This means more: Matthew
My story to being a Liverpool fan started like most suburban American kids: I played soccer for the local youth league. We weren’t good/usually lost but were outside with friends, running around and it sparked my love of the game. In 1990, I was on a family trip to the British Isles and our first night in Dublin was the night when Ireland won on penalties to go to the quarterfinals of the World Cup. To 10yo me, it was the wildest thing I’d ever seen. There was so much joy and happiness from just a game.
Returning to the US, I wanted to keep watching European football but TV access was nonexistent and the only news of an English club team to reach the Midwest was always about Man United (Ferguson time and all). So, I rooted for them as you do, got swept up with college football and basketball at Syracuse and paid little attention to soccer until after graduation.
In 2007, a roommate was headed to the British Isles with his buddies, and I asked for a football scarf for any team (Man U who). A red and white striped Liverpool scarf came back for me and armed with dial up internet, I tried to learn more, but without being able to see games on the weekend, the liverbird was not yet fixed in my heart. Their US exposure increased with the FSG purchase but it wasn’t until I watched the 2012 documentary series Being: Liverpool that I started to say, “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”
I was determined to find places to watch the games and as I did, I found my love for the team grow. I had missed the good times of First Division wins and the ‘05 UCL win, really diving in with the Brendon Rodgers team - meaning I started out with humble expectations and prayed to qualify for Champions League or Europe, period. When traveling, I was able to find Liverpool bars and pubs and it felt great to be around those that support with you (and not against). I was looking for something similar near home (Brooklyn), and after making a long trek to 11th St only to be turned away because it was full, I looked closer to home. I found the Montrose near Barclays which was nice - game was on, sound was good - but it lacked that community feel. It took time, but eventually I found The Monro and the Brooklyn LFC group and it felt like it was the place I should have been going to for years. With the songs and chants, I was now happy. One day I will go to Anfield but for now it will be the Monro on weekends, with some European weekday games, where I will join the regulars and be happy to call that my Liverpool home.
Want to share your own story? Email us! Want to read other “Why I Support Liverpool” stories? Here’s Lauren’s. Here’s Colby’s.
The 1990 World Cup celebrations in Dublin that solidified my love of the sport.
The LFC scarf that kicked off my supporter journey, modeled by Harper.