Topic: Wear Red, Bring a Scarf - Make the Kop Look Good Again

[Lad]

I last wore colours at the 1978 Wembley European cup final. I've been all over Britain and Europe supporting us ever since without the urge to wear a replica shirt. I personally think adults wearing them look twats, but I respect it's their choice and I would never make a comment to them.

I just think a lot of locals don't think it's cool to wear them. I'ts a Scouse thing. The OP comes from Yeovil and I suspect it may be trendy to wear a replica shirt in that area. So be it.

[Lenin.]

Oh and its winter, coats and jumpers don't tend to be red. That's a factor.

[kevlumley]

Good luck with this.

But i agree with some of the people on this thread, in that trying to dictate to people what to wear, what to put above your head and when to sing, is not the Liverpool way. It should not be forced. If people want to, they will.

I always try to go in the Kop for games, because i like to sing (badly). But just because i like to sing, it doesn't mean that everyone does. I have to admit to being frustrated at times that people don't sing and i think that is the thing above all else that helps the players and gets the atmosphere going. Second to that is the amount of flags flying before and during the game.

I always believed that Liverpools heartbeat of support came from within the Kop and those boys and girls always start the songs. So if you want to join in you can. But you do hear other sections start things off.

The Zenit St Petersburgh game wasn't that long ago and that was a cracking atmosphere.

[Wrigley]

Straw Man Central in this thread.

-Colours have no correlation with volume.

-To my knowledge casuals are not against scarves.

80% of UK Adidas sales in the late 70's were in Liverpool, if that's not tradition I don't now what is.

swerve Green Street, something a litter closer to home, although the film describes Tranmere fans it was based on Kevin Sampson's novel "Away Days" a book about the late 70's casual movement in Anfield.

Beat's the tourist shirts anyday, scarves are sound though.

[ShayGuevara]

I think people feel it's pointless trying to match the Dortmund crowd. They're so far in advance of what Liverpool are capable of doing (unless it's Liverpool fans in Melbourne or Thailand). The Kop spirit moved on years ago.

I know it's a sensitive issue but why the Dortmund crowd are so good is largely down to the safe standing they put in place.

[MONTREAL_RED]

swerve Green Street, something a litter closer to home, although the film describes Tranmere fans it was based on Kevin Sampson's novel "Away Days" a book about the late 70's casual movement in Anfield.

Book and film were both based on Tranmere....

[Wrigley]

Book and film were both based on Tranmere....

I'm sure its film Tranmere, book Liverpool?

No actually just checked any your right, point stands however, not like it's set in Canada or anything.

[ChaChaMooMoo]

1970s and 1980s were some of the best games. European nights, memorable league humiliations and trophies. After 1990 we werent sure of who we were. A lot of it attributed to the way the club was being run, a series of manager changes and failures at the transfer window. Still some memorable games - European and league. Rafa Benitez managed to get that spirit back into us. That sense of belief amongst ourself. The belief that made us carry that scarf week after week and shout our lungs out during public Anfield European anhilations. But off field problems affected us so badly that all we wanted to do was for the  team to get those 3 points.

Again, a series of changes at the helm. And no Europe. I dont want to say it in the wrong way but the sense of belief in wearing the red comes with a strong performances in the league and Europe, which is sadly missing now, as regular Anfield visitors just want to go to the game and come home. And this is exponentially affected without European nights. And we are one defeat away from saying the manager is shite and doesnt have any experience, the players are dumbasses who shouldnt be left alone with a sweater and a bottle of water, leave alone play a football game.

The belief of wearing the red comes with belief, which was sadly lost when the cancers took over our club. But with Rodgers, we can get back to those times. Want to catalyse it? Wear a red. get a scarf.

[craiglfc7]

I'm from Belfast (yup, wool) but I go the game every three weeks and only wear a scarf now because of this thing where it seems to be uncool to wear a replica top especially since i'm seen as being a "daytripper". As for the atmosphere, i'm 22 so can't comment on what it may used to have been like - but I would rather go to away games 10x over because of the atmosphere and day out.

The southampton game this season sitting in the kop was the worst i've ever been to in terms of quality of play and atmosphere. Sat the whole time too. Yet the Newcastle and Sunderland games were fantastic. Going to fulham next week and i certainly won't be expecting a party atmosphere there either.

Tbf Zenit last year at home was great, but what i'm saying is i go to anfield to watch the game - not for the atmosphere (sadly).

[Lenin.]

I'm from Belfast (yup, wool) but I go the game every three weeks and only wear a scarf now because of this thing where it seems to be uncool to wear a replica top especially since i'm seen as being a "daytripper".

Try wearing a sheepie*. That should pass muster.
(*No pun intended)

[craiglfc7]

Try wearing a sheepie*. That should pass muster.
(*No pun intended)

Haha nothing but a scarf and a smile

[firing squad]

lots of good points from different posters in this thread.

Thing is, saying that Anfield isn't a sea of red anymore is completely false. Look at the games at the beggining of the season and the games at the end and you'll see lots of people wearing colours.

Why? 

