Kop memories

Pete "Kopite" Sampara

I have a Norwegian friend, called Runar, who I’ve known for about 8 years. I can’t remember what year but it was on the old Kop. Tottenham scored the first but we beat them 6-2 in the end. He had never been on the Kop. We bought him a hat, bonnet, scarf and gave him a red chequered flag. We put a programme in his back pocket. ´Come with us to the Kop. When we score don’t worry you’ll always end up where you used to stand’ You could go 20 yards but you would always come back to your same place. Liverpool scored a second goal and it was a massive surge and Runar who was standing in front of me disappeared. The Kop realigned itself and carried on watching the game. Chris and I looked at each other and started shouting ´Runar, Runar´ and in the end our part of the Kop started shouting ´Runar, Runar´ Eventually this guy about 10 steps down, popped up, I swear both eyes looking in opposite direction. He had no flag, no scarf, no cap, no programme... I was really worried and looked at him and said ´Are you ok?´ And he goes ´Oh my god, This is wonderful´. That just made my day. It was fantastic. He thought this experience was just out of this world.

Steve Heighway

My first experience of the Kop was in May, 1970, I was still a student at Warwick University, but had decided to sign professional for Liverpool on completing my Degree in June. As a student, I was quite surprised to be called by Mr. Bill Shankly, who invited me to play in Gerry Byrne's Testimonial for a celebrity XI against the Liverpool side. Not only was it my first visit to Anfield, but it was also at the age of 22 my first ever visit to Liverpool itself. It was a filthy night with rain and sleet, but I recall that about 50,000 people were there.

The two teams walked side by side to the centre of the pitch and I stood next to an ex-Everton full-back who was playing in the Celebrity team. With total honesty and complete naivety, I quietly said to him: "Which end is the Kop?" He looked at me as if I had come from another planet, pointed to the bulging end rather than just the full end.

That was my first experience and, of course, there were many more opportunities to play in front of what was very obviously the fanatical end. I had good games and bad games through my eleven years, but I feel extremely fortunate that at no time did I feel animosity from the Kop.

I would have found that very difficult to live with and I am eternally grateful that the Kop always seemed to recognise that I was doing my best. 

Ian Callaghan

The one particular incident which stands out is a famous one, when the Leeds' goalkeeper Gary Sprake threw the ball into his own net, and the Kop started singing 'Careless Hands.' It was brilliant, very quick and clever. 

Bruce Grobbelaar

Those stories about the Kop making up their own original chants? I used to take them with a pinch of salt until I learned better.

They are terrific at composing instant words and music and the best I heard came just after Freddie Laker had problems with an airline.

I leapt high and collected a shot bound for the top corner of my goal and the immediate chant went up: "Freddie Laker, Freddie Laker, Bruce is better in the air".

The Kop fans, without fear of contradiction, are very knowledgeable on goalkeeping - more so than any other supporters at any club in the country. They produce quick lines when keepers make blunders but, let's be fair, they do make players smile.

Ian Rush

I have lost count of the professional players who have asked me over the years: "What is it like to play in front of the Kop?"

I cannot imagine what my career would have been like without their support. European nights and the sight of the Kop in full cry, the banners and the flags, will always be treasured by players and the atmosphere created for them.

My other vivid memory is from Alan Hansen's testimonial game when I was a Juventus player at Anfield. I thought those fans would be on a downer after losing to Wimbledon in the FA Cup Final, but they weren't.

Whenever I got near them they were asking me, one after another: 'When are you coming back to Liverpool?' They were talking to me all night, but I felt that I would always be welcome. The Kop fans will be seated next season, but the noise and encouragement for the team will always be the same.

Terry McDermott

As a Kop supporter and a Liverpool player I was always astonished at the up-to-date wit and singing. If a player or manager had been in mischief and the story appeared in the Saturday-morning papers, you could bet there would be a new, hilarious ditty the same afternoon. I'm sure somebody stood at the Kop turnstiles and handed out song sheets!

Ronnie Moran

I stood on the Kop as a lad and the place was packed with humourists and enthusiasts - the right mix for football. Those fans had worked hard during the week and demanded the same effort from the players they supported. The noise they created was frightening, but players had nothing to fear provided they put 100 per cent into their game.

Kevin Keegan

The only thing I fear is missing an open goal in front of the Kop. I would die if that were to happen. When they start singing 'You'll Never Walk Alone' my eyes start to water. There have been times when I've actually been crying while I've been playing.

Ron Yeats

We beat Honved 1-0 in Hungary and Bill Shankly said we could all go out for a drink after such a good result. We went to a club - probably the only one in Budapest in those days - and the lads pushed me onto the end of a dancing troupe. When we flew back home I told my family we'd had a quiet time ... then the television showed the pictures and there I was on the screen kicking up my legs. But the Kop lads had seen those pictures too, and sang at our next home game 'Rowdy (my nickname) does the twist!' The whole ground followed suit in song and I went the colour of my shirt.

Then there was the day we played Chelsea and thick fog was worsening at the Anfield end. The Kop knew we had scored, but didn't know the scorer. Visibility was that bad. 'Who scored the goal?' they sang ... And the answer came back in melody: 'Tony Hateley, Tony Hateley'.

