FeatureWe Love You Liverpool: Meet Official LFC Supporters Club... Western Australia
Liverpool FC has more than 300 Official LFC Supporters Clubs (OLSCs) across 100 countries worldwide.
The Reds' fanbase is famous for its passion and loyalty, cheering on both Jürgen Klopp and Matt Beard's squads whether on Merseyside or watching from afar.
Our We Love You Liverpool feature aims to bring supporters closer together to learn more about each other wherever they are based around the globe.
Whether in the UK and Republic of Ireland, on Merseyside itself, in North or South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia or elsewhere, fans provide the very foundations that the club is built on.
Here, we meet OLSC Western Australia…
Firstly, can you introduce yourself – tell us a little a bit about who you are and where you are from…
My name is Andrew Douglas and I represent OLSC Western Australia. I have been an active member since the club gained official status in the 2013-14 season.
We are quite isolated from the club being all the way down in Australia, especially out west – it’s not all bad, though! We are forever growing and always looking for new ways to spread the word that we have an ‘official’ OLSC in Western Australia; seeing new faces is always great because we do what we can to keep fans coming back to make new friends and great memories.
Tell us about OLSC Western Australia…
There has always been a Liverpool supporters club in Western Australia, before gaining official status we were called ‘Reds in the West’. Inaugural president Carol Houghton arrived in Perth, Western Australia and sought LFC to grant official status.
Some years later LFC came knocking asking for a club to be established and Carol then organised a committee and laid the groundwork where ‘Reds in the West’ was granted official status in April 2013.
OLSC Western Australia has been in operation ever since, and forms part of the great Oceania area with other states in Australia and New Zealand.
How special is it to have a feel of ‘Liverpool’ despite being in Western Australia?
In Western Australia we have such a diverse membership base ranging from Liverpool to Scunthorpe, Ireland, Scotland, Mauritius, South Africa, India, Singapore, Japan, New Zealand and, of course, Australia. What’s special is the ‘family’ feel you get when visiting Liverpool, we try to replicate over here, which makes for a welcoming experience for all.
Do you hold any special events throughout the season, or for games?
In Western Australia we have a venue where we watch matches (time depending) and encourage our membership to come together to support the team as one big family.
We regularly hold activities such as golf days, family fun days, five-a-side competitions and general meet-ups throughout the year.
What is so unique about being a Liverpool supporter for your members?
Our membership were asked this question, and the one thing that consistently came up was ‘adversity’. The club and its fans have been through so much over the years, both on and off the pitch.
That feeling of camaraderie, where you might not know someone but you’re still able to talk and have something so big in common straight away is special, it’s what makes Liverpool a family.
Has the OLSC ever visited Anfield?
The members of OLSC Western Australia have been lucky enough to attend Anfield since our inception. We travel for pre-season tours as well, and can’t wait until one day the team visits us in Western Australia.
How has it been to follow the club in recent history? There has been plenty to cheer about under Jürgen Klopp and Matt Beard…
It’s safe to say Klopp and co brought back the glory days. However long he stays at the club for, he will be a legend no matter what. He brought us the Premier League title and put us back on top of Europe. Also, he built one of the great Liverpool teams by helping transform players – all while creating and maintaining such a great relationship with the supporters, which is so important.
If anyone is interested in joining your OLSC, how would they go about doing so?
We have a website that can be visited on www.lfcwa.com. Alternatively, we have an open group on Facebook. This can be found by searching for ‘Official Liverpool Supporters Club Western Australia’.
OLSC info
Name: OLSC Western Australia
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Home bar: Doubletree by Hilton, Elizabeth Quay, Perth
Website: www.lfcwa.com
Twitter: @OLSCWA
Facebook: Official Liverpool Supporters Club - Western Australia
Instagram: OLSCWA
If you are interested in finding out more about Official LFC Supporters Clubs, visit our dedicated section, or if you would like to contact your local OLSC please contact us.