Football is more than just a sport to the people of Liverpool, it is something that creates community spirit, entertains crowds and uplifts and inspires young citizens across the city. After lifting the trophy at the end of the 2019/20 Premier League season for the first time in 30 years, all Liverpudlians joined the team in celebrating Liverpool’s great success.
There are high hopes that Liverpool are set to be victorious once again in the upcoming season, according to the English Premier League betting at 888 Sport, Liverpool are third favourites at 5/1, just behind Manchester City (4/6) and Chelsea (5/1). Neighbours Everton are considered a longshot at 100/1.
Building legendary football teams doesn’t happen overnight, both Liverpool and Everton FC’s date back to the late 1800s and have had many decades of experience in the game.
The origins of Everton F.C.
In 1878, a church group formed a football club called St. Domingo F.C. but in a bid to attract new players they quicker changed their name to Everton F.C. In their opening match under their new title, the team secured a 6–0 win against St Peters and were soon gifted their first club home, which they played from for two years before settling in at their Goodison Park club grounds.
Everton have achieved many firsts over the years, for example in 1906, they became the first club in Merseyside to win the FA Cup. The club were also the first to gain 5,000 League points and in 1966 Everton were the first to pay over £100,000 for a transfer when Alan Ball moved to the club from Blackpool.
They are also known for their community spirit and the efforts they go to communicate with fans, the club was first to have its own online social networking site and its own podcast.
The origins of Liverpool F.C.
In 1892, Everton board member John Houlding famously left to set up his own club, Liverpool F.C. The club soon officially joined the football league and began playing at Anfield, where it is still based to this day.
In their very first professional match, the team beat Higher Walton by 8-0 and two years later, they were promoted to the first division. Over the years the club have won a total of 19 League titles, six European cups, and seven FA cups and in 2019 Liverpool took home their first FIFA world cup title.
(The Reds signing their world-famous rendition of “You’ll Never Walk Alone”)
The sport has working class roots
Throughout history, football has been the champion of the often-struggling working class in the Merseyside area. Almost half of the founding members of the football league were clubs from working-class mill towns, including Everton.
In the beginning, the upper classes and aristocracy took interest and the official first FA rules were drawn up by Cambridge University. Early winners included Etonians, Oxford University and other southern based teams.
Things began to change when northern club Blackburn Olympic beat Old Etonians in the FA cup final in 1883, this represented a shift in the way that the sport was managed at a professional level. No London based club made it into division one until Woolwich Arsenal did in 1904.
Football has remained a well-liked activity and spectator sport for the English working class. It is a way of life for many fans, as children they would play games on the street with friends and continue to stay loyal to their local team throughout their lives.
Local people, particularly those in Liverpool, feel a great amount of pride in their team and are excited to celebrate their wins. Even losses have a positive social impact on communities, as they come together to show support.
While there is now a huge amount of money in the sport for professional players, many come from working class backgrounds themselves. For fans from less wealthy backgrounds, seeing their heroes beat the odds and make it as pro players is inspirational.
Why is football so great for Liverpool?
There are so many reasons that the people of Liverpool are still passionate about their local teams. These successful clubs boost the local economy through football tourism, by increasing job opportunities and customers for businesses in the local hospitality and entertainment sectors.
During the 2014 Premier League season, over 100,000 foreign football fans descended on England to watch Liverpool play at Anfield. They each spent an average of £855 on their trip and contributed a total of £84 million for the Merseyside economy.
Anfield stadium is one of the most visited football stadiums in the whole of the United Kingdom, with Manchester’s Old Trafford and Arsenal’s Emirates stadiums also being popular with international visitors.
Aside from tourism, the players also make time to give back to their community and attend events and charity campaigns across the city. They recognise the influence they have on their fans, especially the younger ones, and work hard to make them proud.
