Liverpool’s reach into South Africa goes far beyond branding, with a rich history of South African-born players and the Spioenkop battlefield.
At first, it seems odd that a major international financial brand like Standard Chartered would take out a newspaper advert in South Africa celebrating Liverpool Football Club’s triumph in the English Premier League… as it did yesterday in The Citizen.
This, after all, is a club a world away from our country… Yet, Liverpool is one of the most powerful sporting brands in the world – and even in South Africa it probably rates in the top five most-supported football clubs, along with local sides Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs and “Pool’s” rivals, Manchester United.
That fanatical support is not only because Liverpool have been a highly successful side over the years, but also because this country has a number of connections with the English club.
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A total of 14 players born in South Africa have played for Liverpool over the years, with perhaps the most famous being Durban boykie Bruce Grobbelaar, a goalkeeper still rated as one of the best in the club’s history.
Then there is the famous stand, the Kop, named after Spioenkop, where hundreds of Liverpool lads died during the Boer war.
Liverpool fans will never walk alone with their South African mates walking on with them.