Because it's warm outside and you actually can walk around in a football jersey, whereas most of the football season is being played in cold weather, and as everyone knows, dark/black is mostly the colour of winter jackets or coats which is why there is less red around the stands.

Each to their own but wearing a football jersey over a winter jacket or a hoody like it can be seen all over Germany is one of the ugliest things that can happen to anyone over the age of 16 IMO, not to mention being extremely uncomfortable.

One other thing is very important when we're talking about LFC and colours, some people have already mentioned it. Liverpool is the home and the birthplace of the famous (or infamous??) casual style and culture so there'll always be some sort of fashion awareness around LFC support and people banging on about traditions should be aware that being casual is also a LFC tradition.

Regarding the scarves I already explained one of the biggest reasons for people not wearing them in my previous post here and the other reason is also connected to being casual.

[Lad]

Book and film were both based on Tranmere....

It was a truly awful film though.....

[stueya]

My opinion will never differ- anyone over the age of 10 who wears a replica top on the Kop is a whopper, I've stood and sat on the Kop since 1979 and it was never about wearing replica gear, yes you took flags and often scarves and that created the sea of red, not red shirts

The Kop was built upon the people who stood on it and not about them wearing red

[Motty]

I reckon everyone should go to the game like this Auld Arse

[CharlieAdamsLeftFoot]

Only wools wear replica shirts and scarves. Keep the Kop scouse I say.

[CHOPPER]

I reckon everyone should go to the game like this Auld Arse

OMFG!!!!


Its John C!

[Motty]

OMFG!!!!


Its John C!

I was going to say John Mac

[CHOPPER]

I was going to say John Mac

Far to thin.

[helmboy_nige]

So so tired of the snobbish attitude around replica shirts, scarves and the like.  If you've ever walked around Liverpool (and I don't just mean Anfield) on a matchday you will see a shit load more people wearing replica shirts than there are at the ground.  Now these people surely aren't all out of towners.

I agree with the sentiment of the OP and the fact he's not from Liverpool should not make a bit of difference. I disagree that wearing a replica shirt matters to the atmosphere, but I get the point that everyone in red would look awesome.

I have a replica shirt and I tend to wear it to the match. It's a part of my routine. It comes out that morning and I put it on for the long drive over to Anfield. I get the fashion element of 1970s Liverpool and I get why some people don't like replica shirts, but it doesn't put me off. It's a part of my pre-match routine and I don't give a shit if some snob thinks it's childish, woolish or whatever.  I've been spending good money for years to watch my team play.

The issue at anfield is not the look, it's the lack of atmosphere, and it has been said many times that this is a problem that goes a lot deeper than out of towner vs scouser born and bred.

[Welshred]

Only wools wear replica shirts and scarves. Keep the Kop scouse I say.

Then it'd be really fucking quiet, because there's a good few in 306 that are OOTers and there's a hell of a lot more silent scousers in the Kop as well!

[Yozza1]

Its people's personal choice but personally I have never worn a LFC shirt since I was about 14/15 and then I only used to wear them for footy. If its one thing me arl fella taught its not to wear your colours at the game, especially away.

[stueya]

Thing is though lad, is the Kop hasn't looked good since 1994, and an adult in a football top that isn't a player looks like an inbred

[craiglfc7]

Is this the only club where some locals look down on "wools?"

[KiNki]

Anyone not wearing red or carrying a scarf at Anfield will be made to watch the rest of the game in their pants.

[craiglfc7]

Thing is though lad, is the Kop hasn't looked good since 1994, and an adult in a football top that isn't a player looks like an inbred

And yeah I agree, an adult in a football strip looks ridiculous, especially with a name on the back. Saw "sterling" on a lads back once....who must have been about 40. Looked ridiculous!

[gazzam1963]

Pretty good debate this , as stated earlier by me on here it deffo the no colours is linked to the way lads were from 78 onwards . But funny enough ,  though there was no colours and it was an element of a place to be seen . Home matches on the anfield road were quite vocal with plenty of songs and chants .

I actually think the last few years the kops looked a lot better with more banners flags and a few good ynwas .
And when you get a good ynwa then it tends to Be all the sides of the ground . Years ago this never happened at all it would just be the kop .

As for singing I do think a lot is looked through Rose tinted glasses , some of our atmospheres have been just as good ( post 2005 ) as any in our history .  And though ive never worn colours my 13 year old lad loves to wear his shirt and sing and that's great by me ...until he's 18 then ditch the shirt 

[gazzam1963]

Is this the only club where some locals look down on "wools?"

No , the one across the park do too , it's the scouse mentality

[Motty]

Far to thin.

a bit John BigMac is he

[Liamski-la]

No , the one across the park do too , it's the scouse mentality

There's an Irony in the fact that the club was built on and by "out of towners"...

