Tis The Season Of Giving
What a wonderful season as we approach the start of 2025. There are multiple holidays to celebrate, food to eat, family (whether by blood or by choice) to spend time with, and almost uninterrupted sports. Which, if we are being honest, can either make or break that holiday cheer.
READ MORE: Liverpool’s Resurgent Title Bid by T. Alex Hauber
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Red Reflections
I spent some time looking back over the year and thinking of all the changes the 2024 season brought. For the Reds, we saw a title challenge falter and a legendary coach exit stage left. This has been followed up by a resurgent Liverpool under Arne Slot who has defied the expectations. It was supposed to be a rebuild at worst, and an adjustment at best. The year should not have seen an undefeated Liverpool top of the Champions League and simultaneously showing the mentality giant strength so lauded over the years to helm a top-of-the-league run. They call it a festive season for a reason, eh?
Among those happy memories lies a core memory for me. One that I got to replicate again a short while ago when I was able to attend a watch party with fellow Reds here in Salt Lake City Utah. The story of how I got there began with, well, me. In 2019 I walked into the Rose and Crown pub in Arizona and won a trivia game to take home a commemorative cup from Liverpool’s Champions League run that year from the Official Supporters group. I hadn’t ever thought of supporter groups as something that existed outside of England, and so when I returned from my trip back to Utah I looked to see if there were any groups nearer to home. Unfortunately, there wasn’t. So, I took it upon myself to change that.
Taking Initiative
I started a Facebook Page, a Twitter account, and an email account and set out to bring that experience to Utah. It was slow at first but we found a nice bar in South Salt Lake, The Fiddler’s Elbow. They were willing to show the games if there wasn’t any NFL going on at the same time. It was a start! Within a few weeks, we averaged 10-12 Reds attending the games.
Around that same time, I was introduced to American Scouser through an attendee by the name of Vicki Wallace. I was invited by Timucin Uras to be interviewed for the American Scouser podcast with Vicki about the experience of trying to start an Official Supporters club. The process never felt further away.
Utah isn’t the most accommodating state when it comes to viewing locations. Finding one that was family-friendly, but also served alcohol, who also had the right subscriptions to watch the games turned into a logistical nightmare. During that season I began writing for American Scouser, teaching history full-time, had two children, and started a double Master’s. Slowly the barriers to entry felt too heavy to move on my own.
See You At The Crossroads
So I turned to Vicki. She had always been good at keeping the group informed and organized and had more free time on her hands as well as the connections to keep it going. I passed the torch to her and another Red fan named Dustin who took on the challenge. I didn’t regret anything, I had given the time I could but I couldn’t give enough. Then life continued to get busy and followed from the sidelines as Vicki and Dustin faced the same problems that I had had originally. The Fiddler’s Elbow closed, and it felt like that might spell the end of the dream of starting an Official Supporter group here in Utah.
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This summer however everything changed. A new location, Crossroads Bar and Grill, was scouted and the management was incredibly enthusiastic about us using their space to watch games. With an established location, one willing to make arrangements to open early for the 5:30 games, and a space both family friendly and a bar it was the perfect solution for us. Since then the push for the Salt Lake Reds to become an official Supporters group has been revitalized. A few weeks ago, I found myself with a free Saturday morning and I caught the watch party at Crossroads. I was nervous, as I hadn’t been back in so long but as I came in Vicki greeted me with a smile and introduced me to the group. I was back home.
During this holiday season as you find time to celebrate, and the games are coming thick and fast take a minute to check your area for a supporter’s group, whether they are official or on their way. The spirit found amongst the Reds family is second to none. Happy Holidays, whichever you celebrate or keep.
