Home Of Liverpool FC
GENERAL.
The Anfield ground is built in the Liverpool suburb of Anfield. It looks somewhat out of place mingled in between the rows of old pre-war terraced houses, but in a way, that adds to the mystique type atmosphere that can be gained from approaching the Shankley Gates on Match day. The whole scene of old homes surrounded by what is such a modern stadium for its age brings back the memories - for those that are old enough of course - of all those years of former glories.
The ground is built on the edge of Stanley Park, across the other side of it is Goodison Park, the presence of both of these grounds means you can hardly get out of the Shadow of ’The Kop’ or the Gwladys Street. Again this can add to the pre-match atmosphere, you can almost imagine all those people that walked down the path before you. And unless you have a permit for the car park, which you must be a season ticket holder to have, then you are more than likely to park near Goodison. This means a walk through the park.
PRESENT ANFIELD
Liverpool’s Anfield ground now has a Capacity of near 50, 000. This is still a drop in the ocean compared to the highest ever attendance (recorded against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the FA Cup) of over 65, 000. Yet this is never going to be seen again in light of the Taylor report written in the aftermath of the horrible Hillsborough Stadium disaster.
When the Kop was a standing terrace it had been known to hold 22, 000 (even more pre WW2, but less after this) - 22, 00 thousand people in that space, imagine the noise;
The Kop now however, seats only around 12, 000, the atmosphere is still good, especially when they put on ’You’ll Never Walk Alone on and the flags come out. But due to the height and depth of the stand the atmosphere will never be as good. Incidentally it is actually called the ’Spion Kop’ - a battle in South Africa saw many lose their life and so the new stand was given the name when built in 1906.
The Centenary Stand was rebuilt in 1992 (100-year anniversary in case you couldn’t work it out). This is the stand formerly known as the Kemlyn Road (as to whether Kemlyn Road itself is still standing I couldn’t say). At the front of the Kemlyn was ’The Paddock’, this was relatively uncovered seating, and to an extent it still is.
Unfortunately with the redevelopment some of this area was given to Executive Boxes. Although these people can equally be die-hard fans, many are not, and are corporate hospitality. I don’t agree with ’ordinary fans’ being priced out of the games, but in all honesty this can help bring prices down as lots of revenue is generated from a small area.
The Centenary Stand runs the length of the pitch, the Kop is behind the Goal (to the left is you are in centenary). It is for this reason the Centenary can hold more bodies, I think the figure is around 16/18, 000. That makes it the most populated on a full house Match day.
Anfield Road is where the Visitors are housed, with a fairly generous allocation of around 2000 for average games and up to 5, 000/6, 000 for big matches - like the Derby. It serves away fans well. But the Stand is also another location for the home support. Redeveloped around about 1997 this stand is now a two-tiered stand - and this added about 5, 000 onto the capacity, pushing it up to around 12, 000. A capacity that will need to grow to provide extra money for increasingly successful exploits on the pitch.
The Only other stand I have not described is the Main Stand. For a team of Liverpool’s stature this is an appallingly small stand, home to about 8, 000 people, but then again it is only one tier and has but 30 rows of seats. It is this that should be redeveloped next, but it looks as if a new stadium is on the cards.
Outside the Ground there is the evidence of some of the events in Liverpool’s history that would be best forgotten, yet should always be remembered. Next to the Shankley gates, covered with the Liverpool ’motto’ - ’’Youl’ll Never Walk Alone’’, flickers an eternal flame to the 96 victimes of the Hillsborough stadium disaster.
As this is an opinion on the ground I will not get bogged down on it. Instead if you wish to read about it, and I warn it is a very moving account, that you obtain a copy of the book ’Parklife’ by Nick Varley. The book contains much information that I was unaware of, and assume others would not be either. And it written by a Spurs fan, and therefore eliminates a large motive for bias.
The flame is a permanent reminder to the 96 who ’went to a football match, and never came back’, 96 victims who were as young as 10, and as old as 63. It is a very powerful welcome to the ground. And on the occasions I have been it is nice to see that people supporting both teams stand and look at it, trying to understand ’WHY’?
The aforementioned ’Shankley Gates’ are in memory of our Scottish Hero, Bill Paisley (another Scot) may have been the most successful, and is adored by Liverpool fans the world over, but Shankley helped him on the way. This is not to say however that we are not thankful to ’Sir’ (tell a Liverpudlian he isn’t a Sir I dare you!). There is a statue depicting the great man himself, this is at the other end of the ground, the Kop end.
TRAVEL
Travelling to the ground gets harder as you get near, this is primarily to do with lack of parking facilities. The ground is in essence part of the inner-city, and as I say earlier, terraced houses are the norm. There are very few car parks around, I think there are two, one for season ticket holders, the other a school opened up for the very purpose.
If you are prepared to walk from town then it is around a two to three mile walk, not something to be attempted on an empty stomach, or if it is close to kick off time. Travelling by train will mean you will have to terminate your journey in town, this will more than likely be at the Lime Street Terminal.
From there you have the option of walking mentioned earlier, or a taxi should be fairly easily obtainable, although you shouldn’t count on it. Or the final option is to bus it. As the route to Anfield leads out past all the University Halls of Residence there is a good selection and frequency of buses.
PUBS
Pubs are in good supply around the ground, these include ones such as ’THE ARKLES’. As said the eating facilities are limited outside the ground, and you can hardly consider a pasty as your dinner. The best bet for food is to go back into town, or head out to an out-of-town shopping complex for your McDonalds and the like.
FUTURE ANFIELD
I am sure that all in the football world, and a fair few of those out of it, will have heard of the plans of both Merseyside clubs to develop new grounds, Everton at the Kings Dock, Liverpool a few hundred yards down the road in Stanley Park.
Liverpools decision to move has come from a severe hindrance in being able to expand. Local residents have objected to the increased use of their streets by football pedestrians, and difficulty has been faced in trying to buy homes to expand stands.
The actions of the locals can been seen somewhat as a kick in the teeth to a club that has been there for longer than anyone alive can remember, a club who bring so much revenue into the direct local economy. Without the revenue from football fans these people would be much worse off.
The New ground will be a modern 70, 000 super stadium. At the present moment that would make it the largest club ground in the United Kingdom, yet by its completion date I am sure this will be surpassed. But the increased capacity will provide all the revenue needed to take on the best in Europe, and this must be seen in a positive light.
Well it remains to be seen as to the fate of the home of Britains most successful club, heres hoping it works out for the best.