HMS Liverpool crew get Anfield tour
Crew from HMS Liverpool were special guests at Anfield at the weekend as the ship celebrated its final voyage into the city.
Sailors from the Merseyside-built ship were treated to a private tour of the stadium and the Liverpool FC Museum on Thursday. They were back at Anfield for a special presentation at half-time during Liverpool's clash with Arsenal on Saturday.
The ship sailed up the River Mersey on Wednesday and berthed in Liverpool for the final time. It is due to be decommissioned at the end of March, calling an end to 30 years of protecting Britain's interests around the world.
"I'm very proud, this is a good way to say goodbye," Leading Seaman Tom Barrowcliff told Liverpoolfc.tv. "I'm very proud to be part of the ship and such a good city as well.
"The crew are very much enjoying Liverpool and today's tour was really good. The boot room and the changing rooms really opened my eyes to what traditions and foundations are laid here."
The Type 42 Destroyer spent much of last year off the coast of Libya and despite being so far from home, there is still a passionate following for the Reds amongst the crew.
"Down our mess, there is a mixture of Liverpool and a couple of Everton fans, but they just get drowned out by us, they can't live with the banter, we're too big for them," said Engineering Technician Liam Culshaw.
Fellow Engineering Technician Mark Richardson said: "Not everyone supports the same team, but we all have to watch the match in close quarters.
"I think the Liverpool fans are the most vocal. We've got our own little Kop in the mess; it's where we watch all the games.
"I think under Kenny the future's definitely looking up, the Carling Cup final is only going to make everyone more confident and we've got a cup double to try and aim for now."