Anfield: Last Game Of The Season

May 12, 2014  •  Leave a Comment
2014 Anfield LFC Da 11 May2014 Anfield LFC Da 11 MayLiverpool, UK. A trip to Anfield for the final game of the 2013-14 season with my Da. Liverpool beat Newcastle 2-1 but it wasn't enough to snatch the league title away from Manchester City who beat West Ham at home in a game they only need draw to be crowned champions. This would also be my last visit to Liverpool before emigrating to the States.

A visit to Anfield, home of my beloved Liverpool Football Club, for last game of the season versus Newcastle United. 

With no call for me to be shooting the game, I tripped up to Merseyside to join in the fun of last day of the season.  With the Premier League title still in reach for Liverpool, it was a crucial game, and one me and my Dad were not going to miss.

The trip to Liverpool with my Dad held more significance as it was likely the last of many journeys to Anfield together.  My visa for America would be through in the summer and I'd be leaving behind this special football relationship I have with him.  This thought never left my mind all day and added to the profundity of the whole experience.

2014 Anfield LFC Da 11 May2014 Anfield LFC Da 11 MayLiverpool, UK. A trip to Anfield for the final game of the 2013-14 season with my Da. Liverpool beat Newcastle 2-1 but it wasn't enough to snatch the league title away from Manchester City who beat West Ham at home in a game they only need draw to be crowned champions. This would also be my last visit to Liverpool before emigrating to the States.

A devoted fan shows her true colours

2014 Anfield LFC Da 11 May2014 Anfield LFC Da 11 MayLiverpool, UK. A trip to Anfield for the final game of the 2013-14 season with my Da. Liverpool beat Newcastle 2-1 but it wasn't enough to snatch the league title away from Manchester City who beat West Ham at home in a game they only need draw to be crowned champions. This would also be my last visit to Liverpool before emigrating to the States.

The atmosphere in the city was electric all day long.  Then nearer to the ground, thousands of fans lined the streets waiting to greet the team bus with chanting, flares, and of course plenty of camera phone action.

2014 Anfield LFC Da 11 May2014 Anfield LFC Da 11 MayLiverpool, UK. A trip to Anfield for the final game of the 2013-14 season with my Da. Liverpool beat Newcastle 2-1 but it wasn't enough to snatch the league title away from Manchester City who beat West Ham at home in a game they only need draw to be crowned champions. This would also be my last visit to Liverpool before emigrating to the States.
2014 Anfield LFC Da 11 May2014 Anfield LFC Da 11 MayLiverpool, UK. A trip to Anfield for the final game of the 2013-14 season with my Da. Liverpool beat Newcastle 2-1 but it wasn't enough to snatch the league title away from Manchester City who beat West Ham at home in a game they only need draw to be crowned champions. This would also be my last visit to Liverpool before emigrating to the States.

All around the ground people were singing Kop favourites and dancing whilst supping a few beers.  A sense that Liverpool could win something today was palpable, the feeling of hope hung in the air.  For the first time in nearly 25 years, Liverpool could possibly win the league title today, and it felt very, very exciting to be there.

   2014 Anfield LFC Da 11 May2014 Anfield LFC Da 11 MayLiverpool, UK. A trip to Anfield for the final game of the 2013-14 season with my Da. Liverpool beat Newcastle 2-1 but it wasn't enough to snatch the league title away from Manchester City who beat West Ham at home in a game they only need draw to be crowned champions. This would also be my last visit to Liverpool before emigrating to the States.

2014 Anfield LFC Da 11 May2014 Anfield LFC Da 11 MayLiverpool, UK. A trip to Anfield for the final game of the 2013-14 season with my Da. Liverpool beat Newcastle 2-1 but it wasn't enough to snatch the league title away from Manchester City who beat West Ham at home in a game they only need draw to be crowned champions. This would also be my last visit to Liverpool before emigrating to the States.
"These colours don't run... not til I wash my face, anyways"

I spotted this kid travelling up the Anfield Road on a man's shoulders.  I'm going to assume its his grandad, or even his dad.  Dressed in full kit - including socks, of course - and staring dreamily up at the football ground, the boy reminded me of a younger version of myself.  I too had walked proudly around these streets as a boy, badge on my shirt, my Dad leading the way.  If I wasn't 6'5" tall and 100kg I reckon my Dad would carry me on his shoulders right now, too.  Football is a special bond like that.

2014 Anfield LFC Da 11 May2014 Anfield LFC Da 11 MayLiverpool, UK. A trip to Anfield for the final game of the 2013-14 season with my Da. Liverpool beat Newcastle 2-1 but it wasn't enough to snatch the league title away from Manchester City who beat West Ham at home in a game they only need draw to be crowned champions. This would also be my last visit to Liverpool before emigrating to the States.

2014 Anfield LFC Da 11 May2014 Anfield LFC Da 11 MayLiverpool, UK. A trip to Anfield for the final game of the 2013-14 season with my Da. Liverpool beat Newcastle 2-1 but it wasn't enough to snatch the league title away from Manchester City who beat West Ham at home in a game they only need draw to be crowned champions. This would also be my last visit to Liverpool before emigrating to the States.

