On returning from our recent Friendship trip to Moenchengladbach, it occured to me that I thanked a lot of people for their great help and hospitality during our 4 days in Moenchengladbach.
From the Borussia Moenchengladbach supporters and the people of the City of Moenchengladbach for their friendship and hospitality, My good friends, Jonny Polcher from the BMG Fan-Projekt, and Thomas Weinmann and Jan Ruoff, Borussia MG officials for their help in organising the trip.
Thorsten Knippertz, BMG stadium announcer and the Borussia MG President Rolf Koenigs and Vice-President Siegfried Soellner, who came down pitch-side to greet us.
I also thanked Dave, manager of the Irish Pub in Gladbach for his superb hospitality even though he is a Blue!! Also Leeds supporter Chris - a Irish Pub regular.
The people I did not thank, but who I should also of thanked were the supporters of our great club, all of which were absolutely fantastic ambassadors for not just Liverpool Football Club but also for the City of Liverpool, well done every one of you.I know from the feedback I have received that it was noticed and observed how well all the LFC supporters behaved.
Once again well done to everyone who made this years Friendship trip, hope to see you all again in Moenchengladbach in 2009.
Cheers, Graham Agg (Friendship trip organiser)
For those people who wish to read about this years trip - read the report below below:-2008 Liverpool FC supporters Friendship visit to Moenchengladbach - REPORT.
Once again, for the 2nd consecutive year the LFC supporters Friendship visit to see our friends from Moenchengladbach was an "outstanding success", stated LFC supporters Moenchengladbach Friendship trip organiser Graham Agg.
There has been a very special friendship between the two clubs supporters since Borussia and Liverpool met in Borussia‘s glory days of the 70‘s. Liverpool played Borussia Moenchengladbach in the 1973 UEFA cup final triumphing 3-2 on aggregate and they also met in the 1977 European cup final in the eternal city of Rome, Liverpool again winning their first European cup 3-1. They were also to meet the following year in the 1978 European cup semi-final, again the Reds winning 4-2 on aggregate.
Since then there has been a continuous special friendship between the two sets of supporters.
Every year since 1992, the Borussia supporters have visited Anfield during the German Bundesliga winter break to support the Reds and it should also NEVER be forgotten that in 1991 a delegation of Borussia MG supporters flew to Liverpool to present the Hillsborough Families with a cheque for 21000 Deutsch Marks (approximately £8000) in the aftermath of the disaster.The 2008 LFC supporters Friendship visit fortunately coincided with a massive Borussia promotion party in the City Centre of Moenchengladbach after Borussia‘s immediate promotion back to the top flight of German football after the previous seasons relegation. An estimated crowd of 95000 people crammed into the centre of Moenchengladbach to welcome the promoted Borussia team, amongst them 50 Liverpool supporters who went to Gladbach on their annual Friendship visit.
The friendship visit also included a stadium tour, a meeting with ex-Liverpool player Christian Ziege, now Sports Director at Borussia MG, also there was an all-day LFC/BMG Fan party and an appearance for a number of LFC supporters on the Borussia Park pitch just 20 minutes before Borussia‘s last home match of the 2007/2008 season versus SC Freiburg.
Friendship trip organser Graham Agg was interviewed on the pitch and conveyed in German to the 54000 capacity attendance how proud the Liverpool supporters are of a 30 year plus friendship with the Gladbach supporters. The Liverpool supporters then unveiled a specially commissioned "Friendship flag" that they proceeded to show to the entire 4 sides of the impressive Borussia Park. The amazing Gladbach supporters responded by singing a faultless version of "You‘ll never walk alone" and chanting "Liverpool, Liverpool" to their Liverpool friends.
The LFC fans also handed out during the weekend, special "Friendship" badges to their Borussia Moenchengladbach counterparts with the words "two clubs, one family" inscribed on them.
Agg also said he wished to thank all the Borussia supporters and the citizens of the City of Moenchengladbach for their friendliness and hospitality during their stay, and congratulate Borussia‘s on their promotion to the German Bundesliga top flight.
Particular thanks go to Borussia MG fan liaision officer Thomas "Tower" Weinmann, Thomas "Jonny" Polcher and Tanja Polcher, from the Borussia MG Fan-Projekt , and also Liverpool supporters Pat Link and Gary Johnston who also helped to organise the Friendship weekend.
Liverpool FC supporters Friendship trip spokesperson and Friendship organiser Graham Agg was interviewed by Borussia Park stadium announcer Thorsten Knippertz and was also introduced to Borussia Moenchengladabch President Rolf Koenigs and Vice-President Siegfried Soellner.
Borussia Moenchengladbach Fan-Projekt official Jonny Polcher accepted the Friendship flag present on behalf of the Borussia Moenchengladbach supporters club.
LIVERPOOL FC & BORUSSIA MG - EINE GANZ BESONDERE FREUNDSCHAFT
LIVERPOOL FC & BORUSSIA MG - A VERY SPECIAL FRIENDSHIPTo see the video‘s and pictures of the Liverpool FC supporters on their visit, please click the links and see below:-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yb5ERIvod8&feature=relatedhttp://de.youtube.com/watch?v=z1Q2CWlTMRE&feature=relatedhttp://de.youtube.com/watch?v=6Mdvn_xPBoc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyX2Gr5aDQM&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Mdvn_xPBoc&feature=related http://www.german-reds.de/berichte/2008/2008-05-11_mgb.htm 