If it wasn't for one man, Liverpool Football Club would never have been born. When Everton left Anfield in a dispute over rent in 1892, club chairman John Houlding stayed behind along with a handful of supporters and just three first-team players. But he was determined to see football continue at the ground. He formed a new club from scratch, chose the name Liverpool… and created a legend.
Even John Houlding couldn't have predicted how successful it would become. More than 100 years on, no English club can match the LiverpoolFC roll of honour; League Champions 18 times, FA Cup winners six times, League Cup winners seven times, European Cup winners five times and UEFA Cup winners three times.
When it is completed, the History channel will chart the rise and rise of Liverpool FC to the very summit of the England game, from the struggles of the early years right up to Gerard Houllier's historic treble in 2001. This channel will recall glorious domestic victories and European triumphs and reflect on the tragedies of Heysel and Hillsborough.
We've focused on 10 key dates in Liverpool Football Club's history to begin with but over time, we'll have over 100 chapters in this section alone as we present the ultimate history of England's greatest ever football club. This is a story of incredible passion and pride - a story that not only inspires Liverpool fans but football supporters the world over.
The Liverpool FC Trophy Cabinet League Champions European Cup FA Cup League Cup Liverpool 18 Real Madrid 9 Man-United 11 Liverpool 7 Man-United 15 AC Milan 6 Arsenal 9 Aston Villa 5 Arsenal 13 Liverpool 5 Spurs 8 Notts Forest 4 Everton 9 Ajax 4 Aston Villa 7 Leicester 3 Aston Villa 7 Bayern Munich 4 Liverpool 6 Spurs 3
How singing started on the Kop
In the autumn of 1962, although the country didn't know, it was about to be hit by an explosion of sound but the 'Mersey Sound' we're talking about was the sound of the Kop rather than the four mop tops from south Liverpool.
In the spring of 1962, Liverpool were promoted as Champions of Division Two back to the First Division and while The Beatles were about to change the music scene of the country, the Kop was busy changing football crowds forever.
The summer of 1962 saw for the first time extended coverage of the World Cup from another continent as the South American nation of Chile hosted the tournament. But whilst watching the football was different, so was listening to the Brazilian supporters who had made the short trip across their continent to back their side. Not only did they cheer in the time-honoured way but they also chanted! Now this was new and what they termed as the Samba Beat was suddenly heard in living rooms throughout the land. It was just a plain, "BRA-ZIL - Cha, Cha, Cha" or rather that's how it came across. Fans still sing on the Kop I remember thinking at the time; this will be heard on the Kop soon. Liverpool's first game of the new season was against Blackpool and over 51,000 turned up to fill Anfield almost to its limit, with nearly half the number congregated on the Kop. Everyone was there with their rattles and scarves all intent on making a noise when suddenly someone started to shout "LIVER-POOL" followed by what they called staccato clapping.
Pretty soon most of the Kop had picked up the chant and the sound of "LIVER-POOL - clap, clap, clap" hit the air and the chanting Kop was born.
Before long it seemed as if the entire Kop was participating in this new trend and from small acorns things quickly grow. The chanting Kop suddenly became a singing Kop and as Beatlemania hit the rest of the country, the Kop would perform impromptu sing-a-longs prior to each game as the latest top ten hits were belted out over the PA system. Singing to the hits of the local bands was one thing but the Kop had to be original.
One of the first songs that started to hit the airwaves was, 'When the Saints Go Marching In', better known today as 'When The Reds...', and by the time the 1963 season came to a close it was getting a regular airing on the Kop.
At the time it seemed as if the Kopites could take hold of anything and almost rearrange the words to suit within minutes. For fans everywhere else, it mattered not where you came from or who you supported, you copied the Kop.
Of course, other supporters sang songs and it wouldn't be in keeping with the Liverpool style to try and say that we were the first crowd to sing. However, we were the first crowd to sing as a matter of course.
Those who stood at Anfield in 1963 and sang along with the local group Gerry and the Pacemakers' 'You'll Never Walk Alone' could never have even begun to imagine what they were unleashing. The song would take on so many different meanings at so many different occasions. Occasions that were tragic but also occasions that were triumphant. It became a song that millions of football fans throughout the world would often sing but always recognise that it was 'The Liverpool Song'.
