by South Coast Royal »
17 May 2024 10:52
LUX got to ask, Vic:
Liverpool or RFC?
It is a long story that I took the trouble to post once on here before.
Because the two clubs were always in different divisions any question of split loyalty never arose but on the night of March 11th 1970 I had travelled down to Southampton for a job interview ,then living in Oxford with the in-laws.
That night Saints were at home to Liverpool and Reading were at home to Luton.
Which game to go to?
I went to the Reading game and worked out that night that Reading needed my support more and would always need it more and my children and grandchildren followed suit even though we lived in Southampton, Ringwood then Bournemouth.
Inevitably Liverpool won and Reading lost 1-0 which brought to an early end our promotion push with Luton going on to finish 2nd.
Fred Sharpe ( for younger posters who may have seen the name used by a poster on here, he was our centre-back) did a Steven Gerrard type slip that led to the only goal of the game.
Ever since, and especially when both teams played briefly at the same level, it has been Reading first although it was strange going in the Anfield Road end as an away supporter.
Having a strong interest in 2 clubs can help when one or the other is going through a bad time although in Liverpool's case it doesn't happen very often.
Incidentally I do have a passing interest in Rangers in Scotland as well, much in the way that many football fans like Barcelona or Real Madrid or perhaps Juve or AC Milan.