I'd like to add my view into the knowledge of the people who do work for this cause to keep the local people, especially the youngsters, in close touch with the club. At first it's probably important to let everybody know where I come from, even if it might be relatively easy to make a good guess because of the way I write in english - or maybe not, it's impossible to say when you're a foreigner.
Anyway, I've begun my fantastic trip with the club in the early 80's when I was way less than ten years old. It's funny nowadays to hear the young footballers dreaming to one day play for LFC, I couldn't even dream to see the team play at Anfield! It was just unimaginable. I've been there a good few times now, fulfilling my dream that was not even a dream in the beginning.
First time I went to see a game at Anfield was around ten years ago, and I have to say that a lot has changed during these years. The biggest difference for a tourist would be the pubs close to the stadium. When I first got there those pubs were packed but mostly by the English supporters, obviously I can't tell if it was locals or not but the atmosphere was amazing with all the singing and chanting. I think there's no need to write here how it's changed during the years, but it was very different last time I was there, and of course, not in a good way.
It's well known that the atmosphere has changed a lot inside the stadium and during the games, too, but I have to admit that I've never got the tickets for the big games. The biggest must have been when we played Man City early in the season and Lucas put Yaya into his back pocket... 1-1 draw it was and still a great game with very good atmosphere, but the whole thing around my trip had already changed.
It seems I just can't write shortly, sorry for that, but I try to get to the point now. For me, as a 'tourist', even if a 'hard core lifelong boyhood supporter' who I think I am, the local people around the club are the main thing. I want to be the outsider who's got a rare chance to see this mystery stadium and the team with all the exitement the local supporters bring into it. The locals singing in the pubs before and after games, and of course during the games at the stadium. To have a chat with local supporters to get to know what these LFC specialists think of the team and the way it plays, the difficulties to understand a word they say and this frightening feeling when they ask you something and you need to ask for the third time what was that they actually meant with the question.
All the above would be needed to make a perfect trip to Anfield to see my heroes play. And to make it possible now and in the future, the club should really pay attention to what the Supporters Committee has to say. I agree with all that was said in the first post (well, all I wanted to say could've actually been written with these few words...), and I ask all the people involved to be strong and continue these efforts. The young generation is the key. The main thing for me is that the owners might not see that even for us foreigners it would be very important that when we get there, we want to see mainly local people in and around the stadium. We are ready to wait to get the tickets even if it takes years, especially because nowadays we can watch every game from tv or through internet. But if we'll only find other tourists over there, what's the point to make the trip at all?
So, all my best for the hard work to give the locals a chance to remain as the spine inside Anfield. There are too many of us foreigners in every game already, and something has to be done to save the club and all the exitement in travelling to Liverpool to see LFC play.
Edit: just realized how long a story I wrote... I try to make them shorter in the future...
