Liverpool

by **NIGHTMARE** Sat 26 Jun - 5:08:26

Directions & Car Parking

Follow the M62 until you reach the end of the motorway (beware of a 50mph speed camera about a 1/4 of a mile from the end of the motorway). Then follow the A5058 towards Liverpool. After three miles turn left at the traffic lights into Utting Avenue (there is a McDonalds on the corner of this junction). Proceed for one mile and then turn right at the Arkles pub for the ground. If you arrive early (around 1pm) then there is street parking to be found. However recently a residents only parking scheme has been introduced in some streets around the ground, so check any signs first. Otherwise it as an idea to park in the streets around Goodison and walk across Stanley Park to Anfield, or you can park in a secure parking area at Goodison itself which costs £10.

By Train

Kirkdale station is the closest to the ground (just under a mile away). However, it may be more advisable to go to Sandhills Station as this has the benefit of a bus service to the ground, which runs for a couple of hours before and a couple of hours after a game and drops you within easy walking distance of the ground. Gary Beaumont adds; 'The best route for away fans from the city centre if they want to use public transport is definitely the Merseyrail Northern Line to Sandhills where they alight and catch the special Soccerbuses; trains can be caught from Liverpool Central and Moorfields. If fans are buying their train tickets in Liverpool, ask for a return to Anfield as opposed to Sandhills even though that's where you're getting off. The advantage of doing this is that the train ticket is valid also for the Soccerbus and the additional fare is only £1 return as opposed to £1 each way that you'd have to pay on the bus if you only bought your ticket to Sandhills. If fans want to get a taxi from Lime Street, they're about £6'. Both Sandhills & Kirkdale stations and can be reached by first getting a train from Liverpool Lime Street to Liverpool Central and then changing there for Kirkdale.

The main railway station in Liverpool is Lime Street which is over three miles from the ground and is really too far to walk (although it is mostly downhill on the way back to the station), so either head for Sandhills or Kirkdale stations or jump in a taxi. Craig Hochkins adds; 'you can catch various buses from the bus station which is seven minutes walk away from the train station and is well signposted. Either the 17a 17b 17c or the 26 will drop you right outside the ground at a cost of about a £1. The buses are run by Arriva and the journey takes about 15 to 25 minutes dependant on traffic'. Paul Denman a visiting Hull City fan informs me; 'Although the No 17 Bus took only 15 minutes to reach Anfield from the station, after the game it took almost 50 minutes, as the roads were clogged with fans walking home. However, everyone was friendly. I wore my City shirt with pride, never felt threatened even on the bus and had great conversations with the Liverpool supporters.'

Where To Drink

The Arkles pub near to the ground (see directions by car), is known as the away fans pub, but as can be expected it can get extremely crowded. Mark Parsons a visiting Aston Villa fan adds; 'We arrived at the Arkles at about 1.15pm and already found it packed out, with fans queuing outside to get in. We asked a very helpful WPC for any other away friendly pubs and were told to go to the Flat Iron which was a five minute walk away. Although the pub was mostly full of Liverpool fans, the bars were mixed and all were very friendly. There is also a good chippy located on the other side of the road. To find this pub, turn left at the junction where Arkles is (with the ground over to your right down Anfield Road). Head away from the ground and the pub is down on the right hand side'. Otherwise alcohol is available inside the stadium.

The Ground

Walking up to the ground alongside Stanley Park, I have to say, that from a distance, Anfield is not particularly impressive. Inside though, the ground is wonderful and only the most critical of visitors would find fault with it. The famous Kop Terrace at one end of the ground, has been replaced by a huge stand designed to emulate the old Kop, hence it's odd shape (kind of semi circular) and single large tier. The other end, the Anfield Road Stand, part of which is given to away supporters, is the most recent addition to the ground. It has boosted not only the overall capacity of the stadium, but has given Anfield a more balanced and enclosed feel as all corners are now filled. On one side of the stadium is the large, two tiered, Centenary Stand, where the front tier leg room is the tightest I have ever known. Opposite is the Main Stand, the oldest in the ground and looking its age with a number of supporting pillars. This stand has a TV gantry suspended beneath its roof. In the corner between the Kop & Centenary stands is an electric scoreboard, which surprise, surprise, shows the match score in bright red letters.

Around the outside of the ground, there are the Bill Shankly Gates on Anfield Road. These wrought iron gates have the legendary Liverpool phrase 'You'll Never Walk Alone' displayed above them. There is also a statue of the great man, Bill Shankly near the Club shop. Also along Anfield Road, there is the moving memorial to the victims of the Hillsborough disaster, which always has flowers adorning it.

Away Fans

Away fans are located in the Anfield Road Stand at one end of the ground, where just under 2,000 seats are available, although this can be increased for cup games. This stand is also shared with home supporters, some of whom will be sitting in the small seated tier above the away fans.