Topic: Meeting your heroes.... Gerrard and Bellamy.

[cahalboyd]

They say meeting your heroes can sometimes be a bad thing, especially if they don't live up to the hype. Well, at the tender age of 28 I should really be beyond the point of having heroes, but as many many on here will agree, that's just not possible with Liverpool FC. I was holidaying this summer with the missus, her sisters and their partners in Albufeira and one day we decided to go to the waterpark nearby. While standing in line for a rollercoaster, I noticed a blonde woman who was very familiar. Ten minutes of staring (semi-discreetly) and I just couldnt place her. Then the missus says to me, "That woman looks wile like Alex Curran!" Then I realised, standing next to her, was Steven Gerrard!

I thought about leaving the queue and going to get my phone for a pic, but he was there with the family, so decided to leave it, and hoped I would get a chance to talk to him. Coming from county Antrim (20 minutes from where Brendan Rodgers is from), I was eager to hear his thoughts on the new manager. By sheer luck, the queue snaked round so before we took our seats, Gerrard was standing right next to me! I spoke to him, and had a 10 minute conversation with him, about Rodgers, the club and the euros. When I had to take my seat, I thanked him for his time, to which he replied "No problem mate anytime."

I was made up for the rest of the week! As much as I love Stevie G, he hasnt been my favourite player (that was Rush, Fowler, Carra, then Alonso, Torres then Kuyt) and I always thought he was a bit dour. But to be honest, when I spoke to him, he was polite and seemed quite shy, he even stopped to say hello to the missus too! Fair play to him, he was on hols with the family and didnt have to take the time to talk shop with me. Sometimes it's little things like that, that seem to re-energise your belief and faith in this wonderful club.

A few years ago, during Bellamys first stint at the club, he was over in Northern Ireland for an international game and there was a rumour he was in my local at the time, the Hatfield pub in Belfast. The barman called me to say he was there, so I left work at 11 am and legged it up there. On the way I picked up my jersey in the hope of getting it signed. When I arrived at the pub, he took one look at the jersey, said good man yourself and bought a round for the entire pub! Werent too many in at that time mind! Again, meeting one of my heroes lived up to expectations. 

Me and the missus are for Anfield this week for the Europa game. It's my first visit in three years, it's hard to regulary get over living here when you have a mortgage to pay  but I'm hoping once again, to meet another hero. Mr Rodgers perhaps?? 

[lankyguy007]

Sounds great mate.

[loozy]

Sounds fantastic... Made up for you on your behalf 

[IndianaRed]

i'm glad meeting them two were nice experiences for you.  on the US tour last week, i missed a couple training sessions after stevie and the english lads had gotten there, but i made it to the final training session.  we stuck around there for hours and several players were kind enough to take 25 minutes or so and take photos and sign things for anyone who wanted them, but stevie was apparently "in a bad mood today" according to a few people, and he pretty much didn't sign anything and dodged everyone.  i heard he even tried to sneak out of the back of the harvard locker room by putting on a #6 training shirt... anyway the team bus came and he walked straight to it and got on.  i couldn't understand why he couldn't take a few minutes like all the other players and sign some things... it's literally a once in a lifetime opportunity for a lot of fans, and everyone from all around the world spent a lot of money to go there and see them.  the least he could do is take a few minutes and acknowledge everyone, but he didn't.  that left me pretty annoyed with him.  i'll get over it of course, as it shouldn't be that big a deal in the first place, but still... he coulda just done the good guy thing.

[Tepid water]

Thing is, it's a once in a lifetime experience for almost every single fan he meets.

No ones going to be up for it at all times.

