I have been a Liverpool fan since I was 10, (Primary 4 – 1990) which happened to be the last time Liverpool won the League. I have been mocked and ridiculed by friends and foes alike on the stupidity of supporting a team that has fallen from grace, that is Liverpool FC. My best friends are Man U fans but no hard feelings as we are Football fans first.
Football is my Religion and Liverpool is my Shrine. It was football that started my love affair with Liverpool FC and long it shall last.
At that time, I didn’t even know they won anything but it was after I first watched them play that I became a Liverpool fan ever since.
The fluid passing and movement, the consummate ease of getting past their markers, the ferocious team spirit and above all, the blood RED jersey that the players wore made me fell in love with that team. Red has been my favourite colour ever since.
Regrettably, fans of my era never got to see Liverpool lift the league trophy again and after so many seasons of disappointments, I am hopeful the era of Brendan Rodgers would get us closer to winning it.
The best moment as a Liverpool fan so far? It has got to be that Magical, Miraculous and Magnificent night on 25 May 2005. IT was our FIRST MAJOR FINAL as a Liverpool fan and we were up in the wee hours of the morning (Singapore time) watching our beloved Liverpool play AC Milan. At half time, with the commentator describing the football played by AC Milan as out of this world. We were shattered. A couple of my pals turned to the X-Box and started playing FIFA to console or distract themselves.
I sat in front of the TV stunned but yet I had this hope in my heart that we, Liverpool FC can still get something out of this game.
The rest, as we know it, is without parallel the happiest and proudest moment as a Liverpool Fan (for me) in the Premier League era.
I have the greatest respect for Rafa Benitez as he was the only manager so far that has brought us the closest to ever winning the league and giving us so many memorable European and cup nights as well as Istanbul. To me, he is the greatest manager of the premier league era for Liverpool and I am sure Brendan Rodgers can emulate him or go on to get us our first league title.
I live and breath Liverpool, constantly checking on the Club’s latest news and stories via Twitter and Facebook which has helped linked up Liverpool fans all over the world. Sad to say, I have never been to Anfield as it is quite expensive to be travelling to the UK from where I am. I harbour the hope of at least going there ONCE in my lifetime and I really hope I can fulfil this dream of mine…. :)
After last night’s match, which was a disappointing result. I was disheartened and some what disappointed at the reactions of some of our fellow fans. Calling for Brendan’s sacking after only the opening match???? It just defies common sense and logic to think that a fellow Red can think of that.
I know each and every one of us, fans, is entitled to our own thoughts and comments but seriously, calling for the head or making over the top comments on our team and coach is uncalled for, even if the performance was well below expectations.
Coming to expectations, all of us have high hopes whenever a new season begins but it seems to me that people have forgotten how far Liverpool have fallen behind (mine you, 22 years and counting is a long, long drought) and yet expect us to challenge for the league trophy or even a top four finish?
I am not trying to belittle my love, but the fact is, we are not the Liverpool from the 80s. We are just another premier league team. (but we have the proudest and best fans in the world!)
After so many years, for once in my life as a Liverpool fan, I have finally witnessed a strong will and change of direction that our club is finally taking with the appointment of Brendan Rodgers and along with it the change in the way our football will be played.
All I can hope for is for us, fans to give him time to work his stuff and not just jump on the backs of our manager and players after just ONE match into the new season, this I feel, just gives the whole team undue pressure and in turn, we may end up back to square one, like when King Kenny was sacked.
The brand of football that BR is advocating does not and will never happen over night. We, as fans, can only give the team the support that they need and back the manager to bring us back to the top!
I know we will get there though I do not know when we will.
Above all, we are Liverpool FC, the team with the proudest football tradition in the world and a fan base that reaches a small little dot (on the map, if you can find it) in the far eastern part of the world, that is Singapore.
Thanks Antoine, for letting me write to you and let’s look forward to this new season with renewed hope & belief!
YNWA
Derek
Twitter: dereklim09
I am 32 years old this year and am a proud father of 2 lovely baby girls (23 months & 9 months old) with my lovely wife who tolerated my crazy love for this club all these years.