Here, in no particular order, are 10 undisputed Kop Classics. 1. You’ll Never Walk Alone 2. Fields of Anfield Road 3. Liverbird Upon My Chest 4. Poor Scouser Tommy 5. When The Reds Go Marching In 6. L I V 7. Red & White Kop 8. Bill Shankly From Glenbuck 9. Underneath the Floodlights 10. Scouser in Gay Paris
Special thanks to John Pearman.
PAST MANAGERS 1892/96 John McKenna / William Barclay 1896/1915 Tom Watson 1915/20 (no manager) 1920/23 David Ashworth 1923/28 Matt McQueen 1928/36 George Patterson 1936/50 George Kay 1951/56 Don Welsh 1956/59 Phil Taylor 1959/74 Bill Shankly 1974/83 Bob Paisley 1983/85 Joe Fagan 1985/91 Kenny Dalglish 1991/94 Graeme Souness 1994/98 Roy Evans 1998/98 Roy Evans / Gérard Houllier 1998/04 Gérard Houllier
Liverpool FC Squad - 2005-2006 Liverpool FC Staff 1.Jerzy Dudek Rafael Benitez - Manager 3.Steve Finnan Pako Ayesteran - Assistant Manager 4.Sami Hyypia Alex Miller - First Team Coach 6.John Arne Riise Paco Herrera - Reserve Team Manager 7.Harry Kewell Jose Ochotorena - Goalkeeping Coach 8.Steven Gerrard Hughie McAuley - Reserve Team Coach 9.Djibril Cisse Ron Yeats - Scout 10.Luis Garcia Mark Browes - Assistant Physiotherapist 14.Xabi Alonso John Wright - Club Masseur 15.Peter Crouch Paul Small - Masseur 16.Dietmar Hamann Stewart Welsh - Masseur 17.Josemi Mark Waller - Club Doctor 19.Fernando Morientes Graham Carter - Kit Manager 20.Scott Carson 21.Djimi Traore 22.Momo Sissoko 23.Jamie Carragher 24.Florent Sinama Pongolle 25.Pepe Reina 28.Stephen Warnock 30.Boudewijn Zenden 31.David Raven 32.Besian Idrizaj 33.Neil Mellor 34.Darren Potter 35.Danny Guthrie 36.Antonio Barragan 37.Zak Whitbread 38.David Mannix
You''ll never walk alone - najpoznatija navijačka pesma na svetu
Written by Rogers and Hammerstein for the 1945 Broadway musical 'Carousel', Gerry Marsden and his Pacemakers performed the song in Liverpool clubs during the birth of Merseybeat. "The audience would just stop, stand and listen. It had this immediate effect," says Marsden. Released in October 1963, YNWA was the Pacemakers' third consecutive number one and nowhere was it more popular than on the Kop, as fans sang along with the PA before matches. When it fell from the top spot, Kopites continued to sing it and YNWA has been played and sung at Anfield ever since.
When you walk through a storm Hold your head up high And don't be afraid of the dark At the end of the storm Is a golden sky And the sweet silver song of a lark
Walk on through the wind Walk on through the rain Tho' your dreams be tossed and blown Walk on, walk on With hope in your heart And you'll never walk alone You'll never walk alone
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The original 'Fields Of Athenry' was written in 1979 and soon adopted by Celtic fans, but arguably the first time it was sung at Anfield was December 1995, when Ireland lost to Holland in their Euro 96 play-off. The website of Eircom, sponsors of the Republic side, recalls: "Nobody who was present at Anfield will ever forget the occasion. From the moment the Irish fans appeared in the famous Liverpool Kop, strains of 'The Fields Of Athenry' began to echo around the ground. At the other end, the massed ranks of Dutch supporters could only watch in admiration." The Liverpool version is believed to have originated in The Oakfield pub, home of the Liverpool Away Supporters Club, around 1997.
Outside the Shankly Gates I heard a Kopite calling Shankly they have taken you away But you left a great eleven Before you went to heaven Now it's glory round the Fields of Anfield Road.
