An A-Z of Liverpool F.C., Part 6

Just L!

Liverpool FC

Well, yes. Founded in 1892, from the ashes of the bust-up between the original occupants of Anfield Road, Everton, and their landlord, John Houlding, over his proposed rent rise. Off to Goodison they went, leaving Houlding with a ground but no team. So he formed one. They used to hold meetings at the nearby Sandon pub, near the Kop end, and the players got changed there and walked down to the ground. - hence the plaque “Birthplace of Liverpool FC” outside the pub to this day.

Liverpool city and people

There are of course two tribes in Liverpool, but to the outside world the people are grouped into one generic whole. They talk differently, think differently, act differently, even dress differently. They have their own vocabulary - “boss tha!”

In many facets of life, they are very distinctive. To them the city is not really part of England, more a Celtic offshoot, principally Irish, but most of all, simply the Republic of Merseyside. Characteristics include a sense of togetherness and collective action - the Hillsborough Justice campaign being an example of a deep-rooted determination to stick together, and there is an unrepresentatively large number of scouse trade union leaders. They don’t like being told what to do, especially by those outside the city.

The city itself, once one of the world’s leading and busiest sea ports, has that world-famous skyline featuring the Three Graces - the Cunard Building, the Port of Liverpool Building and the Royal Liver Building, with the mythical copper Liver Birds crowning each tower.

Liver Bird

During World War II there were fears for the two liver birds. Legend has it that one bird looks watches over the city to protect the inhabitants, while the other looks out to sea for incoming ships. The myth surrounding these birds also states that if one bird should fly away, Liverpool would be no more.

The Royal Liver Building, one of the Three Graces.

Although the Blitz on Liverpool caused severe damage around the Three Graces, they all survived, and the bird remained in their nests.

The Liver Bird of course features upon the chest of the red shirt.

League Titles

19 of them - only one team has more, and that’s only one more - but unfortunately they don’t have a name!

Our title-winning managers were:

Tom Watson (2): 1900/01, 1905/06

David Ashworth (1)1921/22

Matt McQueen (1) 1922/23

George Kay (1) 1947

Bill Shankly (3) 1963/4, 1965/6, 1972/3

Bob Paisley (6) 1975/76, 1976/77, 1978/79, 1979/80, 1981/82, 1982/83

Kenny Dalglish (3) 1985/86, 1987/88, 1989/90

Joe Fagan (1) 1983/84

Jürgen Klopp (1) 2019/20

League Cup

Also known as the Worthington, Carling, Littlewoods, Rumbelows, Coca Cola, Capital One, EFL, Milk, Carabao Cup at various times.

Whatever it was called, we’ve won it the most, with 10. We’ve beaten West Ham, Tottenham, Everton, Manchester United twice, Bolton Wanderers, Birmingham City, Cardiff City, and Chelsea twice. We were also losing finalists four times, against Nottingham Forest, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City.

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