Why Liverpool Is The Best City In The World...

Not my words exactly, but rather from our beloved defender himself, Jamie Carragher!! He tells LFC.tv just why the city of Liverpool rocks his socks. And it's not just because he's a Scouser, born & bred.

WHY LIVERPOOL IS THE BEST CITY IN THE WORLD
Jamie Carragher 06 October 2005

With its instantly recognisable waterfront, unique accent, legendary musicians and rich sporting heritage, Liverpool is an international city of world repute and Jamie Carragher just loves living here...

After the two much-hyped games against Chelsea last week, you'd think Anfield and its surrounding streets would be a little quiet right now. With two important World Cup qualifiers looming the international break means Liverpool are without a Premiership or Cup fixture this week.

But that doesn't mean the staff at Anfield will be putting their feet up and taking it easy. Far from it. Together with The Beatles, Liverpool Football Club is the most popular tourist attraction in this city and whether there's a match on or not, visitors will flock to the home of England's most successful ever football club.

I may be biased, but I firmly believe that a trip to Anfield is the first place any tourist should visit when they come to Liverpool. This club is renowned across the continent for its achievements and I'd strongly recommend a trip around the trophy room and stadium. Of course, there's now also the added attraction of seeing for real those five glittering European Cups.

To play for a club like this, which is famous throughout the world, is a tremendous honour and although it's no secret on the Kop that my early football allegiances lay on the other side of Stanley Park, I am proud to call myself a Liverpudlian.

It's true that I was a regular visitor to Everton's home ground of Goodison Park as a boy and it crops up every time the Merseyside derby comes around. In the Marsh Lane area of Bootle where I grew up you can count the number of Rednecks on one hand, so I just followed the trend and became a blue.

But I've been a player here at Liverpool since I was ten, when I first started attending the old School of Excellence, and I'm very much a red these days, although you can imagine how much of a nightmare it is for me to go back around Marsh Lane after we've just lost to Everton!

Seriously though, it's never a problem and I love the banter that goes on between both sets of supporters on Merseyside, and I'm equally proud to be a Scouser. This city is such a special place for many reasons. It's hard to put your finger on what exactly makes it so special but for me a lot of it is down to the sense of humour of the people. Everyone in Liverpool seems to like a laugh and a joke and we've got this reputation for being bubbly characters who are so full of life.

I have lived here all my life and for me there is no better place on earth. It's a great place to live and I've no intention of ever leaving.

Away from football everyone here is now looking forward to 2008 when Liverpool deservedly becomes the European Capital of Culture. This is a big thing for us all. The city has been improving for a number of years now and it's only going to get better. There will be all kinds going on and I'm really looking forward to it.

Growing up in Bootle, near the docks, I know all about the proud seafaring history of the city. Ships used to set sail from Liverpool to the most far-flung and exotic destinations and it was once known as the gateway to the world.

The eventual decline in the shipping trade was to have a shattering effect on the city in terms of unemployment but Liverpool retained its prominent position on the world map thanks to the two football clubs, the world-famous horse race that takes place every year at Aintree and the emergence of four lads who shook the world, namely The Beatles.

Together with the wonderful nightlife, excellent restaurants and many other places of interest Liverpool is also now established as a hive of tourist activity and was recently voted Britain’s best day trip destination by the UK tourist board.

After visiting Anfield, I'd advise any tourist to go and see all things connected to the Beatles. There is a specialist Beatles museum situated in the Albert Dock and there are other various places of interest to visit throughout the city, such as Matthew Street, where the Cavern Club is, Strawberry Fields and Penny Lane.

Liverpool Football Club and The Beatles are probably the two biggest things ever to come out of this city and no stay here would be complete without exploring both.

Together with the wonderful nightlife, excellent restaurants and many other places of interest Liverpool is now well established as a hive of tourist activity. I've heard it was recently voted Britain's best day trip destination by the UK tourist board and I, for one, certainly wouldn't disagree with that.

As a professional footballer it's not often that I get the chance to sample the wonderful nightlife in Liverpool but whenever me and the rest of the lads get the opportunity to let our hair down then we really are spoilt for choice. The Albert Dock is a great tourist attraction in Liverpool and there are lot of bars down there, with Blue Bar being the main one. Moving closer into the city centre there is the Newz Bar and there are also some good places along Victoria Street, with the likes of the Living Room and The Place, which I must mention because former Liverpool striker John Aldridge owns it!

Apart from the Kop on a big European night at Anfield, I'm fortunate to live near the coast. It’s only about five minutes away from where I grew up. It’s a great location, and not being too far from the beach is ideal when you’ve got a couple of young kids like I have. I often taken them down to play on the waterfront and the view across the Irish Sea is quite breathtaking, no matter how many times you experience it.

Okay Bunny, I've made up my mind. We're going to Liverpool NOW!! Pack your bags, we're leaving.

Laterz...
Lenny JC