Topic: Liverpool Players told not to Stop at Melwood to Sign Autographs or Selfies

[Hij]

I did notice the most angry person on Twitter seemed to be someone who sold footie memorabilia. Did rise a wry smile.

[lmccallion7]

Think it is fair enough to stop it if there is genuine safety concerns. Also completely disagree with people making money from signed memorabilia and they is only one way to stop that.

[exino]

From most manager's and coach's perspectives the players should not be stopping at all on their way into training. It's nothing but a distraction and impediment for players who are already in the mindset to train. After training is finished though I don't see much of an issue with it.

[exino]

I see many of you don't seem to understand the clubs reasoning behind this but it's mostly to prevent any interferences to the players training and to help them be more productive when they arrive for training. There are also the security concerns.

[Lush is the best medicine...]

I see many of you don't seem to understand the clubs reasoning behind this but it's mostly to prevent any interferences to the players training and to help them be more productive when they arrive for training. There are also the security concerns on top of that.

those nobs who hang around so they can get a shirt to flog on eBay are probably the ones who led to this, those pics I see lots of adults and few kids

[Tesco tearaway]

The latter are everywhere these days. A friend is an autograph hunter. He came to Liverpool when Arsenal were playing (He's an Arsenal fan) and he went to Melwood to collect autographs (he wanted Gerrards, the most valuable at the time). I went with him to keep him company. It was all very strange. I reckon there were 5 professional 'graphers' to every ordinary fan... snip.

Jeez!
I didn't realise it had got that bad; Lot different to when I was a kid 

[Alan_X]

I see many of you don't seem to understand the clubs reasoning behind this but it's mostly to prevent any interferences to the players training and to help them be more productive when they arrive for training. There are also the security concerns on top of that.

The main reason will be the safety of the public. As DonkeyWan and others have described, there is a real problem with pedestrians and vehicles mixing.

[LucyLFC]

I've only ever been outside Melwood twice, it's not fair to the ones who are genuine fans and want to have selfies with their favourite players and not take things there for the players to sign just to make money, I remember a couple of people getting stuff signed, one of them must have been doing it to sell it and make money which is wrong on so many levels, I went there to catch a selfie with Danny Ings, the other players were a bonus, but I do understand the safety concerns behind it, the kids do run in front of the cars and even the adults sometimes and that is one huge safety risk right there, i'm gutted that I won't be able to get anymore selfies but I'd be happy enough just to watch them drive out of Melwood if I'm honest!

I know it's a long standing tradition, I do think in a way it is furthering the relationship between the players and the fans by stopping this but if there is a health and safety risk involved, it does need to be addressed. Hopefully they'll come to a solution about it all soon.

[Johns_Barn]

This fella outside Melwood would be ace

His game isn't as strong as Rick from Hedonism II: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVtEX1J7tXQ

[mattyyt]

Did this used to happen on weekdays? The kids should be in school, so anyone there is either bunking off or one of those autograph collectors, neither of which should be encouraged.

[justarslan]

I can remember the time the players parked their cars behind the main stand in the late sixties and happily signed autographs both before and after a match. Wow how times have changed.

How much was season ticket in those days? It is greed is good sport now.

[Zeppelin]

Funny how times have changed. When I was a kid we used to go up to Melwood to get autographs. The car park gates were open and you could just walk in and wait for the players to arrive (in their sponsored cars!) and get autographs. When I first went (in the late 60s) we were even allowed to stay to watch the players train and act as ballboys. By the end of the decade, we used to get kicked out once the players had arrived, but at least as late as 1971 we could still get autographs. I've got a souvenir brochure for the 1971 Cup Final signed by all the players but I can't remember going again after that.

[RedKenWah]

the thing is though, times have changed. Social media being the biggest change, and quite frankly the biggest pain in the arse for society. The need to have a selfie, a picture of a "celebrity" and then post it on Instagram, twitter, facebook...

Also the element of money, footballers who earn so much money now, they are easy targets. You have to look at Andy Carroll - targetted by a criminal gang to kidnap or whatever... I can't have any issue with the latest stance on this. If this wasn't brought in and something were to happen to one of our players... you'd know there would be people asking the question...

[peterstone]

I've only ever been outside Melwood twice, it's not fair to the ones who are genuine fans and want to have selfies with their favourite players and not take things there for the players to sign just to make money, I remember a couple of people getting stuff signed, one of them must have been doing it to sell it and make money which is wrong on so many levels, I went there to catch a selfie with Danny Ings, the other players were a bonus, but I do understand the safety concerns behind it, the kids do run in front of the cars and even the adults sometimes and that is one huge safety risk right there, i'm gutted that I won't be able to get anymore selfies but I'd be happy enough just to watch them drive out of Melwood if I'm honest!

I know it's a long standing tradition, I do think in a way it is furthering the relationship between the players and the fans by stopping this but if there is a health and safety risk involved, it does need to be addressed. Hopefully they'll come to a solution about it all soon.

If you're going to get a seflie at least make sure you display it the right way up

 

[Qston]

Sad but I do understand it. I went there as a kid many many years ago a few times. If safety is genuinely an issue then it is probably the only thing to do. It would make sense to then perhaps arrange open training days every so often like they do when on tour. I am sure there are ways of making the players accessible to the fans (other than match days) at the right time

[Theoldkopite]

I can remember the time the players parked their cars behind the main stand in the late sixties and happily signed autographs both before and after a match. Wow how times have changed.

Gerry Byrne was just getting into his VW Beetle in the main stand car park when I asked him to sign my autograph book. I asked him to sign it 'Gerry Byrne, crunch, crunch' (his chant). He said  (growled) 'don't be fu**ing funny son and drove off. No autograph that day

[LucyLFC]

If you're going to get a seflie at least make sure you display it the right way up

 

Haha every time I try and upload a new profile picture on here it always goes sideways

[gatcliffe]

How much was season ticket in those days? It is greed is good sport now.

If I can remember it was something like £20 max.

[electricsheep17]

Hi - does anyone know what time the lads train at Melwood? Is there a set schedule? I keep missing them   

[exiledintheUSA]

Barry the Head of Security at Melwood waits for you to leave before calling the players forward.

[electricsheep17]

That seems a shame, a lot of fans wait outside there all day in the cold and rain

[gazzam1963]

They don't train there anymore , they get changed into there kit there , all leave a secret door on the main road then jog up and train on the bill shankly playing fields until about one , drive past them every day .

[The Istvan Kozma Fan Club]

I remember that day... Dunk at the gates of Melwood. His humongous arse blocked the entire Deysbrook Lane! The club must have done something about it...

[jambutty]

I have two words for this thread.

John Lennon.

[S]

I have two words for this thread.

John Lennon.

That example rings especially true in the age of the smartphone. It doesn't necessarily have to be anywhere near as drastic an example as the one you gave, but some morons will do anything if they know they can get people to watch.

[Redman0151]

I have two words for this thread.

John Lennon.

Britain doesn't have crazy yanks with guns

[The Istvan Kozma Fan Club]

I have two words for this thread.

John Lennon.

Elvis lives.

[AJL]

Elvis lives.

But Kenny Rules

[jambutty]

Britain doesn't have crazy yanks with guns

Problem solved.