All round the Fields of Anfield Road Where once we watched the King Kenny play (and he could play) We had Heighway on the wing We had dreams and songs to sing Of the glory round the Fields of Anfield Road
Outside the Paisley Gates I heard a Kopite calling Paisley they have taken you away You led the great 11 Back in Rome in 77 And the Redmen they are still playing the same way All round the Fields of Anfield Road Where once we watched the King Kenny play (and he could play) We had Heighway on the wing We had dreams and songs to sing Of the glory round the Fields of Anfield Road
Liverbird Upon My Chest
Originally a song called 'Ballad of the Green Berets' where Sergeant Barry Sadler wrote the lyrics and Robin Moore wrote the music. It was made into a film staring John Wayne. Was written as a Liverpool song in the mid 80s by Phil Aspinall but the original version only went as far as the 1986 cup final with the rest of the verses added since. Was first sung at a London game during the 1986-87 season, possibly Spurs.
Here's a song about a football team The greatest team you've ever seen A team that play total Football They've won the league, Europe and all.
A Liverbird upon my chest We are the men, of Shankly's best A team that plays the Liverpool way And wins the championship in May
With Kenny Dalglish on the ball He was the greatest of them all And Ian Rush, four goals or two Left Evertonians feeling blue
A Liverbird upon my chest We are the men, of Shankly's best A team that plays the Liverpool way And wins the championship in May
Now if you go down Goodison Way Hard luck stories you hear each day There's not a trophy to be seen 'Cos Liverpool have swept them clean
A Liverbird upon my chest We are the men, of Shankly's best A team that plays the Liverpool way And wins the championship in May
Now on the glorious 10th of May There's laughing reds on Wembley Way We're full of smiles and joy and glee It's Everton 1 and Liverpool 3
A Liverbird upon my chest We are the men, of Shankly's best A team that plays the Liverpool way And wins the championship in May
Now on the 20th of May We're laughing still on Wembley Way Those Evertonians are feeling blue It's Liverpool 3 and Everton 2
A Liverbird upon my chest We are the men, of Shankly's best A team that plays the Liverpool way And wins the championship in May
And as we sang round Goodison Park With crying blues all in a nark They're probably crying still at Liverpool 5 and Everton nil.
A Liverbird upon my chest We are the men, of Shankly's best A team that plays the Liverpool way And wins the championship in May
We Remember them with pride Those mighty reds of Shankly's side And Kenny's boys of '88 There's never been a side so great
A Liverbird upon my chest We are the men, of Shankly's best A team that plays the Liverpool way And wins the championship in May
Now back in 1965 When great Bill Shankly was alive We're playing Leeds, the score's 1-1 When it fell to the head of Ian St John
A Liverbird upon my chest We are the men, of Shankly's best A team that plays the Liverpool way And wins the championship in May
On April 15th '89 What should have been a joyous time Ninety six Friends, we all shall miss And all the Kopites want justice (JUSTICE)
Poor Scouser Tommy
The first part comes from the US folk song 'Red River Valley', thought to have been written as 'The Bright Mohawk Valley' in the 19th century. The song can be heard in the final scenes of John Ford’s 1940 cinema classic 'The Grapes Of Wrath'. The second half of Scouser Tommy comes from the tune of 'The Sash', a song sung by the Orange Order.
Let me tell you the story of a poor boy Who was sent far away from his home To fight for his king and his country And also the old folks back home
So they put him in a Highland division Sent him off to a far foreign land Where the flies swarm around in their thousands And there's nothing to see but the sands
In a battle that started next morning Under an Arabian sun I remember that poor Scouser Tommy Who was shot by an old Nazi gun
As he lay on the battle field dying dying dying With the blood gushing out of his head (of his head) As he lay on the battle field dying dying dying These were the last words he said...
Oh... I am a Liverpudlian I come from the Spion Kop I like to sing, I like to shout I go there quite a lot (every week)
We support the team that's dressed in Red A team that we all know A team that we call Liverpool And to glory we will go
We've won the League, we've won the Cup We've been to Europe too We played the Toffees for a laugh And we left them feeling blue - Five Nil!
One two One two three One two three four Five nil!
Rush scored one Rush scored two Rush scored three And Rush scored four!
When The Reds Go Marching In
Made famous by jazz trumpet legend Louis Armstrong, 'When the Saints Go Marching In' is the unofficial anthem of New Orleans with its roots in the spiritual music that evolved out of slavery. First performed vocally, it was later taken up by brass bands when discarded military instruments from the American Civil War found their way into the hands of black musicians. Southampton fans claim they were the first to sing the song in the 1960s, but it that's true, Liverpool can't have been far behind.
