Chris Heck - President of Business Operations

[Hookeysmith]

I remember the first time i went to Anfield, it must of been mid - late 70's as i was with my Dad.

After seeing the writhing masses in the Kop on TV i was so disappointed how small it was to see it in the flesh - they must of used a very good camera angle to make it look different to what it actually was.

The Stretford end was the same and only in the League cup replay did i realise that there was seating in the top part of it.

Horrible places to go to as back then the "locals" were not a very nice bunch at all - grown men asking to mind your car knowing full well if you told them to sod off there would be not a lot of your car left when you came out.

The famous scouse "Got the time la" to establish if you were an away fan before the mob descended on you.

Not the cheeky chappy scallywags as portrayed in the media - quite the opposite.

Unlike now if the closed the M62 / Airport there would be no one in there. 

[jon collett]

Similar. I even stood on the Kop when we played there in 1991 and was amazed how small it was compared to the Holte.

[eamonn]

Didn't they expand it shortly after? I was too young but watched the 1992 FA Cup QF highlights a few months back and Anfield looked a bit shit and tired.

[edgysatsuma89]

It's based on 'big European nights'. Because they are the only club that has a good atmosphere for such games. Well apart from every other club in Europe.

Most grounds are pretty flat most of the time.

This is it for me, particularly in the top flight, most grounds atmosphere is very 'meh', including our own. If you're not winning or playing poorly, it's pretty much the same wherever you are. Being an away fan will always be better in terms of atmosphere, and I really miss those days.

[jon collett]

They rebuilt it when all seated stadia were brought in mid 90s

Anfield was the legacy of Liverpool not being historically a big club. Not even the biggest in Liverpool.

Smallish main stand. Kemlyn Road hemmed in by housing. The Kop was fairly compressed.

They certainly knew how to hype themselves under Shankley. And then later genuinely started winning things consistently.

Anfield is so tightly hemmed in it can’t be used for major championships because the pitch is too narrow.

[Three Spires Villa]

Do the old bill in the away end still have the big wooden sticks at Anfield . What fun that used to be .

Definitely at Everton and both Sheffield grounds

[London Villan]

"Night sticks"

[Clampy]

"Night sticks"

Didn't The Commodores sing that?

[London Villan]

Easy.

[Rico]

Liverpool fan on the radio a few weeks back was saying that they have a relatively small number of season ticket holders in comparison to the actual match day attendance, because the club don't want season ticket holders. They can charge much more for day trippers. This is the way modern football is going. They don't want the likes of me anymore, that would turn up, by a programme and then piss off home afterwards without even buying a pie or a pint. They want the GA+ type fan who will be happy to spend a couple of hundred quid on the match day experience. This is modern football, so in this respect Heck is doing exactly as he has been instructed.

[Chip Butty 111]

I honestly think most fans aren't interested in the GA+ stuff, but the clubs are ploughing ahead with it to comply with the financial regulations. My kids, 18 and 15, are the fans of tomorrow. When they were younger I took them in the Doug Ellis or Trinity. There came the point when I decided it was time for The Holte..and since then they just want to go there. Even though the view is miles better elsewhere they just want to experience the noise, emotion,camaraderie and stupid comments you only get behind that goal. Most kids are health conscious now, and many don't drink alcohol. So the GA+ all you can eat and drink is of no interest to my kids. And unless I pay for it they can't afford it. I honestly think we will never get past 5% of the stadium being GA+

[dcdavecollett]

What?

Your kids are into health foods even though your name is the equivalent of three chip butties?

[ChicagoLion]

The warehouse will start off being free to STs, then once they have people using it they will introduce GA+

[Des Little]

It won't be free for long.  That is for certain!

[Clampy]

Yeah, they will start charging after a while.