Please don't anyone start on about us going on about Istanbul being embarrassing, this is just a funny story made into a play, and some on here may want to see it, it's not about celebrating the win neccessarily and shouting it form the rooftops.
Liverpool FC fans set to relive Champions League triumph at St George's Hall
by Richard Buxton. Published Sat 17 Apr 2010 16:23, Last updated: 2010-04-17
Every football supporter will remember where they were when Liverpool lifted the European Cup after a thrilling comeback against AC Milan back in Istanbul five years ago, none more so than Mark Radley.
With his team three goals down to the Serie A giants at half time, the Kopite went wandering through the Ataturk Stadium in search of a match programme but it was the unusual turn of events that gave him a bigger lasting memory.
"At half time, like all Liverpool fans, I was very deflated and upset to say the least. We were very lucky we were only 3-0 down and not five or more," he told Click Liverpool.
"I went wandering in search of a programme as a memento and ended up walking down some corridors and could see it was becoming a lot more corporate looking.
"There were security guards stopping people going through some glass doors but I saw an opportunity to go round the back of them. I was expecting a tap on my shoulder and for someone to give me my marching orders but it didn’t happen.
"The players started to come out for the second half so I thought I’d sit down and see if I could find a seat until someone asked me to move."
Unable to contain his delight after Xabi Alonso had fired home that crucial equalising goal Radley, now 28, incurred the wrath of Europe's most powerful leaders who he had no idea was sitting next to him.
"Then I saw this condescending, perma-tanned Don Corleone lookalike walking towards me, smirking at me and giving me a 3-0 up gestures and tapped me on the shoulder in a patronising way," he continued.
"The game kicked off and before long we scored so I was jumping up and down, enjoying the moment. No one else around me was celebrating which was probably quite normal in corporate areas so I thought it would be best just to sit on my hands.
"But when the third goal went in there was no containing me and I enjoyed it. Then I felt someone prodding me the back with his finger, between my shoulder blades – it was the smug Italian from a few minutes before who was irate to say the least!
"When I turned round he started prodding me in the chest and shouting machine gun Italian at me. It only hits me how important this guest is when some stewards tell me that I can’t upset him as he’s the Italian prime minister!"
Mark was eventually rescued from the confrontation with the Milan president by Ataturk staff and given a seat in the Liverpool VIP section along such childhood heroes as Ian Rush and Steve Heighway.
Former Hollyoaks star John Graham Davies has immortalised the Allerton shoe maker's story in 'Beating Berlusconi', which will be returning to Liverpool's St George's Hall before a run in London to coincide with this summer’s World Cup.
After entertaining audiences in Edinburgh, London, Dublin and, gallingly, Manchester, the one-man show starring veteran Merseyside actor Paul Duckworth will return for a homecoming just days after the fifth anniversary of arguably one of the greatest nights in Liverpool’s history.
Beating Berlusconi will run at St George's Hall from Friday 28 May to Friday 4 June 2010. For details www.ticketline.co.uk
To read Click Liverpool's review of 'Beating Berlusconi' at the Unity Theatre, visit http://www.clickliverpool.com/cultur...y-theatre.html
Liverpool FC fans set to relive Champions League triumph at St George's Hall
by Richard Buxton. Published Sat 17 Apr 2010 16:23, Last updated: 2010-04-17
Every football supporter will remember where they were when Liverpool lifted the European Cup after a thrilling comeback against AC Milan back in Istanbul five years ago, none more so than Mark Radley.
With his team three goals down to the Serie A giants at half time, the Kopite went wandering through the Ataturk Stadium in search of a match programme but it was the unusual turn of events that gave him a bigger lasting memory.
"At half time, like all Liverpool fans, I was very deflated and upset to say the least. We were very lucky we were only 3-0 down and not five or more," he told Click Liverpool.
"I went wandering in search of a programme as a memento and ended up walking down some corridors and could see it was becoming a lot more corporate looking.
"There were security guards stopping people going through some glass doors but I saw an opportunity to go round the back of them. I was expecting a tap on my shoulder and for someone to give me my marching orders but it didn’t happen.
"The players started to come out for the second half so I thought I’d sit down and see if I could find a seat until someone asked me to move."
Unable to contain his delight after Xabi Alonso had fired home that crucial equalising goal Radley, now 28, incurred the wrath of Europe's most powerful leaders who he had no idea was sitting next to him.
"Then I saw this condescending, perma-tanned Don Corleone lookalike walking towards me, smirking at me and giving me a 3-0 up gestures and tapped me on the shoulder in a patronising way," he continued.
"The game kicked off and before long we scored so I was jumping up and down, enjoying the moment. No one else around me was celebrating which was probably quite normal in corporate areas so I thought it would be best just to sit on my hands.
"But when the third goal went in there was no containing me and I enjoyed it. Then I felt someone prodding me the back with his finger, between my shoulder blades – it was the smug Italian from a few minutes before who was irate to say the least!
"When I turned round he started prodding me in the chest and shouting machine gun Italian at me. It only hits me how important this guest is when some stewards tell me that I can’t upset him as he’s the Italian prime minister!"
Mark was eventually rescued from the confrontation with the Milan president by Ataturk staff and given a seat in the Liverpool VIP section along such childhood heroes as Ian Rush and Steve Heighway.
Former Hollyoaks star John Graham Davies has immortalised the Allerton shoe maker's story in 'Beating Berlusconi', which will be returning to Liverpool's St George's Hall before a run in London to coincide with this summer’s World Cup.
After entertaining audiences in Edinburgh, London, Dublin and, gallingly, Manchester, the one-man show starring veteran Merseyside actor Paul Duckworth will return for a homecoming just days after the fifth anniversary of arguably one of the greatest nights in Liverpool’s history.
Beating Berlusconi will run at St George's Hall from Friday 28 May to Friday 4 June 2010. For details www.ticketline.co.uk
To read Click Liverpool's review of 'Beating Berlusconi' at the Unity Theatre, visit http://www.clickliverpool.com/cultur...y-theatre.html