Jimmy Hamill with his sons Caoilte and Fionn will be cheering on Liverpool to win the league
LOCAL Liverpool fans look set to secure bragging rights, as Brendan Rodgers’ side edges closer to their first league title in 24 years.
The Reds look favourites to clinch the title – and fans of the club in Fermanagh will be glad to finally see it come their way.
Jim Leonard, from Newtownbutler but living in Irvinestown, has been a Liverpool fan since the age of ‘six or seven’, and described how ‘everyone’ felt that there was something different about the season from the offset this time around.
“Brendan Rodgers seems to have restored a lot of faith,” Jim explained, “He has brought the smile back to all Liverpool fans, and it will be hard to wipe it off again!”
He went on: “When Liverpool have the ball, they’re always looking to attack and score goals and when they don’t, they are closing down and winning the ball quickly.
“Whatever happens over the last few games, this season has already been a resounding success. It’s ours to lose as a United fan keeps reminding me over and over.
“Personally, I think Liverpool will win it. It’s going to be a white knuckle ride, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
And, Neil McAtamney, from Enniskillen, has been a fan since 1977. He remembers heading to matches in 1982, and saw them lift their 13th title.
“I went to Liverpool as a student in 1989 and had a Kop season ticket for our last title winning season,” Neil recalled, “We didn’t properly celebrate that night as a Red as you thought it happened every year. But, 24 years later we are still waiting!”
Back in 2005, when Liverpool lifted the Champions League trophy in Istanbul, Neil was in attendance, but he admitted: ‘you can’t buy the feeling’ of the last few weeks and the run up to the end of the season.
He added: “I don’t know how the players sleep before the big games, but I’m struggling.
“And yes of course we can do it, but Chelsea on Sunday is the biggest domestic football match I can remember Liverpool playing in my lifetime. I think that is the big one for the Redmen.”
For Jimmy Hamill, who lives in Enniskillen, it is a family affair. Along with his three sons (Eoin (a United fan), Fionn and Caoilte (Liverpool fans)) will attend the final game of the season at Anfield against Newcastle.
Jimmy said: “As a lifelong Liverpool supporter I didn’t appreciate what winning the league meant back in the 70s and 80s. Going to Anfield to see the present team playing onMay 11 against Newcastle, it’s like fate. With an Irish manager and on the 25th anniversary of Hillsborough – but there’s nothing won yet.”
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