My ticket for Southampton was in the Main Stand in the nosebleed levels. I'm not complaining, mind you, From that height I could see every corner of the stands, every corner of the field, and every play of the game,
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| The view from my seat |
I understand there was a failure of steward/supporter relations at this game. While I believe what I have read, once again I was treated with nothing but respect. With my mobility issues, I was a little apprehensive about getting to my seat. After approaching a steward about using the lift, I was handed off from one steward to the next from one end of the main stand to the other, up to the top level, through to the seats, and then literally walked to my seat.
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| The view across to the Kenny Dalglish Stand |
Because I was early, the last steward had the time to stand and chat for a few minutes. He pointed out certain bits of Liverpool we could see over the Annie Road Stand and explained what the plans were for developing that area. Then he talked about some of the games he had seen in his 18 years of service at Anfield and yes, he had been at Istanbul. It is as though these people have an invisible button on their chest that say "I Was There". A strange reverence seems to affect their tone of voice, a slightly far-away look in their eyes. I know how corny that sounds, maybe it's just me.
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| The view over the Annie Road Stand |
As the stands filled up I was joined by a fellow LFC Seattle supporter on my left. It was really great to have Brian there, someone to discuss the game with that didn't have a lot of questions about Seattle & Trump. That only lasted until the half when Brian went for a pie and the man to my right began a conversation. He was from Wales, and had some very specific questions about politics in general, politics on the West Coast, gun control, immigration in Seattle. It was quite a grilling.
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| The view of Brian's pie |
Years ago, when I was sucked in by the Premier League, I went through the process of eliminating certain teams one by one until I was left with a group of about six teams that I felt might be a good fit for me. I knew it was a decision for life, so I didn't rush it. At that point I considered some pretty silly things. For example, Newcastle made the first cut because I love Magpies. A lot of teams were eliminated because I couldn't imagine singing a version of 'When the Saints go Marching In' more than once a game. It appears Southampton have only one song. Seriously, it was well into the second half before anything other than that awful song was sung and then whatever it was, was barely audible. I definitely dodged a bullet on that one.
After the game I walked past the newly developed area with all the plaques on the ground, past the shop, and perched on a piece of concrete waiting for the crowd to clear, Walton Breck Road to open, and my Uber to get through. I was approached by two men asking if the queue across the street was for the busses into the City Center. As is often the case as soon as I say anything, I was asked where I was from. These two lovely men from Plymouth (Reds) had had just enough to drink to be amazed at finding a woman of my years, on her own, from the US, at Anfield. They actually stopped a passerby to take their picture with me! Ladies, if you want to meet men, stand on your own outside Anfield. I've had very good luck there.
I have not commented here on the game itself, or any of the players, there are far better qualified people who have written about it. By the time anyone reads this it is history. I'll just say that I have been to Anfield for three games and we have won them all by three of our goals to none of their goals (my homage to Neil Atco). I may just have to stay.
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| The view when I go to Anfield |
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