When Borussia Moenchengladbach began to ponder fitting opponents for their 110th anniversary celebrations, they didn't need to think long and hard.
Not only will the Bundesliga club commemorate a landmark date in their history today, they will also consolidate a unique bond with Liverpool Football Club that stretches back near four decades.
During the heady days of the 1970s, Liverpool and Borussia met on numerous occasions in European battle - most famously in the 1977 European Cup final in Rome.
And while the Reds may have ran out 3-1 winners to acquaint themselves with old Big Ears for the first time, a relationship was forged between the two sets of supporters in the Eternal City that still stands to this very day.
Earlier this year, Liverpool fans embarked on what has developed into an annual journey to Moenchengladbach to take in a Borussia home game.
Meanwhile, during each Bundesliga winter break, Die Fohlen followers venture over to Merseyside to visit Anfield and watch the Reds in action.
By all accounts, they are occasions that live long in the memory - and it is likely to be a similar story in North Rhine-Westphalia this afternoon.
Ahead of the clash, we caught up with German Reds secretary and LFC friendship trip organiser Graham Agg, to get a taste of what to expect.
Tell us about the friendship that exists between Borussia Moenchengladbach and Liverpool?
The Liverpool Football Club and Borussia Moenchengladbach friendship is absolutely unique in world football. There is no other relationship like the one there is between these two sets of supporters.
In the official Borussia Moenchengladbach 'Fanhaus' they have a whole corner dedicated to the Reds and even in their impressive home stadium, Borussia Park, there's a corporate hospitality lounge called the 'Liverpool FC Suite'.
The Borussia supporters have travelled to Anfield every year during the Bundesliga winter break to support the Reds annually since 1992 - apart from one occasion in January 2007.
The reason was because Liverpool played just two home games that month - against Chelsea and Everton - and the Borussia fans opted not to travel over because they did not feel it would be right to take around 60 tickets from genuine Kopites for two such high-profile matches.
Meanwhile, Liverpool fans have began to head in the opposite direction on official 'Friendship Trips' for the last three years - the first of which was organised in May 2007 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the 1977 European Cup final between the two teams in Rome. The affinity and hospitality the Borussia supporters show to their Red counterparts is incredible.
In fact, each year we have travelled over, we have been invited out onto the Borussia Park pitch 20 minutes before kick-off to unveil our specially commissioned friendship flags
The Borussia 'Nord Kurve' will then respond by delivering a moving rendition of 'You'll Never Walk Alone' - it's truly magnificent and it has even been known to bring some LFC supporters to tears.
Kopites heading over to Gladbach at the weekend for their first visit will be astonished at the level of friendliness towards everyone and everything to do with Liverpool FC. It is a weekend they will never forget.
I'd like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to all the Reds supporters who have joined me on our friendship visits to Gladbach for being superb ambassadors for both Liverpool FC and the city.
I have to say thanks to the Borussia Moenchengladbach fan liaison officer Thomas 'Tower' Weinmann for his continued help and Thomas 'Jonny' Polcher and Matthes Neumann from the BMG Fan Projekt, as well as Willi Hartmann who has made every single visit to Liverpool.
Any LFC supporters wishing to join me for the fifth consecutive friendship visit to Gladbach will be very welcome and details will be posted on various websites nearer the time, with the trip penciled in for April 2011.
The friendship was forged over three decades ago during Borussia's glory days of the 1970s when they were at the peak of their powers and met Liverpool three times.
The first of which was in the 1973 UEFA Cup final, with the Reds prevailing 3-2 on aggregate to lift the trophy.
They met again in the never-to-be-forgotten 1977 European Cup final in Rome, and of course Liverpool were once again victorious to win the first of our famous five.
The following year, they went head-to-head in the semi-final of the 1978 European Cup. Liverpool lost the first leg 2-1 at the Rhine Stadium in Dusseldorf, but emphatically ran out 3-0 winners in the Anfield return.
It was during these matches supporters of both clubs struck up friendships which have lasted to the present day.
I personally believe that the main reason for the affinity both sets of fans have for each other is also because Liverpool and Moenchengladbach are both working-class cities and they can, therefore, identify with each other. Also, the Borussia supporters are as passionate about their club as the LFC supporters are about ours.
What sort of events take place to commemorate the friendship?
Apart from the annual friendship trips in both directions, Kopites organise a 'Fan Party' in Liverpool city centre for the two sets of fans to celebrate their friendship together. Last year it was held in Flanagans Irish Pub.
Absolutely unique. Some clubs may have fleeting relationships with others, but where else in the world would you find a friendship in football between two sets of supporters from different countries stretching back almost 40 years?
It's something both clubs and both sets of supporters should be proud of and hopefully uphold for future generations to continue to celebrate a truly amazing friendship.
Remember when Liverpool fans travel to Germany and visa versa, their own club are not playing there - it is simply to show support to the other team and I do not believe there are any fans anywhere that would do this on such a regular basis.
Are there ever any LFC banners/flags on display during Moenchengladbach games at Borussia Park?
Countless and there are also LFC scarves and badges. Perhaps most remarkably of all, approximately 30 per cent of Borussia supporters actually watch their home matches wearing a Liverpool shirt.
Yes. In 1991 an official delegation of Moenchengladbach supporters flew to Liverpool to present a cheque for 21,000 Deutsch Marks (approximately £7,000) to the Hillsborough families. This was handed over to former Liverpool captain Ron Yeats and ex-director Sid Moss.
A truly remarkable gesture that has never been forgotten.
Tell us a bit about the modern-day Borussia Moenchengladbach. How have they done in recent years, who are their star players etc...
The most well known Borussia players are Michael Bradley who was in the USA World Cup squad, Canadian striker Rob Friend and, of course, Oliver Neuville.
Borussia finished in a reasonable mid-table position last season (12th) and will be looking to at least finish in the top 10 in the Bundesliga this term.
During our last friendship visit to Gladbach in April, Borussia played at home to Champions League finalists Bayern Munich and held them to a 1-1 draw. But they could have easily won the game and proved they are a strong outfit.
No comments:
Post a Comment