Bad luck mate

[cooldinesh]

I envy you people   

[loozy]

I envy you people   

Me, too 

[cahalboyd]

i'm glad meeting them two were nice experiences for you.  on the US tour last week, i missed a couple training sessions after stevie and the english lads had gotten there, but i made it to the final training session.  we stuck around there for hours and several players were kind enough to take 25 minutes or so and take photos and sign things for anyone who wanted them, but stevie was apparently "in a bad mood today" according to a few people, and he pretty much didn't sign anything and dodged everyone.  i heard he even tried to sneak out of the back of the harvard locker room by putting on a #6 training shirt... anyway the team bus came and he walked straight to it and got on.  i couldn't understand why he couldn't take a few minutes like all the other players and sign some things... it's literally a once in a lifetime opportunity for a lot of fans, and everyone from all around the world spent a lot of money to go there and see them.  the least he could do is take a few minutes and acknowledge everyone, but he didn't.  that left me pretty annoyed with him.  i'll get over it of course, as it shouldn't be that big a deal in the first place, but still... he coulda just done the good guy thing.

I think its a case of me being lucky and you being unlucky. He could've been in a bad mood that day at the waterpark and told me to feck right off!

[IndianaRed]

Thing is, it's a once in a lifetime experience for almost every single fan he meets.

No ones going to be up for it at all times.

Bad luck mate

yeah.  i guess in the end it's my fault.  i could have been at the other training sessions and i heard he was pretty good about signing things and whatnot at those, but i was a little slow out of bed those mornings and i missed a couple of them.  he probably has to deal with that sort of thing more than most of the players so i can see how he won't be up for it sometimes, but it was still a bit annoying.  he hadn't done nearly as much of it as all the players who had been there for days already, so it just seemed a bit 'posh' of him to get burned out on it so quickly and run away from everyone like we're paparazzi or something.  anyway the more i talk about it the more i feel like a c*nt so i'll just leave it there

[caspertheghost]

I envy you people   

[lfcbob]

said good man yourself and bought a round for the entire pub

Bellamys a c*nt they said ...

[lfcshaunod]

I saw Gerrard playing on a bandit in Southport one night.

Didnt have the balls to go over though. Regret it now like.

[GODS LEFT BOOT]

Nice story mate but damn you for reminding me of that water park. I was there about 10 years ago - went down a steep slide kneeling on some kind of dinner trey ,  I came off when I hit the water and slapped my bollocks so hard on the water I nearly drowned.

[Notorious IT]

When was this mate? I was in Albufeira a couple of weeks ago, but the missus never fancied the waterpark! Would be raging if it's the same time! Haha.

[robbie keane]

A group of my mates met him at a water park last summer, he posed for photo's had a good chat with them.
I am almost certain it was the same place the OP went to, I seem to remember them telling me Gerrard said he goes there often and isn't recognised.

[Alex Raisbeck]

Nice story mate but damn you for reminding me of that water park. I was there about 10 years ago - went down a steep slide kneeling on some kind of dinner trey ,  I came off when I hit the water and slapped my bollocks so hard on the water I nearly drowned.

Was it the 'Slide and Splash' waterpark that sways when you're at the top level and has uncovered water pumps that suck you in and give 12 year olds a blood blister on their back? (I went to the Albufeira waterpark not long after it was built-I'm sure the H&S has improved since '85!)

[GODS LEFT BOOT]

Was it the 'Slide and Splash' waterpark that sways when you're at the top level and has uncovered water pumps that suck you in and give 12 year olds a blood blister on their back? (I went to the Albufeira waterpark not long after it was built-I'm sure the H&S has improved since '85!)

Sounds like the same place - designed by a sadist I think - would have thought Stevie could afford a better class of water park

[lfcbob]

He likes his water parks dosnt he

[Antics]

Gutted, when I was in the Algarve I only came across Gareth Barry. He was surprisingly approachable, got a round in for me and my mates which must have been well over €100, would have traded that 5 times over to meet Stevie though!

[Discipline]

Bellamys a c*nt they said ...

He's like a chiwawa they said ...

 

[Red Genius]

One of my aims in life is to be able to sit infront of Rafa and talk about football.

