‘This is Anfield’ – Hong Kong fan recalls touching forbidden plaque as local Liverpool supporters celebrate long-awaited Premier League title

Two years ago, Hong Kong radio producer Alton Hwang performed an act that, at the time, was banned by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp – he touched the famous “This is Anfield” emblem that players pass under before they run on to the field at Liverpool’s intimidating home ground.

Liverpool had won nothing under the German manager up to then but Hwang, like any other devoted fan, refused to let the opportunity pass.

“Klopp said he wouldn’t allow anyone to touch it until they won something, and then they won the Champions League [in 2019],” said Hwang. “Now they can touch it again because they won the English Premier League.

“I was there in Liverpool two years ago and visited Anfield. It was kind of a mission accomplished for me to touch the sign.”

Hwang is among tens of thousands of Liverpool supporters in Hong Kong who are celebrating their team’s first league title since 1990, when Sir David Wilson was governor and Hongkongers were preparing for the return to Chinese sovereignty in 1997.

Hwang was one year old when the likes of Ian Rush and John Barnes struck fear into opposing defences and future Premier League champions Blackburn Rovers and Leicester City were still in the Second Division.

Louis Shum, however, remembers that team well. He was a teenager studying in Canada when Liverpool dominated the 1989-90 league campaign, finishing nine points ahead of Aston Villa.

Shum is a committee member of local supporters group, Liverpool FC OLSC Hong Kong Region & Macau - Anfield’s 12th.

“I personally waited 30 years for this to happen and of course it means the world to me,” said Shum, who is in his 40s. “It makes it even more special after what happened last season, missing out by just one point to Man City.

“I can’t speak for all Liverpool supporters but the [Covid-19] pandemic also added extra anxiety, because we were not sure if the season would be voided. So it’s a great relief.”

Shum said Liverpool’s relative lack of domestic success compared to their dominance of English football in the 70s and 80s made this year’s triumph special.

“It was quite routine at that time to win the league and the [media] coverage was really limited so the excitement was totally different this time around,” said Shum, adding that an official celebration of Hong Kong fans would depend on the government’s Covid-19 regulations for gatherings.

Steve Parry, of the Liverpool FC Supporters Hong Kong, has been supporting the club for 52 years and has vivid memories of their best years from more than 30 years ago.

“A couple of years ago it was clear that Klopp had built a team to bring back those glory days. He gets Liverpool and he gets the city,” said Parry.

“The win is for all those fans young and old who stood by their team over the years, who never gave up and who maintain their loyalty. Today I am particularly pleased for the young die-hard supporters who have never experienced a league win. A magical day for all.”

Also celebrating was Hong Kong-based Gordon Watson and his staff at Liverpool sponsor Axa. Watson, Asia CEO of the insurance firm, spoke to Klopp two weeks ago about maintaining motivation among his players and he was delighted they finally won the league after a dominating season.

“Our office is overwhelmed with excitement and joy today to see Liverpool Football Club finally win the trophy,” said Watson.

“We are struggling to keep our social distancing rules as we all want to hug each other. It was 30 years ago when I last saw this and some of my team were not even born then. This is truly a great day for us.’

For Hwang, the jokes about Liverpool failing to win after 30 years can now stop.

“We have been through a lot, to the season when we lost to Manchester United to Steven Gerrard’s slip that broke everyone’s heart. Now, we finally win the trophy. Fans have been longing for it,” said Hwang.