By Chris Teh
Gerry and the Pacemakers’ hit song, “You’ll Never Walk Alone” is Liverpool Football Club’s motto and anthem since 1965. Incidentally, the top-notch English football team finished second in the English Premier League last season in May.
Strangers uniting for a common cause is unusual but in the case of Liverpool FC’s fans in Ipoh, individuals of different backgrounds come together for a single reason – to cheer for their favourite team.
Moses Ooi, the founder of Ipoh’s Liverpool fan club, known locally as “The KOP End Ipoh” (refers to one of the four stands in Liverpool’s Anfield Stadium erected during the eary 1900s), has been an avid supporter of the renowned professional football club.
“I’ve been a Liverpool fan for nearly 40 years, which is why I founded this club in the hopes that my joy and passion can be shared with people of similar interests,” Moses told this scribe.
The working committee of the club includes Edwin Seibel, Ernest Balasingam and Peter Ho.
Shortly after Liverpool won their second championship in 1906, Ernest Edwards who was sports editor for Liverpool Daily Post and Echo during that time, named one of the four stands “The Spion Kop” based on the same name of a hilltop in South Africa to commemorate the loss of a 300-men British regiment who attempted to capture the Spion Kop. Most of the men were from Liverpool.
“As long as one is a Liverpool fan, he or she is welcome to join the club for gathering every week, which we’ll notify via schedule,” Moses added.
Interested readers may contact Moses at 012 501 8126, Ernest at 012 516 2687 or Peter at 012 502 7881. Also, feel free to head to Little Village for the live screening of matches. The club’s committee members will be in attendance.
