Anfield: the victims, the anger and Liverpool's shameful truth

David Conn, The Guardian , 7 May, 18comments | Jump to most recent

Highly respected football writer, David Conn, exposes the dark side of Liverpool FC and their cynical contribution to the dreadful decline of the area around Anfield over the past 20 years.

» Read the full article at The Guardian

Reader Comments (18)

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Michael Kenrick
1 Posted 07/05/2013 at 15:38:41

A pretty shocking story that must have some bearing on Everton FC's continued reticence to contemplate redeveloping Goodison Park.

Eugene Ruane
2 Posted 07/05/2013 at 16:02:18

"They play 'You'll Never Walk Alone' but they have left their neighbours to walk alone for years."

Truly disgraceful, they are directly responsible for local residents having the choice 'sell for peanuts or endure conditions in one of the country's most deprived areas'

Outraged by everything, ashamed of nothing.

John Keating
3 Posted 07/05/2013 at 16:17:56

If there was anything to sum up the pathetic rag that is the Echo and it's Everton employees, it's this article by David Conn in the Guardian.

There was a time when I could honestly say both local teams had "class"; obviously since the great fall of the unwashed this has not been the case. The RS demise, not only as a top club, but also of their "class" has been obvious to all.

This has been summed up in David Conns blog article.

My question is, yet again, why is it a national paper that asks questions and not our local 'for the people' rag?

Yet again. Echo - hang your head in shame !!

Patrick Murphy
4 Posted 07/05/2013 at 16:11:12

No surprise really given how much money can be made from this sport, but it sort of reminds us all how far removed from the ordinary folk these people who own and run clubs really are. It was only 50 or so years ago that they couldn't afford the paint to cover the barriers around the ground.

I would hope that Everton FC would be a tad more community spirited but unfortunately I don't think they would be, if big bucks were at stake, it's all about the money , and dignity, respect and gratitude are way down the list for these corporate types.

Perhaps the Echo - if it hasn't already - could focus on these events rather than pandering to the all powerful at the expense of the ordinary citizens of Liverpool. I'm pretty sure if it was Everton embarking on a similar path, headlines would fill the newspaper every day and a campaign against it started.

Eric Myles
5 Posted 07/05/2013 at 16:25:17

How come the council are aiding and abetting them in these purchases by threatening the owners with CPOs?

Dave Lynch
6 Posted 07/05/2013 at 16:36:53

For the same reason they refused us planning permission on Stanley Park, Eric.

Those bastards carry the city's crest and name and the council see them as an asset. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a lot of payola going on regards this.

Eric Myles
7 Posted 07/05/2013 at 16:45:22

Dave, we've never applied for planning permission to build on Stanley Park.

John Gee
8 Posted 07/05/2013 at 16:44:45

Dave (902), I think you've got it right. There is certainly the smell of corruption here. I wouldn't be surprised if that shower of shite across the park fell a long way in the near future ( a la Juventus).

As for the council, what is it with these elected pricks in this country? They fall over themselves to represent those who are already powerful and rich. I'll tell you all something for nothing, when the revolution comes we won't have a wall long enough for these bastards.

Eugene Ruane
9 Posted 07/05/2013 at 16:59:30

Why can't the Guardian concentrate on the REAL stories!?

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-entertainment/echo-entertainment/2013/05/06/the-full-monty-marks-new-ground-for-birkenhead-operatic-society-trust-100252-33287777/

Steve Pugh
10 Posted 07/05/2013 at 18:08:45

All Evertonian lawyers should offer their services to the remaining residents and sue the aris off both the club and the council. Try and get the case heard in Manchester, be more favourable to the residents that way.

Chris Regan
11 Posted 07/05/2013 at 19:44:10

Steve, good shout but Everton's lawyers advices the club they could build a stadium in Kirkby without planning permission.

Ross Edwards
12 Posted 07/05/2013 at 20:18:58

RS- Always the Victim, it's never your fault. How appropriate eh.

John Keating
13 Posted 07/05/2013 at 20:43:21

I appreciate that the BU lads have had a word with the arseholes at the Echo but the Guardian piece just enforces what we all know.
Prentice, O'Keeffe et al are a complete waste of space and the sooner this rag goes under and those two pricks get booted the better

James Flynn
14 Posted 07/05/2013 at 23:24:28

Well, not my city. Will say, we've had similar in New York.

But here the municipality simply steam-rolled over local opposition and got the new stadium in. Or in our most notorious examples, the baseball Dodgers and Giants were told told take it or get the fuck out right now. Which they did.

Sad reading.

Gareth Prytherch
15 Posted 08/05/2013 at 09:08:04

Not quite sure what the purpose of this article but I will say that Everton embarked, unsuccessfully, on a very similar programme some years ago.

The only reason for the Council to support them now I that the area is in such decline that often the best way forward is to start again and bring in the investment, from Social Landlords etc.

One of the things I find fascinating is that in most discussions on here regarding the redevelopment of Goodison people think it's easy to get CPO's such as those required to complete every plan put forward by Blue Union et al.

One last thing... If we're going to bitch and moan about everything 'The Other Lot' do then let's stop going on about THEM being victims.

Derek Thomas
16 Posted 08/05/2013 at 09:26:51

rs; you always get exactly what it says on the tin.

How many times have I got to keep telling you.

James Carlisle
17 Posted 08/05/2013 at 17:21:08

The rs have always stomped on local residents. My nan hates them mostly because she grew up in anfield and witnessed their mistreatment of the local area first hand, for example moving away residents for mordor's car park. This kind of behaviour has never been above them.

Steavey Buckley
18 Posted 10/05/2013 at 14:07:00

Liverpool council have made enormous contributions to the decline of Liverpool and Merseyside over the decades. The Liverpool and Everton FCs debacle over the positioning and development of their stadiums grounds are examples of this. If this is an example of local democracy in action, then give me benevolent dictatorship any day. It would probably would have led to both clubs having the stadiums that their fans deserve.

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