‘You’ve got a nice stepover’
It’s Sunday morning just after 11am on I’m out on the pitch.
It’s not a bad compliment to get considering I haven’t played any sport in a few months.
And certainly not a bad compliment when it’s being said by a Liverpool legend in the form of John Barnes and the pitch I’m pressing my not inconsiderable weight into is Anfield.
The ex-England man is chatting to me after I and 20 other Liverpool fans from Ireland have just endured a physically demanding dribbling session under his tutelage. Who knew dropping your shoulder could make you sweat so much?
We’re getting to hoof (in my case at least) around on the pitch as part of a Carslberg Join the Greats competition where supporters not only from Ireland, but across the world, have gathered for a weekend of a lifetime.
We’re put through our dribbling paces with Barnes before, down at the Kop end, we get some penalty advice from John Aldridge and line up one in front of the famous red nets.
Not even Rickie Lambert can say he scored in front of the Kop, but as a group of Irishmen we prove ourselves more Robbie Keane than Dejan Lovren in our efforts from 12 yards. I score one and see one saved. Of course they are recorded forever on Instagram and Twitter.
We also get to perform the crossbar challenge with Didi Hamann at the other goals while former manager Roy Evans talks us through a passing challenge at which my group fails miserably (sorry lads).
The trip to Anfield is one of several highlights from the three-day weekend.
Our arrival on the Friday night sees us link up with the other competition winners from across the world including Bermuda, Israel, Australia, Greece and many other countries.
We’re taken to the highly impressive Liverpool Cathedral for our first official function where we are met by the hilarious Willie Miller who is hosting a special Q+A with Liverpool legends Phil Neal, David Johnson, Alan Kennedy and Terry McDermott.
The multiple English league and European Cup winners are asked about all topics Liverpool related, from their own playing days to who should replace Steven Gerrard as captain.
One controversial question from our table sees the lads asked who was a better striker, Robbie Fowler or Luis Suarez? One Irishman is left particularly upset when the unanimous verdict is the Uruguayan over ‘God’.
The night passes in a blur (in more ways than one) and on Saturday we get the chance to see the current Liverpool side in action at Anfield as they host QPR.
We’re taken into a special hospitality lounge where we get to meet Alan Hansen, Jan Molby and Ian Callaghan. Grown men get misty eyed but it’s hard to know if that has anything to do with Friday night’s festivities, or a sense of nostalgia from some of the older members of our group.
We take our seats in the main stand close to the Kop and drink in the always spine-tingling ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone.’
Even for non-Liverpool fans there is still something enthralling about hearing fans belt out one of the most iconic anthems in world sport.
Liverpool open the scoring through Phillippe Coutinho and lead 1-0 at half time, before QPR inevitably equalise in the second half.
Anfield is anxious. Brendan Rodgers patrols his technical area like a man walking the deck of the Titanic wondering where that iceberg came from.
But then hope in our hearts. Six minutes later Nedum Onuoha pulls down Martin Skrtel. Penalty!
The camera phones come out – Steven Gerrard with a chance to score and win the game in what might be one of his final appearances at Anfield. A fairytale surely.
Nope.
His kick is saved and our dream weekend looks like it may end in a nightmare.
But the Reds captain does what he has done so many times before. A corner from the left is swung in and Gerrard gets his head to the ball to steer it into the net. A 2-1 victory secured.
The captain receives our vote for the MOTM award and is sheepishly brought down to our lounge where he gives us the advice that we all fail to take the very next morning – don’t change your mind when you’re taking a penalty.
We were asked before the game to write down what time the first goal would be scored. I put down 17 minutes. Coutinho’s goal is on 18 so I win the biggest bottle of beer I’ve ever seen in my life. It’s not getting through airport security so somehow 20 Irishmen find a home for it.
Saturday’s activities come to an end so we head back to the hotel where we pick up the special gear we’ll wear the next day for our unveiling as Liverpool’s array of summer signings.
My jersey is emblazoned with ‘Jimmy Traore’ in a little personal joke at the former Frenchman as well as my own skills as a defender.
Thankfully John Barnes didn’t notice as I was doing my best Ronaldo impressions.
Once we have all got enough grass in our wallets and shoes to plant a piece of Anfield in our backyardwe have lunch and head back to the hotel, still in a daze from the morning.
At the hotel waiting for our airport-bound bus we get a chance to debrief, and the one phrase that pops up every time is ‘money could not buy an experience like this’
We land in Dublin and say our goodbyes knowing that if we are ever to meet again we have shared a truly magical experience and also promise to keep practicing those stepovers.
Liverpool was the venue for the culmination of Carlsberg’s ‘Join The Greats’ Campaign. 20 Irish fans won a VIP trip over to see Liverpool’s home game against QPR and also the once in a lifetime opportunity to #JoinTheGreats and play on the hallowed Anfield turf. Check it out on @Carlsberg on Twitter or under the hashtag #JoinTheGreats