[red dean]

You want the atmosphere bringing back?
Get us young scouse casual lads that the 'wools' seem to dislike, together on the kop  and we will have it bouncing with banners and smoke bombs.
Week after week we are travelling up and down the country and have a great away end and that's the reason why, shirts don't make a good crowd

[Motty]

You want the atmosphere bringing back?
Get us young scouse casual lads that the 'wools' seem to dislike, together on the kop  and we will have it bouncing with banners and smoke bombs.
Week after week we are travelling up and down the country and have a great away end and that's the reason why, shirts don't make a good crowd

agree about the shirts but the atmosphere at the away's is down to it consisting of a few thousand hardcore fans as opposed to 40 thousand fans many of who can't be arsed singing whether it's down to the fact that they just can't be arsed or too busy taking photos

Both the away's and home have Locals and OOT's in them contributing in either a good or bad way equally, so cut this shit out about only locals being up to the job and OOT's bringing the atmosphere down

[red dean]

Locals have got a different attitude. Like it or not it's true.

[storkfoot]

Me and my mates have been moaning about the lack of atmosphere at Anfield since we won the European Cup in Rome in '77, believe it or not. In many of the intervening years, it hasn't always been great by any means and we've often been outsung by a few hundred away fans going back to the 80s. There have been some seasons were it has been pretty good___ the most recent being the season were we finished second to United and won 4-1 at OT. That was OK, for example, driven by success on the pitch I'd guess.

A few general thoughts anyway:

Having been at Hillsborough, I've been dead set against any safe standing areas ever since.

But, I happened upon the Borussia MGB v. Eintracht game on BT Sport on Sunday, and later a bit of the St. Etienne game (I hardly ever see foreign league games like these). The atmospheres, particularly at Borussia, took me straight back to the '70s and those games v. Leeds. Their fans were exceptional in their support (it's probably like that at most German games by the look of some of the clips I've seen).

I was embarrassed watching it to be honest, thinking how abject our support is at Anfield. But, the ones doing the singing and making the atmosphere were (i) standing and (ii) teenagers and early 20s in the main. Unfortunately, our crowd have, like me, all grown old and as much as I like to say I support the team as much as when I was 16, I don't.

This has got me thinking that, maybe, we should try a standing area for a season or two.

Colours. As has been said, this was a scally thing from the late '70s (since when did we call ourselves casuals???).  

I've not owned a Liverpool home shirt since I was 7 when my Mum sewed a "11" on the back made from an old bedsheet and I certainly won't now because I'd look a complete plank.

But, the OP has got me thinking that it's not much to do to show support and I may well dig out my "Flags of all Nations__ '75-76 UEFA Cup Winners" scarf ____epic 

One last point, however. I think that all these recent efforts to "up the atmosphere"__Pyro, flags, colours are skirting around the issue. I'm not knocking them, it all helps.

But, the team responds to noise__ singing encouraging songs. Pyro, flags, colours etc are no substitute for a good old fashioned rendition of "Come on You Mighty Reds", "YNWA" or whatever classic you want.

On the plus side, at least when we do sing, we do sing to encourage our own team, and not to hurl abuse at the opposing fans for 90 minutes like all the cockneys, brummies and mancs do at Anfield.

[gazzam1963]

There's an Irony in the fact that the club was built on and by "out of towners"...

Not sure who you mean by that ...shanks ? He wasn't a wool he was a jock ;-) .

[Welshred]

Not sure who you mean by that ...shanks ? He wasn't a wool he was a jock ;-) .

Not a single scouse player in the first ever Liverpool side I believe. Mostly Scots and Irish.

[Always_A_Red]

People really do take this 'image' thing waaaaaaaaay too seriously. Calling people inbred, wools, pathetic and ridiculous because they want to wear a Liverpool shirt to a Liverpool game?? Fuckin hell. Who gives a fuck?! Are you lot that insecure, childish and obnoxious that you feel that you are above wearing the colours of the team you 'support'?

Why so serious? Why complicate such an innocent and mindless thing? It doesn't have to be this hard to support your team. Where has the fun gone? Why does it have to be a fashion statement? IMO I saw a young lad in a blue tracksuit to a home game because he was obviously too cool to wear a red shirt and I thought he looked like a right fuckin bellend. Wearing BLUE on the Kop?? FFS some of you lot need your heads testing.

People talking about the away lads creating good atmosphere I would point you to the Newcastle game 2weeks ago, our biggest away allocation, and the atmosphere was dire. Utterly shite. But I thought that if you don't wear the red colours you are louder? 

[gazzam1963]

Not a single scouse player in the first ever Liverpool side I believe. Mostly Scots and Irish.

Possibly but there not wools , the scots and Irish may have been military ? String links between Liverpool , Scottish and Irish regiments

[Liamski-la]

Not sure who you mean by that ...shanks ? He wasn't a wool he was a jock ;-) .

I didnt say Wools. I quoted out of towners.

When scousers bemoan the wools on the kop, they are more likely refering to the tourists/day trippers etc not someone from the other side of the Queensway tunnel.

Not a single scouse player in the first ever Liverpool side I believe. Mostly Scots and Irish.

Exactly. Barely a scouser to be seen.

[Welshred]

Possibly but there not wools , the scots and Irish may have been military ? String links between Liverpool , Scottish and Irish regiments

He's not said wools though has he, he's said out of towners.