17 April 2010
A day that Daniel and I had been eagerly waiting. Finally, visiting the city of Liverpool and a visit to Anfield Stadium, the mecca of all fans of Liverpool FC. After a good breakfast and saying farewell to Mr John Stakes and the nice English couple we met, we left the Lake District for our drive into Liverpool.
I had booked a tour of Anfield Stadium which starts at 3 PM and we need to arrive about 15 minutes before. Before that, we had to drive to Liverpool, return the rental car, catch a taxi to the Elysian Fields Apartments where we would be staying for 3 nights, check-in, then catch another taxi to Anfield. I realised that we were behind schedule, so this stretch of driving on the M6 from the Lake District to Liverpool was the fastest that I had driven since I stepped into UK.
We arrived at the rental car company, located near the Mersey tunnel, and cleared everything out from the car that has served us well over the past 2 weeks. Then the lady at the rental company suggested that I bring the car to a nearby petrol station to fill it up before returning it so as to save me some money.
Good idea. She gave me some verbal directions on the location of the gas station and off I went, with the family waiting at the rental car company. The directions led me into the residential area of Liverpool with no gas station in sight. And I realised I have no map in the car. Oh-uh.
Driving on instinct and trusting my sense of direction, I managed to find a main road, with a gas station and then by memory of the route I took earlier, I managed to find my way back to the rental car company.
Car returned, the kind lady helped us phone for a taxi for us to bring us to the Elysian Fields Apartment. The taxi cab in Liverpool is big, and able to fit 4 passengers and luggage in the passenger compartment.
Elysian Fields Apartment is located within the City Centre of Liverpool. The taxi ride costs about 5 GBP plus tips for the driver who helped us with the luggage. 5 GBP is the standard fare to almost anywhere within the City Centre.
Once checked in, we were ready for our long awaited visit to Anfield Stadium. It was easy to catch a taxi there, with some time to spare before the start of our 3 PM stadium tour. So we went into the Club Store, contributed to the Club’s profits and then wandered outside to take these photos while waiting for the stadium tour to start.
Shadow of Paisley Gate.
Sign showing we are outside the Kop Grandstand. We will be back here to watch a game against West Ham on 19 April 2010.
People mingling outside the Club Store, waiting for the start of the Stadium Tour.
Outside the Club Store where we spent some money on Liverpool FC shirts.
Die-hard fans outside Anfield.
Statue of Bill Shankly. He made the people happy.
Trash can in the colours of the LFC shirt sponsor.
The Anfield Stadium Tour started promptly at 3 PM. We were part of a multi-national group of fans, including local Brits and also those from all parts of the globe.
Here are some photos taken during the tour.
First glimpse of the pitch and inside of Anfield stadium from the stands.
Famous Kop end of the stadium.
What was I shooting?
This was what I shot.
Anfield Score Board.
We were led down into the home team’s dressing room, passing by the Roll of Honour.
Roll of Honour.
In the dressing room, jerseys of the first team players were hung on one side and the picture of Shankly and his team was on the opposite wall. As we sat on the benches where Liverpool legends used to sit, the guide explained some history of LFC, myths and legends and cracked jokes about Reina’s hair-dryer in a difficult to understand Liverpudlian accent.
This is on one side of the LFC dressing room.
This is on the opposite side of the LFC dressing room. Jerseys are hung up for each first team player.
Also seen was the dressing room for the Away team, which was understandably smaller and less well furnished.
Then the famous “ THIS IS ANFIELD” sign that the players touched as they passed beneath to go onto the pitch.
The famous “This is Anfield” sign.
To add to the realism, the sounds of the Anfield crowd were heard through the speakers as we passed beneath the “This is Anfield” sign and through the red door that leads to the pitch.
We were not allowed onto the pitch. It is sacred. You get arrested if you go onto the pitch! Ashes of fans had been scattered on it. The guide told us the pitch would be preserved even when the stadium is torn down and new stadium is rebuilt.
Only way for a tourist to touch the Anfield turf. Ha Ha. Liverpudlian sense of humour.
On a more serious note, we saw some memorials and tributes to the victims of Hillsborough. Touching and emotional moment for all soccer fans. I could still remember watching the tragedy unfolding on live TV from Singapore on that day.
In memory of the 96 fans who died in Hillsborough. YNWA You’ll Never Walk Alone.
In memory of the fans who died in Hillsborough.
After the stadium tour, we went to do the Museum Tour (last entry at 4 PM and closes at 5 PM).
Paisley Gate.
Bob Paisley.
Emblem on Paisley gate.
We then left the Stadium and missed seeing the Shankly Gate (located on the other side of the stadium)! We had totally overlooked that. Well, this meant only one thing. We‘ll be back!
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