AFC Liverpool: New Reds take to the field with passionate fans behind them
IN NUMBERS, the contrast could not be more stark. In its heyday, the original Spion Kop could accommodate a heaving, swaying, singing mass of nearly 30,000 standing souls on its 100-odd steps.
On Saturday, the three step terrace of the "alternative" standing Kop, at Prescot Cables ground, may have contained only 200 at a push.
But that's where the differences ended, as the exuberant Anfield spirit was injected into the first home league game of AFC Liverpool, a new team of young Reds bolstered by the supporting values and principles of the past.
The ethos of its foundation, by lifelong Reds fan Alun Parry, was to provide an independent low-cost alternative to Premiership football while encouraging fans to remain within the LFC "family fold".
So it was with a sense of quiet, but immense, pride that Alun took his place with his fellow "Kopites" on the Eaton Street end before the start of AFC's debut game in the Vodkat League First Division as a vociferous strain of You'll Never Walk Alone burst forth.
The distinguished opponents were Darwen, 133 years their senior and former FA Cup semi-finalists - albeit in the 1880/81 season. They are also the only team in Vodkat first division to have faced the original Liverpool FC in the Football League just over 110 years ago.
Heady stuff, indeed, for the Rothmans Football year book trainspotters.
But there's no respect for history out on the pitch, and the old masters were whupped 5-nil by the young whippersnappers marshalled by former Burscough manager Derek Goulding, who has had barely six months to compile a winning squad from nothing.
Goals from Martin Smeaton, Ryan Wignall, James Croxton and a brace from Dean Thurston brought a euphoric reaction from the 500-strong crowd, the new Kop bellowing out old favourites such as Poor Scouser Tommy with adaptations of their own such as "We all follow a team called AFC" to the chorus of the Beatles' Yellow Submarine.
Even that old Red dog, Ronnie Moran, the last survivor of Shankly's old Anfield Boot Room, was there in his flat cap to cheer on grandson Ian Johnson in the number 8 shirt.
It shows the tangible connection that still exists between big brother and this little brother club: unlike other fans' spin-off clubs, such as FC United and AFC Wimbledon, formed in the wake of rancour and dissent, it has won the backing of Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez and chief executive Rick Parry.
This has not changed, however, the revulsion that AFC fans feel towards the new American ownership of Tom Hicks and George Gillett. and the alienation shared by other working class football fans that they are being priced out of what they feel is "their game."
Dan Kay, Jimmy Pilnick, Dave MacBryde, Richie Gallagher and Steve Garnett are all young LFC season ticket holders who were nevertheless there at the Cables' ground to enjoy the £5 admission, the £2 pints, the £1 giant tray of chips, the lovely warming 70p cup of coffee and an exhilarating game of football.
"Where else can you stand with your mates and not have to pay a fortune to sit next to some bloke you don't know and who doesn't sing or say bugger all for nine months of the year," said Dan and Co, who will be coming again.
And they're not the only ones.
* AFC Liverpool's next home match is on Saturday September 6 against Wigan Robin Park - find out more about the club here
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