Is Merseyside Derby Sectarian?

I just listened to an Interview w/ John Williams who wrote a book about Liverpool FC.  He stated that their is a Sectarian divide between the clubs. LFC is Catholic and Everton Protestant. I have been a supporter a long time and I have never felt any sectarianism w/ Liverpool. 

Granted I live in the States and not Liverpool, but still I have never heard that. I do know that Liverpool and Celtic have a connection, but not to that extent.

Anyone know if this is true.

Also American, but thought it was the other way around. Always heard in the past Everton was the "Catholic team," Liverpool the Protestant one. Years ago, I mean. Now, I think it's irrelevant.

It's bollocks.

Never thought about it.

But, I always felt Liverpool was Prodestant, and Everton were Catholic.

May be wrong, but there is no religious tensions that I know of.

It's bollocks.

If DLS says it's bollocks, there is your answer.

Well being an irish catholic iv never had any hassle in liverpool the locals are always very friendly i think its bollox

It's bollocks.

Spot on.

Although I have an uncle who insists that LFC are the only protestant team to wear red as (according to him) in all other area's the protestant team wears blue and the catholic team red.
I keep telling him he's talking bollocks, but he won't have it

During the 1950s and 1960s Everton were coined as the Catholic club mainly as a result of successful Irish players Tommy Eglington, Peter Farrell and Jimmy O'Neill as well as manager Johnny Carey. This in turn caused Liverpool to be thought of as Protestant club, not signing an Irish Catholic until Ronnie Whelan in 1979.

http://lfcstats.co.uk/liverpoolevertonthehistory.html

Being from Glasgow (where the derby is most def sectarian) and of the Celtic persuasion I took some stick for being an LFC fan from a guy at work who was one of these know-it-all football types. Remember him saying something about way back Everton being the catholic club of the city - no idea where it comes from and obviously irrelevant in the present day

Didnt that all stem from there being a church beside Goodison?

No its not secterian in any way

Everton seem to have the larger Catholic following, were i live is near to a Catholic school and most wear blue but that said i don't think it's compulsory!. Wonder who the Athiests support

Everton seem to have the larger Catholic following, were i live is near to a Catholic school and most wear blue but that said i don't think it's compulsory!. Wonder who the Athiests support

Not Fowler, obviously. 

It's bollocks.

Sure is..

Seem to remember (about 30 years ago now) a fashion of sectarianism of LFC and everton fans wearing GR and Celtic scarfs but from my end I have NEVER met anyone who's bee sectarian about LFC efc football.

We're not sectarian, WE'RE F***ing SCOUSE!!

What about us Athiests?

Seem to remember (about 30 years ago now) a fashion of sectarianism of LFC and everton fans wearing GR and Celtic scarfs but from my end I have NEVER met anyone who's bee sectarian about LFC efc football.

We're not sectarian, WE'RE F***ing SCOUSE!!

I remember that too with the scarves and also those half and half ski hats which were common at several grounds, not just at Anfield.

I remember that too with the scarves and also those half and half ski hats which were common at several grounds, not just at Anfield.

Exactly, forgot about the hats! They were everywhere.

There is a sectarian element about the fan base of the two clubs and the city is basically split in two. The red half are winners, the blue half losers.

Other than that it's just bollocks, although Rangers fans seem to think Liverpool is protestant and Everton is Catholic. Bit like the french calling a door or a window feminine, they are not happy till they have put their label on everything.

It's bollocks.

Yeah Bollocks indeed Billy, f***in total bollocks, i grew up amongst all that sh*te, green or blue, proddy or fenian, its every bit as bad as been racist,  not been to Anfield for many years but in the days i did i never ever heard any sort of sectarian sh*t either from the kop or elsewhere.

Atheists ? Tranmere or Prescot.

Everything is bollocks. Favourite word.

My understanding growing up is that EFC were catholic and we the others.

There was an all blue Union Jack and an Irish tricolour in the Everton end today, not that either flag is sectarian but you couldn't have that in a million years at Ibrox or Celtic Park in the same end.

Same as there was an Ulster flag in the front of the Kop which rose for every goal Liverpool scored there in the mid to late 90s and also that you always see the odd Irish tricolour in the Liverpool end too not to mention all the Union Jacks in the 80s.

To answer the original question - no, it's a lot of sh!te with a lot of myths.

Yes it was now it is not.

There was an all blue Union Jack and an Irish tricolour in the Everton end today, not that either flag is sectarian but you couldn't have that in a million years at Ibrox or Celtic Park in the same end.

Same as there was an Ulster flag in the front of the Kop which rose for every goal Liverpool scored there in the mid to late 90s and also that you always see the odd Irish tricolour in the Liverpool end too not to mention all the Union Jacks in the 80s.

To answer the original question - no, it's a lot of sh!te with a lot of myths.

We live in harmony :)the rest of the world could learn from us.My gran was a protestant from Rice Lane  and married my grandfather an Irish catholic ,they both supported the club and religion was never a problem.