Just had this messaged to me off my mate, from an LFC site, interesting reading!
k, today I have a heavy heart, broken dreams and a sore, fat lip. (longish, but please do read)
To recap, we managed to get two tickets for yesterdays game, sat in the away end. Spent the saturday night in Manchester and got the train in around midday. Took the advice from here and didn’t wear colours, just plain grey t-short and jeans. Rare trip to anfield so after a quick bite and drink near Lime Street jumped in a taxi to the ground to take in the atmosphere.
Outside it was buzzing, even at 2pm. Plenty of photos, memorial, club shop etc. Got in ground early, handful of Chelsea fans in there but the Kop was already in full voice, what an amazing sight. Brought a lump to my throat and my only regret was not being in that end.
Didn’t realise when we got the tickets, but the two of us were actually sat away from each other, which in hindsight, given how things panned out, was probably better. But we sat together until some burly chav stinking of beer told my friend to move. Before kick off, the Kop was incredible, the noise, the colour. Then the players coming out, the roar was deafening.
All seemed to change for YNWA, all I could hear was Chelsea. Clearly being in that end didn’t help, but was annoying how little respect they gave to it, especially with the thick monosyllabic drone they spewed out. After the kick off though, I couldn’t believe how the atmosphere changed, instead of keeping the singing going, within minutes the singing and songs that were so loud and proud before kick off, turned to just whistling and booing from the home fans.
The game was disappointing, Chelsea just killing any attempt to play football, time wasting literally from kick off. The slip from Stevie and goal came out of nothing. I stood rooted to the spot, being jumped on and jostled by a bunch of middle aged lowlife chav scum. I was sat near the front, 2 or 3 rows back so felt very conspicuous throughout. When the 2nd goal came I made the decision to sneek away and leave.
I really couldn’t stomach being with their fans and trying to hide my true feelings. What happened next was just every worst nightmare rolled into one.
We agreed to meet up after outside the turnstiles. Not expecting the game to go the way it did, there was never a plan to leave early, but I was hoping my friend would feel as I did and get out of there.
When I got outside, I was met by a stream of very upset and very angry Liverpool fans. All pointing at me, all shouting abuse. I tried to walk away from the turnstile, to hide in the crowd, but was approached by 3 much bigger and older scouse men. Without having a chance to explain who I supported, I was punched in the mouth, then kicked by one of the others.
I tried to explain that I supported Liverpool, but with my soft southern accent and having come out of the away end, as far as any of them could see, I was a Chelsea fan. It was truly horrible, I was scared and hurt. I was punched, kicked and spat on. This left me with the bizarre situation of having to run back to the turnstiles and seek protection from the Chelsea fans, who were now coming out and doing their own bit of wading in and punching people. I was stood in a complete daze, police and stewards did too little too late. Only when my mate came out did we leave.
Even then we had kicks to the back of the legs, spat on and abuse, ‘rent boys’ and all that. What started out as a dream weekend turned into one of the worst experiences of my life. We managed to follow a group of Chelsea fans back to the station, via bus. Then after seeing more fighting at lime st, got our train back to Manchester, picked up our bags and sat silent the entire journey home. My nose, eye and lip and red and bruised and my pride is hurt and dreams of the title broken. Really not the experience I had hoped for. The defeat I can take, being punched, kicked and spat on by what I thought were my own was something I never thought I’d have to deal with. ‘You’ll never walk alone’ is supposed to be our motto. Yesterday I experienced being a Liverpool fan and walking very much alone. "
