passion involved in his support for the team was phenomenal, infectious, brilliant... He would shout, he would cheer and he would mourn as if Liverpool were in some way his family. It was only in the years to follow when I too developed these feelings for the club that I realised, it appeared that way because Liverpool WERE his family, and he loved them unconditionally. It was this guy who got me hooked on the IDEA of supporting Liverpool, from there, the club, the fans, the players and the legacy were what sealed the deal and won my heart.
My first trip to watch Liverpool play in the flesh was on August 2nd, 2008 at Ibrox stadium. Rangers vs Liverpool and I was lucky enough to get tickets for the Liverpool end. I'll never forget that first feeling of mixing with my fellow LFC supporters - even if the guys behind us WERE talking about putting bricks through Jermaine Pennant's windows... but, I digress
- and having the privilege of singing YNWA. A 4-0 win and seeing my favourite player at the time, Judas Torres (
), score made for a perfect day.
My first (and thus far only) experience at Anfield was on the 14th January 2012 vs Stoke City. I was lucky enough to get a ticket through the local supporter's club. I made a day of it, making a point of visiting the Hillsborough Justice Shop, making a few purchases and seeing all the artwork and memorabilia on display, before heading to a boozer to soak up the atmosphere pre-game. Unfortunately the match ended 0-0 and I was sat in the very far end of the Centenary Stand (as close to the Annie Road end as I could possibly have gotten) but my word did I enjoy myself!
Since beginning to support the Reds I have also infected my Mum with the LFC bug! She sometimes shouts louder than me at the telly!
I plan to keep alive the spirit of LFC through any children I may have!
Also: Here's a picture of me on the Anfield Stadium tour back in 2010 with Ol' Big Ears!