Here's my post in it's entirety,they only took pieces out of it.
Kop memories.
so many,don't know where to start.
First game actually on the Kop was Chris Lawler's Testimonial,not sure of the exact date.Don't remember anything at all about it though,apart from,I had to sit on the barrier to actually see.Talking of barriers,the amount of times you got pushed off and then back on was unbelievable,sometimes your legs would go numb and you were desperate not to get pushed off as you wouldn't be able to stand.Then moved on to the milk crate in front of the barriers,this was pretty safe,but was a chore walking to the ground having to carry it.
I remember the Brighton FA Cup game in 82/83,went for a pee at half time but couldn't manage to push my way through,back to the middle of the Kop,so had to watch the second half from the steps that led into the Kop at the bottom left hand side,until they opened the gates and managed to sneak out and into the Main Stand for the last few minutes,only problem was Jimmy Case struck the winner late on to win the game for Brighton.
Another FA Cup game against Grimsby,around the '80 season,I think we won 4 or 5 nil,was the first time I heard/saw any opposition fans in numbers in the Kop.They had a load of fans in the Anny Rd end and they were singing their song "iee-oooo Grimsby,Grimsby iee-ooo" were it started echoing around the Kop.Not sure how many were in,quite a few hundred but there was no trouble.
Talking about away fans in the Kop there was a time we played the Mancs,around the early eighties,and walking to the turnstiles on the right corner of the Kop,where the mast/flagpole was,I remember,which was very unusual,hearing Utd,Utd from behind the turnstiles,so we made are way round to the next set of turnstiles on the back of the Kop,and made our way in.Where we used to stand/sit on barrier then,was to the right of the furthestmost stanchion on the right of the Kop,and when we got to our usual spec,you could cut the atmosphere with a knife.There were a 100,maybe 200 Mancs looking for bother,but the Police moved them into the the balcony area,above the exits on the right side of the Kop(as you look at the pitch)and cordoned them off.Can't remember the score but it was the first time I'd felt unsafe in the Kop,not sure why,'cos there were about 5,000 Kopites between them and me,but when your minds young you imagine all sorts.
With Mancs on my mind,what about the time we beat them 4-0 around '90,their favorite song at the time was "Always look on the bright side of life",but when the fourth goal went in,and the whole of Anfield sang that song back to them was immense,even the Kemlyn were singing it was that good,and I've still got it all on tape
Never forget the Souness volley either against the Mancs at the Anny Rd end,in the early eighties.
Around the early eighties,Ipswich were one of our main rivals and we had a couple of seasons where we played them in the League Cup.I think one of them was where Mark Lawrenson made a tackle from behind on the penalty spot when an Ipswich forward was through on goal,could have been Mariner or Gates,it was the best executed tackle I've ever seen.I think it was one of these games in the cup against Ipswich that went to extra-time and me and my mate nipped out to the chippie behind the Kop for a split and gravy,then back into the Kop,to watch extra time with our chips.
.Around this time there was talk of Eric Gates coming to Anfield in place of Craig Johnston and I remember the song "We all agree Skippy is better than Wurzel".
Then there was the League Cup game against Barnsley around the same time as the Ipswich games,where it was foggy.Took ages down the Lancs in the car,couldn't see 30 yards in front of you,but was more surprised that the game went on.The game ended in a draw,not sure what the score was,but we won the replay,but you couldn't see the Anny Rd end from the Kop.
Always enjoyed night matches at Anfield especially European ones.Took a day off school with my dad to queue down Kemlyn Rd for tickets for the return leg against Forest in '79/'80.Only problem was we lost the first game 2-0 but although we had most of the game that night just couldn't score at Anfield.Forest were a good side then though.The Kop used to have a great rapport with Shilton,"Tina,Tina,Tina" and "We all agree Clemo is better than Tina" we'd sing to him,but he always took it in good humour.
Talking off goalies,I think I'm right in remembering someone throwing a bottle from the Kop,ironically I think it was Joe Corrigan in the goals although I may be wrong on that one.
Back to the Euro nights,I remember walking onto the Kop when we played Fergie's Aberdeen after we beat them at Pittordrie 1-0 thanks to a lovely McDermott chip.The floodlights weren't on at the time but the away section was absolutely chocker full of Aberdeen fans,and it was probably an hour before the game.Stuffed 'em 4-0 as well.
Was also present at both Oulu Palloseura games in 80/81 and 81/82.The first time we beat them 10-1.Always amazed me how we can put 10 past a team yet they managed to score a goal and hold us to 1-1 in the first leg.Souness and MeDermott both netting hat tricks in the 10-1,not often you see that.Oulu obviously got better 'cos the following season we only beat them 7-0.
Can't remember which game it was but it was a European match,and I was on my own,I actually went into the away section to watch the game.It was very sparse as not a lot had travelled.This was the only part of the ground I'd never been in and this was the ideal opportunity to do it.Don't ask me why though,'cos that's the only explanation I can think of.
Another night match was a game against West Ham,not sure if it was League or Cup,but I remember it was cold and we "Hammered" them.They all started doing the conga around the away end,Strange people.
The only time I ever remember an ex-liverpool player being booed at Anfield was when Howard Gayle came to town with Blackburn,presumably a cup game.He tried to dive and cheat his way into the record books,and the Kop didn't take to it at all.Never heard it before then or after.
Ha,what about that huge tin of Crown Paint on the centre spot.About a dozen men used to get hernias carting it off before the game started.
Dalglish always putting the ball into the Kop net before the kick off in the warm up,would never go to kick off until he had,sometimes Brucie would save it on purpose,just to wind him up,but it would always end up in the net somehow.
Talking of Dalglish,seen him score a few crackers at the Kop end.There was one particular one against Crystal Palace (I think) where he controlled a highish ball,on the edge of the Dee,but the ball got stuck under his feet,but somehow surrounded by 3 or 4 defenders managed to chip the ball,into the bottom far corner.He also scored virtually from the byeline into the top corner,curled over the keeper,against Ipswich,with his left foot.
Remember Avi Cohen,I was there when we beat Villa 4-1 to win the League in '80.He managed to score at the Kop end twice that game but one was Villa's only goal,an own goal.I don't think he qualified for a medal either the poor lad,'cos he didn't play enough games.
The year we won the Championship at Anfield,by beating Spurs,Dalglish,Lawrenson and Whelan all scored.During this game I was at the front of the Kop and spent most of the afternoon watching the Kop instead of the game.A truly marvelous sight.
Spurs leads me own to the two best performances I've ever seen at Anfield.The first one the 7-0 thrashing of Spurs in 1978.The much media hyped Spurs with World Cup Winners Osvaldo Ardiles and Ricky Villa came to Anfield and witnessed one of the best performances ever and topped with Terry Macs exceptional goal at the end.The there was the 5-0 thrashing of Forest,in the 87/88 season.Beardsley was absolutely magnificent in that game and would have scored the goal of the season if it weren't for the crossbar.He dances and shimmied past 3 or 4 players then left the keeper for dead but the ball hit the woodwork.Privileged to have been there as was Tom Finney.
John Barnes scored a couple of crackers against high flying QPR as we beat them 4-0 with his tackle on the half way line then dribble into the box past a few players the passed the ball into the net,was the pick of that season for me.
There's probably many more,that I can't remember just now,but these should keep you going for now.