Oh when the Reds Go marching in Oh when the Reds go marching in I want to be in that number When the Reds go marching in
L I V
Sung by the Kop since the 1970s, we have Andrew Lloyd Webber to thank for this classic. In 1971, the Lloyd Webber-Tim Rice rock opera 'Jesus Christ Superstar’' exploded onto the New York stage and by 1980 it had become the longest running West End musical. An album of the show’s music topped the US charts three times and the 1973 cinema release took £8.6 million at the box office. A less than kind 'Georgie Best' version did the rounds in the early 70s, but the classic Liverpool version is all that survives.
L-I-V E-R-P Double-O L Liverpool FC
Red & White Kop
Sung to the tune of the Beatles 'Yellow Submarine', this was first heard at Anfield in the 1960s. In those days it was not uncommon for football fans to adapt the latest hit records into songs about their team and with Merseybeat all the rage, Liverpool fans did it better than most. Strangely however for a city so obsessed with football, The Beatles appeared to be the only four men in Liverpool who weren't interested in the game.
On a Saturday afternoon We support a team called Liverpool And we sing until we drop In a red and white Spion Kop We all live in a red and white Kop A red and white Kop A red and white Kop We all live in a red and white Kop A red and white Kop A red and white Kop In a town where I was born Lived a man who sailed the seas And he told me of his pride They were a famous football team So we trailed to Anfield Road, Singing songs of victory And there we found the holy ground, Of our hero Bill Shankly We all live in red and white Kop…
Bill Shankly From Glenbuck
Written by John Mackin from the Red All Over The Land website, 'Bill Shankly From Glenbuck' is sung to the tune of 'Sean South from Garryowen', a rebel song about an IRA volunteer who was shot dead in 1956 while attempting to attack an RUC base in Northern Ireland.
Twas on a cold December's day Back in 1959 When a man came down from Hudersfield Town To lead the Anfield line He bought Yeats from Dundee and St. John And the football world was shook This man he became a legend Bill Shankly from Glenbuck.
On the Kop we'd sway and sing Till our hearts would burst with pride And Shanks he made a pact with us To build another side With Keegan, Tosh and Steve Heighway The great man kept his word Then in '74 he bade farewell Our dear old Scottish Laird.
Now when Shanks was gone we sang walk on But feared we'd walk alone, The search was on to find the one Who could fill the masters throne. The one we crowned became renowned Throughout the football game Three European Cups, six championships, Bob Paisley was his name.
Now when Bob stepped down he left his crown Inside his Anfield home Joe Fagan came and brought new fame With a treble won in Rome Though the Heysel year left Joe in tears, The following year he'd sing, When we won the league and FA Cup And Kenny was our king.
When he played in red Bob Paisley said He's the best he'd ever seen And the team he built in 88 Ruled the football league supreme. And when Hillsborough left us all bereaved And the Kop bedecked in flowers, Kenny proved he truly was a king In Anfield's darkest hour.
Now the mantles being past to a man from France And it's Houllier we praise. As the reds walk on, the Kops in song And we savour glory days Days of ball to feet, of victory sweet Days of passion, guile and fire The legacy of one so great Bill Shankly from Ayshire.
Underneath the Floodlights
Based on the song 'Lili Marlene', this Kop song first emerged in the late Seventies. The original song was based on a German poem from 1915 and soon became a favourite of both German and American troops during the Second World War, both in English and in the original German. A curious example of song transcending the hatreds of war, American troops particularly liked 'Lili Marlene' as sung by the German-born actress and singer, Marlene Dietrich.
Underneath the floodlights Down in Dusseldorf All the kop were singing Bevvied up of course We've been to Lisbon and to Rome And our team "never walk alone" We're going off to Europe to bring the cup back home
All the way from Anfield to the gates of Rome, All the way from Anfield to bring the trophy home, Nothing can stop us come what may, We'll have our say, this is our day, Liverpool's red army, Is marching on it's way
Scouser in Gay Paris
Written by a group of Reds from the Canon Pub in Townsend Lane prior to the 1981 European Cup Final in Paris, this song doesn't get sung at the match but can be heard on occasion on trains and planes when Liverpool fans travel to away matches.
