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2007-2008 Fixtures and Results
We're in the Boston Globe!

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Ian Callaghan v. The Liverpool Reserves

By Ethan Armstrong

Ian Callaghan Night

How do you make a Liverpool supporter smile? Well, winning the league would certainly keep us grinning nonstop for a good year or more, but on Sunday, March 9th in it was two Liverpool legends and two-dollar pints that did the job. Not a glum face in the house.

Along with the other members of the Greater Boston LFC Supporters Club, I’d been eagerly awaiting Ian Callaghan’s visit to The Phoenix Landing--the Cambridge pub where we gather weekly for matches and pints--since September when the idea of hosting an Ian Callaghan Night first arose. Now we were gathered, about seventy-five of us, clad in Liverpool jerseys and scarves, sipping our specially-priced Carlsbergs, discussing the legend soon to arrive.

Callaghan played for Liverpool from 1960 until 1978. He holds the record for most club appearances at 857. This record will likely never be broken. These days if a player reaches five-hundred appearances at one club, we’re amazed.

Callaghan played under two legendary managers, Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley, earned a healthy collection of honors including the most prestigious titles: five League, two FA Cup and one European Cup. For all his appearances he only ever received one booking.

And while we waited for Mr. Callaghan’s arrival, another legend slipped into our ranks, unnoticed at first.

“Who’s that?” said regular Carl, reaching for his pint of Carlsberg, a beer he normally hates. “He looks familiar.”

I turned, expecting to see the face of one of those occasional fans who only show up for the Arsenal and Manchester United matches--the Liverpool supporter’s equivalent of Christmas and Easter, with about as much praying. But it was Steve Nicol, a versatile Liverpool mainstay from 1981 until 1995, now the head coach of the New England Revolution.

“How’d we get Steve Nicol here?” asked Jamie, another regular.

“I asked him,” grinned Brighton Pete. Calling Pete a regular might be putting it mildly. We all looked at Pete in bewilderment. He shrugged. “See: I do things!” Apparently, this had been in doubt.

As Ian Callaghan walked in with Kevin Treanor, co-owner of the Landing and lifelong Liverpool supporter, I wondered if I was in the middle of some sweet footballing dream. Liverpool were doing well in the League and Europe (there’d been frustrating patches in both) and I was in my favorite pub clutching a pint and standing between two Liverpool legends. Any minute I was sure to wake up, I’d be alone in the pub, we’d be losing to Derby County and the kegs would be kicked. Thankfully, I never woke up.

Mr. Callaghan began to mingle and shake hands. He was modest and personable, pausing for pictures and thanking us for having him. Socializing carried on for a good hour or so, then Kevin and Roy Yates, of the US Liverpool Supporters Club, introduced the evening. First highlights from classic matches were shown on the televisions. These included classic FA Cup finals against Leeds (1965) and Newcastle (1974) as well as a memorable FA Cup semifinal against Everton (1971) all featuring Mr. Callaghan as a part of top-form Liverpool sides.

The most memorable part of the night was probably the question and answer session where about every question coaxed a poignant memory from the man of the night, carrying us back to past days of Liverpool glory. A time before most of the spectators that night had started following the club.

Callaghan shared anecdotes about choosing Liverpool over Everton though the Reds were then a league below; asking Bill Shankly to talk to his father who didn’t think Callaghan should give up an apprenticeship to play football; playing against George Best; and facing Inter Milan in the historic 1965 European Cup semifinals. And we soaked it all up with glee.

“Who was the greatest player you ever faced and who was the greatest side you ever faced?” asked Marty, resident Scouser.

George Best was the answer to the first part. As Callaghan thought a moment about the second, Pete yelled out, “The Liverpool reserves!” Referencing the classic Shankly quote:

There are only two teams in Liverpool; Liverpool and Liverpool reserves.

“Yes!” said Callaghan quickly. “The Reserves. I’ve always liked that answer.”

The the structured part of the evening ended with Callaghan helping our club president, Eric, with a raffle which included two sets of tickets to the upcoming home match against Everton.

Both Callaghan and Nicol continued to nurse pints and socialize with us deep into a very memorable evening. After a few beers it almost felt like these might be two regular members of our club, just hanging out after watching a match with us. But looking around I could see the glow on all my fellow supporters faces and those irradicable smiles. We were carousing with greatness and we all knew it. Now, who else is going to waltz in when we someday host Steve Nicol Night? Robbie Fowler?

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2007-2008 Fixtures & Results

Note: all times are EST / EDT

We meet at the The Phoenix Landing in Cambridge for all the games -- and sometimes even when there isn't a game. If you're new to the club, you can spot us by our t-shirts (not to mention, there's always a group stationed at the far end of the bar on match day).