If Jim'll Fix It was still on the box, that'd be what i'd ask him for.

[kelly34]

Nice story there mate.  Wonder if I'll still have heroes when I'm a little older, never had a 'hero' that's been younger than me.  Only players I've ever met are Pacheco (who was more than happy to have a photo) a few years ago and Chris Kirkland when I was a kid. 

[cahalboyd]

Was it the 'Slide and Splash' waterpark that sways when you're at the top level and has uncovered water pumps that suck you in and give 12 year olds a blood blister on their back? (I went to the Albufeira waterpark not long after it was built-I'm sure the H&S has improved since '85!)

I don't think it was that one! "AquaShow" was the name of it if I remember correctly.

[FernandoTourettes]

I spoke to him, and had a 10 minute conversation with him, about Rodgers, the club and the euros. When I had to take my seat, I thanked him for his time, to which he replied "No problem mate anytime."

C'mon then! So what did he say?

[cahalboyd]

Cant remember the exact words, but we discussed how sad it was to see Kenny go, talked about Brendan Rodgers, how he had Swansea playing great football, that he seems to "know his stuff" (my line, not his  ) I asked him any inside news on transfers but he said he never knows till it happens, he asked if we were having a good holiday and do we get over to Anfield much basically.

[andspecks]

Nice story, mate

[kevinbrodie]

red genuis...you and me mate...would be an honor...in those questions when they ask what 3 peole would would want at a dinner a party my answer is Rafa, Rafa and Monste.

[Barneylfc]

Apparently Bellamy is something of a regular in the Hatfield. I think the owner or someone that knows the owner is friends with him from his Celtic days. Not too sure. But he's definitely been there quite a few times.

[Sevo]

I was on holiday in the Isles of Scilly a few years ago when Adidas were filming an advert; Gerrard and Voronin were there. In fact over the week it was like a who's who of football: Viera, Ballack, Anderson and Beckham turned up. All the players were reasonably approachable, particularly Beckham who was very media friendly. Stevie was protected by two ZZ Top lookalikes and was very distant. I suppose it was when he was worrying about those criminal heavies who were threatening him. Those who did manage to speak to him all remarked how shy he seemed. Perhaps he was embarrassed as he couldn't get a ball through one of those life saving rings they'd hung from a crossbar!

[Lancaster Bomber]

Remember coming to Anfield in the mid eighties and changing trains at Preston i was changing platforms when i saw Sammy Lee on the station i went up to him and told him i was from Lancaster and was a regular at Anfield he said he was with Ron Yeates who was in the toilets sammy said they were going to see Hearts play at home in Edinburgh   they were doing a bit of scouting next minute rowdy yeates comes out of the toilets and sammy introduced me to him  sammy said i was from Lancaster come on Ron meet one of the lads Ron shook my hand and said hello son i was made up i told all the lads in the Albert and the park outside the kop 

[The 5th Benitle]

Sounds like we need to install a water park at Melwood then 

[Paragon]

 

[soxfan]

Remember coming to Anfield in the mid eighties and changing trains at Preston i was changing platforms when i saw Sammy Lee on the station i went up to him and told him i was from Lancaster and was a regular at Anfield he said he was with Ron Yeates who was in the toilets sammy said they were going to see Hearts play at home in Edinburgh   they were doing a bit of scouting next minute rowdy yeates comes out of the toilets and sammy introduced me to him  sammy said i was from Lancaster come on Ron meet one of the lads Ron shook my hand and said hello son i was made up i told all the lads in the Albert and the park outside the kop 

I'm picturing you telling us this without taking a breath! 

(great story! )

[RevDog]

I was lucky enough to meet Steven Gerrard a few seasons ago after a match at Anfield, also met Glen Johnson and Pepe Reina that afternoon.

And very fortunate to meet God himself, Robbie Fowler when he was playing in Australia. A few of us were sat along the front with a Fowler banner and the like and after the match he came over to us to chat, take photos and sign some autographs. It was fantastic!