How would you like to be A Scouser in Gay Paris Walking along on the banks of the Seine Winning the European Cup once again. We'll go up the Eiffel Tower And stay up there half an hour, Cos we won't be too late When we celebrate, We're the Scousers in Gay Paris.
We'll visit the Follies Bergere They like to see Scousers there The woman are lovely With skin like a peach But they'll never move it like Kenny Dalglish
How would you like to be A Scouser in Gay Paris.
Stevie G
When we find ourselves in times of trouble Stevie G runs past me Playing the game with wisdom, Stevie G
And in my home, the Spion Kop We watch him jog, right in front of me Spreading balls with wisdom, Stevie G
Let it be, let it be, let it be, Stevie G The local lad turned hero, Stevie G
And when the jubilant Kopite people All living in The Park agree That we all know the answer, Stevie G
And although we may all be fooled, There is still a chance that we will see The footballing phenomenon, Stevie G
Let it be, let it be, let it be, Stevie G Spreading balls with wisdom, Stevie G
And when the night is cloudy There is still a man that we all see A young, committed Kopite, Stevie G
Playing to the sound of music Stevie G runs past me Playing the game with wisdom, Stevie G Let it be, let it be, let it be, Stevie G
Appearances Most first team appearances Ian Callaghan (857) Most League appearances Ian Callaghan (640) Most FA Cup appearances Ian Callaghan (79) Most League Cup appearances Ian Rush (78) Most European appearances Ian Callaghan (89) Oldest player Ted Doig, 41 yrs & 165 days v Newcastle United (A), 11 April 1908 Youngest player Max Thompson, 17 yrs & 129 days v Tottenham Hotspur (a) 8 May 1974 Most seasons as an ever-present Phil Neal (9) Most consecutive appearances Phil Neal (417) 23 October 1976 to 24 September 1983 Longest serving player Elisha Scott – 21 yrs & 52 days: 1913 to 1934 Oldest debutant Ted Doig, 37 yrs & 307 days v Burton U (H) 1 September 1904
Goals Most first team goals Ian Rush (346) Most League goals Roger Hunt (245) Most FA Cup goals Ian Rush (39) Most League Cup goals Ian Rush (48) Most European goals Michael Owen (22) Highest scoring substitute David Fairclough (18) Most hat-tricks Gordon Hodgson (17) Most hat-tricks in a season Roger Hunt (5 in 1961-62) Most penalties scored Jan Molby (42) Most games without scoring Ephraim Longworth (371) Youngest goalscorer Michael Owen, 17 yrs & 144 days v Wimbledon (a) 6 May 1997 Oldest goalscorer Billy Liddell, 38 yrs & 55 days V Stoke City (h) 5 March 1960
Internationals Most capped player Ian Rush (67) with Wales Most international goals Ian Rush (26)
Honours Most medals Phil Neal (20)
Matches Record victory 11-0 v Stromgodset Record defeat 1-9 v Birmingham City
Transfer Fees Record transfer fee paid £14 million for Djibril Cisse Record transfer fee received £12.5 million for Robbie Fowler
Attendances Highest League attendance: 58,757 v Chelsea, 1949/50 Highest FA Cup attendance 61,905 v Wolves, 1951/52 fifth round Highest League Cup attendance 50,880 v Nottingham Forest, 1979/80 semi-final 2nd leg Highest European attendance 55,104 v Barcelona, 1975/76 UEFA Cup semi-final 2nd leg Lowest League attendance 1,000 v Loughborough Town on 7 December 1895 Lowest League attendance (post-war) 11,976 against Scunthorpe United for a Division 2 game on 22 April 1959 Lowest FA Cup attendance 4,000 v Newton on 29 October 1892 2nd Qualifying Round Lowest FA Cup attendance (post-war) 11,207 v Chester City, 1945-46 3rd rd 2nd leg Lowest League Cup attendance 9,902 v Brentford, 1983/84 2nd rd, 2nd leg Lowest European attendance 12,021 v Dundalk, 1982/83 European Cup 1st rd, 1st leg Record highest attendance 61,905 v Wolves, 1951/52 FA Cup fifth round Record lowest attendance 1,000 against Loughborough Town on 7 December 1895