Date Against Competition Where KO Result
Sat Aug 11 Aston Villa Barclays Premier League Away 12:15 2-1
Wed Aug 15 West Ham United Barclays Premier League     P-P
Wed Aug 15 Toulouse Champions League Qualifier (1) Away 10:30 1-0
Sun Aug 19 Chelsea Barclays Premier League Home 11:00 1-1
Sat Aug 25 Sunderland Barclays Premier League Away 07:45 2-0
Wed Aug 28 Toulouse Champions League Qualifier (2) Home 15:05 4-0
Sat Sep 1 Derby County Barclays Premier League Home 10:00 6-0
Sat Sep 15 Portsmouth Barclays Premier League Away 07:45 0-0
Tue Sep 18 FC Porto Champions League Group Phase Away 14:45 1-1
Sat Sep 22 Birmingham City Barclays Premier League Home 10:00 0-0
Tue Sep 25 Reading Carling Cup Away 14:45 4-2
Sat Sep 29 Wigan Athletic Barclays Premier League Away 10:00 1-0
Wed Oct 3 Olympique Marseille Champions League Group Phase Home 14:45 0-1
Sun Oct 7 Tottenham Hotspur Barclays Premier League Home 10:00 2-2
Sat Oct 20 Everton Barclays Premier League Away 07:45 2-1
Wed Oct 24 Besiktas Champions League Group Phase Away 14:45 1-2
Sun Oct 28 Arsenal Barclays Premier League Home 11:00 1-1
Wed Oct 31 Cardiff City Carling Cup Round 4 Home 16:00 2-1
Sat Nov 3 Blackburn Rovers Barclays Premier League Away 13:15 0-0
Tue Nov 6 Besiktas Champions League Group Phase Home 14:45 8-0
Sat Nov 10 Fulham Barclays Premier League Home 12:15 2-0
Sat Nov 24 Newcastle United Barclays Premier League Away 07:45 3-0
Wed Nov 28 FC Porto Champions League Group Phase Home 14:45 4-1
Sun Dec 2 Bolton Wanderers Barclays Premier League Home 10:00 4-0
Sat Dec 8 Reading Barclays Premier League Away 12:15 1-3
Tue Dec 11 Olympique Marseille Champions League Group Phase Away 14:45 4-0
Sun Dec 16 Manchester United Barclays Premier League Home 08:30 0-1
Wed Dec 19 Chelsea Carling Cup Away 14:45 0-2
Sat Dec 22 Portsmouth Barclays Premier League Home 10:00 4-1
Wed Dec 26 Derby County Barclays Premier League Away 10:00 2-1
Sun Dec 30 Manchester City Barclays Premier League Away 11:00 0-0
Wed Jan 2 Wigan Athletic Barclays Premier League Home 15:00 1-1
Sun Jan 6 Luton FA Cup Round 3 Away 11:00 1-1
Sat Jan 12 Middlesbrough Barclays Premier League Away 10:00 1-1
Tue Jan 15 Luton FA Cup Round 3 Home 15:00 5-0
Mon Jan 21 Aston Villa Barclays Premier League Home 15:00 2-2
Sat Jan 26 Havant & Waterlooville FA Cup Round 4 Home 10:00 5-2
Wed Jan 30 West Ham United Barclays Premier League Away 14:45 0-1
Sat Feb 2 Sunderland Barclays Premier League Home 12:15 3-0
Sun Feb 10 Chelsea Barclays Premier League Away 11:00 0-0
Sat Feb 16 Barnsley FA Cup Round 5 Home 10:00 1-2
Tue Feb 19 Inter Milan Champions League Last 16 (1) Home 14:45 2-0
Sat Feb 23 Middlesbrough Barclays Premier League Home 10:00 3-2
Sat Mar 1 Bolton Wanderers Barclays Premier League Away 10:00 3-1
Wed Mar 5 West Ham United Barclays Premier League Home 15:00 4-0
Sat Mar 8 Newcastle United Barclays Premier League Home 10:00 3-0
Tue Mar 11 Inter Milan Champions League Last 16 (2) Away 15:45 1-0 (3-0 agg.)
Sat Mar 15 Reading Barclays Premier League Home 11:00 2-1
Sun Mar 23 Manchester United Barclays Premier League Away 09:30 0-3
Sun Mar 30 Everton Barclays Premier League Home 11:00 1-0
Wed Apr 2 Arsenal Champions League Qtr Final (1) Away 14:45 1-1
Sat Apr 5 Arsenal Barclays Premier League Away 07:45  
Tue Apr 8 Arsenal Champions League Qtr Final (2) Home 14:45  
Sun Apr 13 Blackburn Rovers Barclays Premier League Home 08:30  
Sat Apr 19 Fulham Barclays Premier League Away 10:00  
Sat Apr 26 Birmingham City Barclays Premier League Away 10:00  
Sat May 3 Manchester City Barclays Premier League Home 10:00  
Sun May 11 Tottenham Hotspur Barclays Premier League Away 10:00  

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last updated: April 2, 2008