Well, maybe not an entirely sad story......"donīt cry because itīs over, smile because it happened" and all that.
RIP Ann
YNWA
So i was a little young lad running down the street in 1977 when i heard "hey, come here" i stopped and looked, this lady said "you have a liverpool strip on is that who you support"? "Yeah i said" "come look in my house this lady said" "my mum said i cant do things like that" i replied.."good lad" she said "look through the window then". I looked through the window and saw the wall in this womans living roomcovered in Liverpool memorabilia. "go ask your mum if you can come in" she said.
I ran home as fast as i could and asked my mum, she said yes so i ran even faster back and knocked on the door. "come in" she said. it was even better without glass in the way--"where did you get this from"? i asked "Rome sweetheart" she said. "You went to Rome, no way" i said. "I go every week love" she said "you wanna come with me"? After running home again as fast as i could and asking my mumi ended up going --that started a lifetime of memories with Ann
I held the European cup when it was bigger than me and just sat on a formica table,
i visited Melwood when it was just a field
I went to European cup finals
I went to FA and Milk cup finals
I met all kinds of players
i went to Bob paisleys last game and was even on sportsnight at his party at the supporters club
I went all over the country with her and when i couldnt go she always and i mean always brought me back a programme, i used to get bored listening to her stories, which now im older i realise are legendary--she always used to tell me off for opening the window in the back cause she hated the sound--fkin great memories.
I feel so fking lucky and blessed to be a Liverpool fan, im an OOT but love the club like nothing else, i know no other love for as long as Liverpool, and i have Ann North to thank for this--just for stopping a young kid on the street because i had a liverpool top on--thank God for that meeting--it shaped who i am today from the goods times with her and Heysel and Hillsborough with her.
As i got older i tried to keep in touch but i moved to America--when i had a son, the first thing i did was buy him a liverpool kit fly home to england and take him round to Anns house. "Youve raised him well she said --although he looks like Stan Collymore cause hes bald" We laughed.
I never saw her or her husband Dennis again, but it seems fitting she saw id "done the right thing" and raised Reds
Ann North you are a legend , when the word is thrown around too much these days.
From the bottom of my heart i say RIP and YNWA...and becasue of your kindness and me feeling part of the fabric of LFC now, ill never walk alone either--Thank you and God bless
Darren Page
