Liverpool Anfield Stadium: a Venue Worth Visiting

Liverpool's Anfield is one of the stadiums that you can't miss if you're a soccer fan or while you're visiting the city of the Beatles.

Without a doubt, it’s one of the most important soccer stadiums in England. Anfield stadium is the home of Liverpool, although it housed other teams in the beginning. We’ll tell you everything about this venue in the following article.

The history of Anfield: one of the oldest stadiums

Sports history marks the year 1884 as the year of the inauguration for the Anfield stadium. Originally, this venue was used by Everton, who paid rent to the owner of the property, John Orrel, a local brewer. The first stands had a capacity of 8,000 people.

In 1981, Orrell sold his property to John Houlding, who would be the founder of Liverpool. The new owner increased the rental price and Everton refused to pay it, so they moved to Goodison Park.

Since the stadium was now empty, what better idea than to create his own team to use it? This is how the Liverpool Association Football Club originated. They played their first game in 1892, with a great 7-0 victory against Rotherham.

The league first used Anfield Stadium in 1893, with 5,000 people spectating. Two years later, they built new grandstands for 3,000 fans -the current main stands- with a distinctive red and white gable. In 1903, they added more wooden and iron stands to Anfield.

The expansion continues: Anfield stadium

After Liverpool’s second championship in 1906, they had to add a third grandstand section, named Spion Kop by a local journalist. It was in honor of the South African hill where many soldiers from the city died during the Boer Wars.

There were no modifications up until 1928. That year, they redesigned and expanded the Kop. Then, in 1957, they installed an electric lighting system. In 1963, they replaced the old Kemlyn Road grandstand with a cantilever to house 6,700 people. Ten years later, they demolished the main stand to install a new and larger one.

In 1992, the Kemlyn Road grandstand turned into a two-level stand. They had thought about this a long time ago, but something curious happened; two ladies, who lived on that street refused to move to allow for the construction work.

When one of them died, the other agreed to leave, and they were finally able to complete the construction. Two years later, the new FIFA regulations that established all attendees must have a seat, drastically reduced the capacity of those stands.

A walkthrough Liverpool’s Anfield stadium

We can’t deny how impressive it is that this stadium, beyond its reforms, has been standing for more than 130 years. Therefore, if you plan on traveling to England, and more precisely to Liverpool, you can’t miss Anfield.

There are different types of tours, including the Stadium Tour or the Gameday Tour, which takes place on the day of the game. The first is the most common for tourists.

An ideal day at the stadium

The first-day visit is at 10 a.m. and the last at 3 p.m and they’re both about an hour and a half long. Another option is to go on your own to the museum only, which closes at 5 p.m. Please note that the tour is always in English, although an audio guide in Spanish is available on the weekends.

It’s a good idea to visit the museum first and then take the tour. Access is through the Kop stand, where you can see photos and memorabilia regarding the club history and the main players who have worn the red shirt.

There’s also a space for the coaches and, of course, the different cups that Liverpool has won. We can’t forget to mention the hymn, You’ll never walk alone, and the tributes to two huge soccer tragedies: Hillsborough and Heysel.

After the museum tour, move on to the stadium tour. The guide takes visitors through different sectors of the Anfield stadium. They also go through the tunnels, the players’ locker rooms, the press room, and the playing field.

Whether you’re a fan of Liverpool, the Premier League, soccer in general, or neither, everyone should go to Anfield at least once in their lives. It’s a wonderful place that’s full of stories!