I’m a bit-part soccer fan. Thirteen years of supporting Arsenal Football Club does that to you.
Over the last six years, my love for one particular soccer club has waned significantly, but my interest in the game remains strong as ever. As a consequence, I’ll readily watch any game on TV, whether it be played by Manchester City, Chelsea FC, Tottenham Hotspur, Bayern Munich or Barcelona. My favourite club in the English Premiership over the past one year however, has not been my darling Gooners, but the other Reds, and I don’t mean the Red Devils; I’m talking about the Merseysiders.
I’m not sure that my interest in Liverpool FC stems from the influence of Luis Suarez, because I’m not really a fan of winning through violent/fraudulent means, which Suarez aptly typifies. I know that I’ve always been a fan of Steven Gerard’s dedication and Jamie Carragher’s stability, in spite of his frequent gaffes while an active player. I’ve also been impressed with Brendan Rodgers’ poise and peaceful demeanour, which is heavily contrasted with the wild emotions of Sir Alex Ferguson or the reckless tongue of Jose Mourinho. Very importantly also, I’ve been inspired by the spirit of the club towards the Hillsborough disaster which claimed the lives of 96 Liverpool fans on April 15, 1989; I’ve been touched by the constant show of respect for the families of those fans, and often almost frustrated that the club seemed to talk about ‘Justice for the 96’ more frequently than any other subject in recent history (for good reason, definitely).
Of all the good things to admire about Liverpool FC, none trumps the always hearty rendition of ‘You Will Never Walk Alone’ by the club’s supporters at home games. I must admit that I’ve always loved hearing the crowd sing the anthem, without really knowing all the words of the song. However, after Steven Gerard’s testimonial match against Olympiakos on Saturday August 3rd, 2013, I logged on to YouTube and typed in ‘You Will Never Walk Alone’, and boy, did I have a problem sleeping that night. The words of the song, as well as the beautiful rendition by Gerry Marsden, played over and over in my head until the wee hours of the morning. Not only did I wake up singing the song, I mumbled it to myself all through the church sermon on Sunday morning, sang it all through my shopping in the mall afterwards, and belted it on replay from a loudspeaker in my bedroom until I could see my neighbour peeking through her kitchen door.
Walk on! Walk on! With Hope in your heart…….
And you’ll never walk alone……….
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OV5_LQArLa0]
My voice is hoarse from singing, but my heart is lifted. Very few songs have the potential to inspire as much hope in the future as this one song does. Very few songs make challenges seem like nothing, and very few songs continue to reverberate in the memory several hours after the 2:40mins have expired. Gerry and the Pacemakers have bequeathed a great gift, not only to Liverpool FC, but to all who pass through challenges in this life.
When you walk through the storm
Hold your head up high
And don’t be afraid of the dark
At the end of the storm
There’s a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of the lark
Walk on, through the wind
Walk on, through the rain
Though your dreams be tossed and blown
Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart
And you’ll never walk alone
You’ll never walk alone
Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart
And you’ll never walk alone
You’ll never walk alone
