For me it was a case of being involved at a young age at a different club.
After the first team played against anyone, most teams would come to the bar afterwards (a few didn’t, arsenal and Luton never did) where a lot of us youngsters would be mulling about. Gary Gillespie and John Barnes on one particular game stayed for a while longer and chatted to us all. And I remember I was hypnotised by Barnes.
After that I watched them when I could. It was just when they were declining as a club really. The last year or so of Kennys reign.
Anyway, injuries to me meant I couldn’t play but I got into coaching and ended up working with a few ex Liverpool players. Some I still see occasionally.
During my coaching days I met a few more ex Liverpool players (amongst others) but even though they had left liverpool they were all still pretty obsessed about them (apart from one who was p*ssed with them for a while but got over it eventually!).
I’d go to anfield when I could. But after I left coaching (and my stint at refereeing - with Stuart attwell no less...) I had a family and haven’t been for a while.
I did get to play in a 6 a side friendly once. I wasn’t going to play but I found out mark Walters was playing for the opposition so wanted to give it a go...
Anyway, it was the worst performance of my life... got skinned by Walters and Prytz more times than I can remember. And even David Howells (who had serious knee problems - if I recall - and could barely move) seem to drift pass me every time he wanted to...
But that’s how I fell in love with the club. Gary Gillespie and John Barnes. They probably won’t remember that chat they gave us, but I do and it probably got me involved in football for longer than I had planned.
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