KOP News # 1455

LFC on Tour blog

23rd Jul 2012

Whilst Joe Cole and Jonjo Shelvey are bringing you daily diaries from the players' camp, the LFC on Tour blog will provide an alternative insight into this summer's pre-season campaign from the perspective of the club's own media team.

Make sure you log on every day to find out lots of stuff you don't really need to know...

14.43, July 23

Jonjo Shelvey, Jay Spearing, Joe Cole and Jamie Carragher are at a Warrior event signing shirts, posters, caps and this woman's arm. "I got it done three weeks ago," she tells lfctour.com. "I plan to get a whole sleeve done with Liverpool tattoos." Apparently Jenifer (from Connecticut) gets in trouble at work for showing it. "I don't care," she says, "it goes so well with any outfit." Jonjo Shelvey seems to like it, describing the tattoo as 'crafty'. Which we think is a compliment...

13.30, July 23

The LFC mural on the wall of Central Kitchen in Cambridge is coming on well. Top marks to Tim, Mike, Jeff and all the LFC Boston crew for making it happen.

12.10, July 23

The entire squad apart from one player have headed back to the dressing room to get changed after the morning session. The only player who hasn't is Joe Cole, who has stayed behind - as has become normal - to chat to the fans who have turned up to watch the session. All of the players, without exception, have been great with the supporters they've met on this tour - happily posing for photos and signing autographs - but Cole deserves extra credit for just how good he's been so far.

9.50, July 23

"It's a beautiful moment," explains Philip Mirisola. Philip, along with three friends, has just posed for a photograph with the entire Liverpool squad to mark a meeting of the past and the present. In 1964, Philip, along with Sal LoGrasso, Frank Mirisola and coach Unberto Atriao, were part of a semi-pro team called Boston Metros who played Bill Shankly's Liverpool side on an early pre-season tour to America. "Back then, Liverpool were one of the greatest teams in Europe, so it was a dream for us to play against them," explained Philip. "We used to try and watch Liverpool on TV when we could but to play against them was unreal. We were the best team in the amateur league at the time but we were no match for Liverpool. We lost the game 8-1 but ever since then Liverpool have been my team. For them to invite us down to watch them train today and pose for a picture with us was such a great gesture. I spoke to Jamie Carragher after the picture was taken and he was asking about our game. He was really interested which was nice."

12.25, July 22

There's as yet unconfirmed reports of a spot of cheating going on at the golf day attended by eight of the first-team squad. The players have been given the day off and some of the players have decided to visit one of the best golf courses in New England for the afternoon. Reports have reached LFC TV from the Fox crew, who were filming the round, that Jay Spearing may have been spotted interfering with the lay of Jon Flanagan's golf ball when the defender wasn't looking. In their four-ball, it turns out Jonjo Shelvey won the round, while Daniel Agger proved victorious over Charlie Adam in the other game.

12.10, July 22

Who says footballers don't do public transport? Stepping onto a 14-carriage metro train at Charles Street Station, who should we bump into but Lucas and Dani Pacheco heading back to the team hotel after a few hours sightseeing at the harbour.

22.10, July 21

The look of desolation on the young lads' faces is priceless. We've just landed back in Boston and every young player under the age of 21 has just been asked to hand in their passports to Ray, the player liaison officer, immediately after clearing immigration. Following the 1-1 draw in Toronto, the players have all been told they are allowed to go out for the first night since arriving in the States. Except it seems for the young players, who have just this second found out that anyone under 21 is not allowed to enter drinking establishments in America. From excitement about the prospect of a night out in town with the senior players to crushing disappointment in the space of 30 seconds - you've got to laugh!

18.08, July 21

Adam Morgan, Liverpool's first goalscorer of this pre-season tour, has just spotted his dad (in the grey t-shirt below, centre) waiting by the advertising hoardings. He rushes over and embraces him. It's a magical moment for both the youngster and his father, Shaun, who only made the decision to fly out to Toronto on Friday. "My friend rang me yesterday and asked if I fancied coming out for the game," Shaun tells lfctour.com. "I said I couldn't really afford it but he's got his own company and he said he'd pay for the flights and all I'd need was my spending money. I didn't tell Adam I was coming out so when I arrived at the team hotel, I asked Robbie Fowler to go up to his room and bring him down. He started crying when he saw me. It was fantastic. I've waited 13 years for this moment tonight. We're red through and through - me and Adam used to go home and away with Liverpool - so when he scored, I started crying myself. I was just speechless. I still can't believe it."

15.30, July 21

It might only be a friendly with at least 22 players set to be involved but one player delighted to actually be in the starting line-up is Dani Pacheco. The little Spaniard, always one of the happiest members of the squad, is loving it back at Liverpool and is hoping to do enough this summer to impress the new boss. "The manager likes to play good, passing football and that's the football I like to play, so hopefully I can be part of his plans," he says, before heading back to the dressing room.

15.10, July 21

It's 50 minutes to kick-off and there's a very special but quite frail visitor stood outside the LFC dressing room. His name is Angus Johnstone and he's been brought here by his son, Paul. Angus grew up with Willie Stevenson, one of the stars of the Liverpool sides of the 1960s, and became friendly with all the team back then - so much so that they all came to his wedding. He's here today because he's starting to suffer from Alzheimer's and his son wanted him to meet one of the current players before his memory starts to fade. Thankfully, Lucas Leiva and Joe Cole are more than happy to meet him and after saying hello, they present Angus with a shirt signed by the entire squad. It's a nice moment. 

15.02, July 21

The aim of every tour is to win over new fans. Here's two at the Rogers Centre that Liverpool seem to have captured...