It was a great experience to play before the Kop and those fans warmed to everybody, friend or foe, who gave 100 per cent.

Neil Ruddock

People ask you what your greatest memory is, well the greatest memory for me is playing in front of the old Kop as it was. Standing and playing in front of that and them cheering and then scoring in front of that. I still get hairs standing on the back of my neck when I think about it. It was just tremendous. You used to get to the ground at half-one, used to go and have a look at the pitch and there it was full. It was just one of those things that I’ll take away out of the game.

Pete Kopite

The happiest moment I have had on the Kop past and present was Robbie Fowler scoring against Newcastle to win 4-3. The look on his face, the sheer delight is a reflection of the Kop. His face and the Kop’s face were completely mirrored, it was just euphoria, unbelievable.

Nigel Martyn on the Merseyside derby in 2004

There was a guy in the Kop behind me and he just said 'well played today, congratulations' and I thanked him. Jamie Carragher came up and said something along the lines of you lucky so and so. I just said the harder I work the luckier I seem to get.

With the tradition and stuff, Anfield is a great place to come and play For Everton players it is even more special, especially to keep a clean sheet. I can remember being told to clap the Kop on my first visit here with Crystal Palace because they always give a good reception to goalkeepers, as they still do today.

LFC fan Robbie Ashcroft AKA Mottman

Our first game in the Spion Kop was to be Roger Hunt’s Testimonial. For the next week my Mum, Dad and Brother kept saying, "I hope you know what you are letting yourself into" On the way to the match, none of us mentioned the Spion Kop, but I think we were all nervous but wouldn’t admit it. We got into the Spion Kop, even the fella on the gate said "Are you sure, you want to come in here" moved near to the middle and claimed a barrier to sit on. Easy!!! What is all the fuss about?

As the crowd began to build up we noticed how cramped our space had become. We must have climbed up and got knocked off the barrier two dozen times at least. What a night, suddenly all of us seemed to know all the words to all the Liverpool songs; we sang our hearts out. For the first time in our lives we where independent and had been fully introduced and accepted into the world famous Spion Kop. The smell of sweaty dockers, urine and tobacco would never be forgotten. "Sir" Roger Hunt was my first Liverpool hero, I will never ever forget you or your testimonial.

Goalkeeper great, Gordon Banks

I played my last ever game at Anfield, but that wasn't intentional. I played there on the Saturday, and then I was involved in the car crash the following day thateventually led to my retirement. Ironically, Stoke's first game of the following season was at Anfield. By then I was helping out on the coaching side at Stoke and Bill Shankly, knowing this, very kindly invited me to Anfield as a guest of the club for the day. They made a special presentation to me on the pitch before the match, and then Shankly and I did a lap of honour. Shanks gave me a Liverpool scarf, and I wrapped it around my neck. The Kop gave me a wonderful reception, and it was a very moving and emotional moment. I don't mind admitting that I was a bit tearful. They're lovely people up there. I always enjoyed playing in front of the Kop. They were, and still are, a wonderful crowd. I think they realise the volume of noise thatthey create, and they know that they can under-mine goalkeepers. So they put it to good use. But it can also inspire you and, as I always loved playing in front of big crowds, the Kop was always something of an inspiration to me. The thing to me was that they were always very sporting. They obviously wanted their own team to win, but it never stopped them appreciating things which the opposition might do. If they saw something special, or agood goal, they would applaud it." 

Gordon West, Everton goalkeeper - prologue by David Prentice at Liverpool Echo

Most famous, perhaps,was the relationship the Kop enjoyed with Everton's young goalkeeper, Gordon West, throughout the 1960s.

He admitted to something approaching terror on his first Anfield appearance in 1963 - "as I ran down to that end I looked up and saw this mass of 25,000 fans all putting two fingers up. I turned round wondering what had upset them, and realised they were all meant for me!"

Everton legend Brian Labone was West' captain and his Best man on his wedding day

The Kop never really took the mickey out of me, but they used to love having a go at Gordon. He was a bit of a Bruce Grobbelaar type character and would always respond. They used to sing: 'Hey there, Gordon West, you're the biggest queer since Georgie Best.' Imagine standing in the Kop goal with 25,000 people behind you singing that! One day someone came running out of the Kop and gave Gordon a handbag. But he took it all in good spirit. There was no doubting his genes, I can tell you.

Juventus midfield general Emerson in April 2005 after Champions League Quarter final first leg

I wasn't shocked at all by Liverpool's first leg performance a week ago because I knew how dangerous they always are at Anfield - which in my opinion is one of the most impressive grounds in the world for atmosphere. The Anfield crowd are amazing, as I had already been able to see for myself when I played there with Roma a few seasons ago.

Fabio Cannavaro, who scored Juventus' goal against Liverpool

The way Liverpool fans sing and support the team throughout the game is fantastic.

Fabio Capello, Juventus coach was equally impressed

"The fantastic atmosphere at Anfield was like an electric shock for Liverpool's players, who started the match at an astonishing tempo. They seemed unstoppable. At Anfield, even experienced players can have a bad start because of the excitement of playing in such a stadium. We were constrained, almost in a daze at the start. Pushed by their fans, the Liverpool players were extremely motivated and aggressive. They didn't allow us to play in the first half-hour.