So to meet Gerrard and Fowler, I think I've done well.

[lealiamb]

i'm glad meeting them two were nice experiences for you.  on the US tour last week, i missed a couple training sessions after stevie and the english lads had gotten there, but i made it to the final training session.  we stuck around there for hours and several players were kind enough to take 25 minutes or so and take photos and sign things for anyone who wanted them, but stevie was apparently "in a bad mood today" according to a few people, and he pretty much didn't sign anything and dodged everyone.  i heard he even tried to sneak out of the back of the harvard locker room by putting on a #6 training shirt... anyway the team bus came and he walked straight to it and got on.  i couldn't understand why he couldn't take a few minutes like all the other players and sign some things... it's literally a once in a lifetime opportunity for a lot of fans, and everyone from all around the world spent a lot of money to go there and see them.  the least he could do is take a few minutes and acknowledge everyone, but he didn't.  that left me pretty annoyed with him.  i'll get over it of course, as it shouldn't be that big a deal in the first place, but still... he coulda just done the good guy thing.

thats crap that bud. youd think a guy of his standing, the club captain. bad mood or not would make an effort to go and see fans who have mostly only ever saw him on TV.    wasnt it not shanks who called everyone off the team bus to go and sign autographs.   

how many of us go into work in a bad mood but we still have to put a shift in and a fake smile on for customers.   

[hitman89762000]

A couple of years ago i headed up to the reebok for our game vs bolton and met this lfc legend:



Oh and whilst this is the signed lfc shirt from meeting the king a melwood last summer



Still cant believe i met kenny.

[IndianaRed]

thats crap that bud. youd think a guy of his standing, the club captain. bad mood or not would make an effort to go and see fans who have mostly only ever saw him on TV.    wasnt it not shanks who called everyone off the team bus to go and sign autographs.   

how many of us go into work in a bad mood but we still have to put a shift in and a fake smile on for customers.   

yeah, pretty much.  you'd think a guy on the money he's on could put on a smile for a few minutes even on his bad days and go and see his adoring fans.  the other thing about it is that he'd only been there a couple days by then, so it seemed a little 'posh' of him to get tired of it so quickly... the players who had been there for several days were still taking time even on the final day to sign things and take photos.  i can't overstate how great almost all the players were about it except for stevie that day, and aquilani at times (but we now know why he might've been avoiding it).  it would be one thing avoiding signing things and whatnot if he was out on his own time, but he was with the club doing club-related stuff, so that was pretty annoying.  for what it's worth though, i heard on the other days when he DID sign things, he seemed to prioritize the younger fans, which is the right thing to do.

stevie's obvously 'the big one' - the player everyone wants to meet and get his signature on their shirts or whatever, so in that respect it's a little disappointing i never got his, but overall i left Boston way more than pleased.  i got Fowler, Rush, Agger and Lucas among many others to sign my shirt and take photos, so i'm really happy about the whole thing overall.

[Aigburth73]

Sounds like Zoomarine. The dolphin show is magnificent.

[redannie]

I used to take my daughters and friends to Melwood during school holidays in the late 90s/ early 2000s  they have dozens of autographs from this time - this was when the stewards would let a handful of supporters in to watch the end of practice sessions. However, on one occasion we were approaching the gate when Robbie came out in his car, he duly stopped for the girls to sign their shirts but one of the youngsters was unable to run fast enough - he has muscular dystrophy - Robbie spotted him and waited til he reached the car. The lad was delighted especially when he was able to tell Robbie he was a Blackburn supporter! luckily Robbie saw the funny side. He went up in my estimation that day for a simple act of kindness.

[AJL]

A couple of years ago i headed up to the reebok for our game vs bolton and met this lfc legend:



Oh and whilst this is the signed lfc shirt from meeting the king a melwood last summer



Who is he Dave ?