Don't know if this has been posted anywhere already but would be interested to hear peoples opinions about it. I remember reading some negative posts on here about Block 1892 at the beginning of the season, so what are the feelings now? Is it a good thing and will the crowd get behind the expansion idea. Aren't the fans trying to turn it into a standing area which is why the stewards aren't happy?
The Red choir which keeps Kop bouncing
By Dan Kay on May 23, 08 10:21 PM in Journalists
WHEN Fernando Torres scored against Arsenal in the Champions League his goal triggered a crowd reaction which many Reds claim was the moment of the season.
For fully three minutes after Torres's wonderful strike, Anfield bounced like never before. All around the ground, with the exception of the away end and the press box, people were on their feet toasting Liverpool's number nine like never before.
It was jaw droppingly spectacular, and it was spine tinglingly inspirational and it is arguably one of the greatest goal celebrations that even Anfield has ever witnessed.
And yet, it might never have happened had it not been for the sterling efforts of those who went to great lengths to make the innovative Block 1892 of the Kop the huge success it has undoubtedly been.
It was there that the Torres bounce originated, with a couple of hundred of like-minded supporters providing a signature moment to their debut season as the Kop's spiritual heartbeat.
There were games when only they would bounce as the rest of the ground looked on in wonderment at what was going on towards the rear of football's most famous stand.
But by the time Torres swivelled on a sixpence and fired unerringly into the top corner of Manuel Almunia's goal, there can't have been a Liverpool fan who was not aware of the bounce and they reacted accordingly, creating a spectacle and a snatch of atmosphere which you would be hard pressed to see bettered anywhere in the world.
The credit for this has to go to those who congregate in Block 1892 and for Reclaim The Kop for having the idea to create a section designed to improve the atmosphere and match going experience at Anfield.
When the idea was first mooted this time last year there were those who ridiculed it and those who got the wrong end of the stick by wrongly describing it as a "singing section," like the one that exists in the Stretford End at Old Trafford.
The whole concept was built from a desire to ensure that the "Eas-eh, eas-eh" generation of fans fed on a diet of Soccer AM did not turn Anfield into any other English ground by contaminating it with the kind of songs and behaviour you are more likely to hear and see on an England away trip.
To this end, Block 1892 has been a huge success, with that all important sense of individuality spreading throughout the ground and the message even spreading as far as those day trippers who had previously been at odds with what Anfield is all about.
You only have to hear the songs to recognise this, with staples such as "Every Other Sat'dee" and "A Liver Bird Upon My Chest" (the complete version, not just the catchy chorus) being heard increasingly regularly and some of the more embarrassing chants which had been cropping up gradually disappearing.
It hasn't all been plain sailing and there have been occasions when club stewards have been at odds with fans at the back of the Kop but all in all the experiment has had positive results which can be built upon in seasons to come.
The club recognises this and Rick Parry and stadium manager Ged Poynton have now given their blessing to expand Block 1892 so that it can accommodate even more season ticket holders who want to help make the Anfield experience even better for all who go to the match.
Last season, only block 306 was opened up to house Block 1892 but from next season it will be extended to neighbouring blocks 305 and 304 so even more fans can get involved.
That means there will be around 1,000 seats available to season ticket holders to move into should they choose to, meaning Block 1892 could take up a twelfth of the Kop should enough supporters get behind the expansion.
It is another step in the right direction and one which all involved hope will help turn Anfield into a cauldron of noise for league games as well as on those big European nights.
The opportunity is now there for this to happen, all it needs is for enough fans to grab it with both hands, and Block 1892 will go from strength to strength.
The Red choir which keeps Kop bouncing
By Dan Kay on May 23, 08 10:21 PM in Journalists
WHEN Fernando Torres scored against Arsenal in the Champions League his goal triggered a crowd reaction which many Reds claim was the moment of the season.
For fully three minutes after Torres's wonderful strike, Anfield bounced like never before. All around the ground, with the exception of the away end and the press box, people were on their feet toasting Liverpool's number nine like never before.
It was jaw droppingly spectacular, and it was spine tinglingly inspirational and it is arguably one of the greatest goal celebrations that even Anfield has ever witnessed.
And yet, it might never have happened had it not been for the sterling efforts of those who went to great lengths to make the innovative Block 1892 of the Kop the huge success it has undoubtedly been.
It was there that the Torres bounce originated, with a couple of hundred of like-minded supporters providing a signature moment to their debut season as the Kop's spiritual heartbeat.
There were games when only they would bounce as the rest of the ground looked on in wonderment at what was going on towards the rear of football's most famous stand.
But by the time Torres swivelled on a sixpence and fired unerringly into the top corner of Manuel Almunia's goal, there can't have been a Liverpool fan who was not aware of the bounce and they reacted accordingly, creating a spectacle and a snatch of atmosphere which you would be hard pressed to see bettered anywhere in the world.
The credit for this has to go to those who congregate in Block 1892 and for Reclaim The Kop for having the idea to create a section designed to improve the atmosphere and match going experience at Anfield.
When the idea was first mooted this time last year there were those who ridiculed it and those who got the wrong end of the stick by wrongly describing it as a "singing section," like the one that exists in the Stretford End at Old Trafford.
The whole concept was built from a desire to ensure that the "Eas-eh, eas-eh" generation of fans fed on a diet of Soccer AM did not turn Anfield into any other English ground by contaminating it with the kind of songs and behaviour you are more likely to hear and see on an England away trip.
To this end, Block 1892 has been a huge success, with that all important sense of individuality spreading throughout the ground and the message even spreading as far as those day trippers who had previously been at odds with what Anfield is all about.
You only have to hear the songs to recognise this, with staples such as "Every Other Sat'dee" and "A Liver Bird Upon My Chest" (the complete version, not just the catchy chorus) being heard increasingly regularly and some of the more embarrassing chants which had been cropping up gradually disappearing.
It hasn't all been plain sailing and there have been occasions when club stewards have been at odds with fans at the back of the Kop but all in all the experiment has had positive results which can be built upon in seasons to come.
The club recognises this and Rick Parry and stadium manager Ged Poynton have now given their blessing to expand Block 1892 so that it can accommodate even more season ticket holders who want to help make the Anfield experience even better for all who go to the match.
Last season, only block 306 was opened up to house Block 1892 but from next season it will be extended to neighbouring blocks 305 and 304 so even more fans can get involved.
That means there will be around 1,000 seats available to season ticket holders to move into should they choose to, meaning Block 1892 could take up a twelfth of the Kop should enough supporters get behind the expansion.
It is another step in the right direction and one which all involved hope will help turn Anfield into a cauldron of noise for league games as well as on those big European nights.
The opportunity is now there for this to happen, all it needs is for enough fans to grab it with both hands, and Block 1892 will go from strength to strength.
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