EXCLUSIVE: In My Liverpool Home
by Club V.P. Graham Wignall
October, 2003
To arrive in Liverpool two days before the Arsenal game was, to say at the least, very exciting! The atmosphere on the streets and in the pubs leading up to the game was fantastic and of course I got caught up in all of it!
Several, or should I say many pints of Cain's Bitter later it was suddenly Saturday morning and my brother-in-law and I were off to Anfield for the early kick-off. My seat behind the press box in the Main Stand gave me an excellent view of the whole ground. The atmosphere was electrifying and when Sammy Lee led out the troops for the warm-up session, the Kop erupted (as they do!).
After singing "Kewell never walk alone" the war was ready to begin in front of over 44,000 fans. Salif Diao was recalled at the expense of Emile Heskey and Harry Kewell was in a floating role alongside Michael Owen. Liverpool completely dominated the first half and played like true champions! Great passing and attacking football. Arsenal looked confused and outplayed. Kewell's goal at 14 minutes brought the Liverpool fans to their feet and quietened the "Arse-and all" fans to my left! Kewell then missed an easier opportunity to go 2-0 up. Owen missed a couple of good opportunities to score, but Stevie Gerrard's long range diagonal passes and El Hadgi Diouf's constant threat down the flanks made for exciting football from the Reds. Sammy Hyypia's own goal after flashing against his foot and past Jerzy Dudek was a cruel break, and when Vladimir Smicer went off with a tendon injury just before half time (replaced by Anthony Le Tallec), you just had a feeling that we were in for a tough second half. Liverpool again had opportunities after the break with Diouf just not stretching high enough to guide Michael's pass and then Owen's header just missed a few minutes later. Robert Pire's goal was well taken and exceptional as it curved inside Dudek's left hand post. Within four minutes Michael Owen was off after landing awkwardly, although he did limp back on for another five minutes or so. He appeared to be in a lot of pain and was then replaced by Emile Heskey. John Welsh came on for Diao about ten minutes from the end and although Diouf and Le Tallec threatened late equalizers, it was not to be our day. We certainly turned on the style, but ultimately paid for missed chances. Men of the Match: Diouf with Kewell a close second.
After the game I made my way to the Hillsborough Justice Campaign shop (located just across the road from the Kop). Andy Cashin had produced a brochure containing information about the Toronto branch and I left several copies with the lads behind the counter. They already knew about our branch and the commitment to donate 5% of our club dues to the H.J. Campaign.
Sometime in between the Arsenal game, many more pints of Cain's Bitter, and the return game with Olimpija Ljubljana, I returned to Anfield to visit the museum and pick up my UEFA tickets. I was fortunate enough to spend some time with Stephen Done, Curator of the museum. A nice guy and very hospitable. Of course, he knows all about our branch through Andy.
Tickets for the game were only 15 pounds. I think that the prices were reduced because the game was played mid-week and also being shown live on the telly. Well, they got that all wrong as almost 43,000 fans showed up and tickets were sold out at least two days before the game!
On the evening of the game I made my way, with a friend, to the Vernon Sangster Sports Centre, located just a few minutes from the ground. This venue is the home of the "Association of International Branches" on match days. A reasonably sized lounge and bar is available for invited guests. I met the LFC's representative (Joan Byrne), talked to a lot of people and left brochures on each of the tables. Our walk back to the ground was followed by meat pies, a couple of pints and a bet on the game (which I lost!).
After watching us lose to Arsenal the previous week this was truly a night to remember for the Reds! Free-flowing and exciting football at its best, and on the night they gave Stevie Gerrard the Captain's arm band! Emile Heskey looked great and even though he missed a lot of early chances the reward came later when he scored a great goal. Other goals by Le Tallec and Kewell made it a very easy victory for the Reds. It could have been even better but for Diouf doing a David Beckham impersonation! If only we could play like this every week! The Liverpool Echo's headline the following day said "It's Three and Easy" and it was!
Man of the Match: without doubt, Harry Kewell.
The game against Portsmouth the day before my return produced a disastrous result, and Patrik Berger who was accused of being indolent when he was at Anfield, scored the only goal!
Emile Heskey hit the post within a minute, Harry Kewell missed the equalizer, Stevie Gerrard's free kick didn't go in after the ball slid under Shaka Hislop, Arne Riise missed with a clear sight of goal and substitute Sinama-Pongolle missed a sitter! Nuff said!
See you all at the Gloucester!
YNWA, Graham