I've always admired the creativity of this little trailer diner, for two main reasons: [1] they're shrewd enough to not pick sides in a very local struggle of superiority between the blue and red halves of the city of Liverpool and instead opt to back both sides - this is a wise call when you're selling sausages to the people; and [2] because they're always in this spot, neatly sandwiched between two brick posts on the Anfield Road, and presuming the brick posts were there first, does that mean they had the trailer made bespoke for the spot?  

My mind is unnecessarily preoccupied by such bother all the time.


2014 Anfield LFC Da 11 May2014 Anfield LFC Da 11 MayLiverpool, UK. A trip to Anfield for the final game of the 2013-14 season with my Da. Liverpool beat Newcastle 2-1 but it wasn't enough to snatch the league title away from Manchester City who beat West Ham at home in a game they only need draw to be crowned champions. This would also be my last visit to Liverpool before emigrating to the States.

And so the game unfolded and Liverpool ran out 2-1 winners over 9-man Newcastle United.  Sadly it wasn't enough for the Redmen to run away with the league as elsewhere Manchester City won their game to clinch the title.  This did nothing to extinguish the passionate LFC fans however, and we spent the night boozing in local bars with Red supporters everywhere.  Vague memories of singing You'll Never Walk Alone on repeat several times over in a bar whilst spinning scarves over my head.  No pictures i'm afraid: alcohol and cameras don't get along.  You'll just have to trust me that Liverpool was alive and well that night.

By morning the fun had settled and I was enjoying a pretty plump hangover.  Like a bomb in a hole in the ground at a rock festival that everybody craps in.  Still, there was no time for self pity as me and my Dad took the customary pilgrimage down to the Hillsborough Memorial.

2014 Anfield LFC Da 11 May2014 Anfield LFC Da 11 MayLiverpool, UK. A trip to Anfield for the final game of the 2013-14 season with my Da. Liverpool beat Newcastle 2-1 but it wasn't enough to snatch the league title away from Manchester City who beat West Ham at home in a game they only need draw to be crowned champions. This would also be my last visit to Liverpool before emigrating to the States.

A man studies the Hillsborough Memorial, listing the names of those who lost their lives in the stadium tragedy in 1989


2014 Anfield LFC Da 11 May2014 Anfield LFC Da 11 MayLiverpool, UK. A trip to Anfield for the final game of the 2013-14 season with my Da. Liverpool beat Newcastle 2-1 but it wasn't enough to snatch the league title away from Manchester City who beat West Ham at home in a game they only need draw to be crowned champions. This would also be my last visit to Liverpool before emigrating to the States.
A man embraces the name of a lost loved one on the memorial on his way past the ground
 
2014 Anfield LFC Da 11 May2014 Anfield LFC Da 11 MayLiverpool, UK. A trip to Anfield for the final game of the 2013-14 season with my Da. Liverpool beat Newcastle 2-1 but it wasn't enough to snatch the league title away from Manchester City who beat West Ham at home in a game they only need draw to be crowned champions. This would also be my last visit to Liverpool before emigrating to the States.

Scarves from seemingly every team around the globe tied to the Shankly Gates.  These have to be cleared regularly by the club and soon fill up again.  This was a tragedy for football, not just Liverpool Football Club

2014 Anfield LFC Da 11 May2014 Anfield LFC Da 11 MayLiverpool, UK. A trip to Anfield for the final game of the 2013-14 season with my Da. Liverpool beat Newcastle 2-1 but it wasn't enough to snatch the league title away from Manchester City who beat West Ham at home in a game they only need draw to be crowned champions. This would also be my last visit to Liverpool before emigrating to the States.

Liverpool's current home shirt emblazoned with a logo remembering the 96 who lost their lives commemorates the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster

2014 Anfield LFC Da 11 May2014 Anfield LFC Da 11 MayLiverpool, UK. A trip to Anfield for the final game of the 2013-14 season with my Da. Liverpool beat Newcastle 2-1 but it wasn't enough to snatch the league title away from Manchester City who beat West Ham at home in a game they only need draw to be crowned champions. This would also be my last visit to Liverpool before emigrating to the States.

The names and ages of some of the victims on a moving tribute nestled amongst the scarves

2014 Anfield LFC Da 11 May2014 Anfield LFC Da 11 MayLiverpool, UK. A trip to Anfield for the final game of the 2013-14 season with my Da. Liverpool beat Newcastle 2-1 but it wasn't enough to snatch the league title away from Manchester City who beat West Ham at home in a game they only need draw to be crowned champions. This would also be my last visit to Liverpool before emigrating to the States.

Liverpool and Everton shirts tied to the fence at Anfield

2014 Anfield LFC Da 11 May2014 Anfield LFC Da 11 MayLiverpool, UK. A trip to Anfield for the final game of the 2013-14 season with my Da. Liverpool beat Newcastle 2-1 but it wasn't enough to snatch the league title away from Manchester City who beat West Ham at home in a game they only need draw to be crowned champions. This would also be my last visit to Liverpool before emigrating to the States.

Liverpool's famous and evocative slogan above the Shankly Gates, named in honour of legendary manager Bill Shankly

 


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