Keeping or collecting stubs is a great way to remember the games you’ve been to a those momentous occasions, whether it be your first game, a cup final or your first time at a particular ground. Or, as a collectible to keep as a badge of honour following your team across the UK and abroad. In this series Stories Behind The Stubs we will sepal to a selection of fans about their stories following their teams.
Dom is our first guest and he’s a passionate Liverpool fan, someone who got behind Football Stubs when it was in it’s infancy and something I’ll be forever grateful for, along with everyone else who help spread the word. You may know him from The Road End Pod where you might catch him in a European opponents cap talking about LFC!
When recalling his earliest memories of following Liverpool he said: “It would probably be seeing Michael Owen coming through the ranks, he was my idol when I was a kid, his turn of pace, his endless goals, his brilliant celebrations!”
But when asked about his memories of his first game things were a little bit hazy, but probably reminiscent of a time without as many cameras and smartphones readily available. “Funnily enough, I have absolutely no recollection of it at all, there's no pictures/videos nothing. My dad's very old school 'we're here to watch the match’, in and out.”
I’m sure many of us were taken to our first games by our dads, a right of passage somewhat in become a football addict. It doesn’t have to be a Premier League game either, walking up to the ground, any ground, the people buzzing around, food vans on the go, people having a few drinks, it’s what gets us addicted.
Do you have a ticket stub from your first game? I asked. “Zilch - don't even speak to my dad anymore who has my kits, programmes, tickets, everything!” Dom came back, which is a real shame. Not only for his relationship with his dad, but for his memories and souvenirs he has from following Liverpool as a youngster.
However, Dom has the pleasure of taking his lad to watch Liverpool when he can.
“It's an amazing feeling to know that I have a mini version of me to begin with, then to walk up them steps with him in Anfield, and getting to see his face and eyes light up is hard to put into words.
“As you know it's very hard to get 1 ticket, never mind 2 together, so when I do get the chance, I appreciate every minute of it.”
Unfortunately for Dom and his lad, digital ticketing meant that they didn’t have a souvenir ticket stub to keep as a small memento of his sons first Liverpool game. We were happy to help out and provide Dom with a ticket stub, something for them both to keep and remember their first game as dad-and-lad.
“It's rubbish isn't it? [Not getting a paper ticket] Having a ticket in hand was all part of the occasion, phone - yes, keys - yes, wallet - yes, ticket... oh...
“I was made up when you reached out with this page, it's needed, from day dot, when this was started, I remember thinking, killed it with this! (Dont mind us, we’re blushing!)
“When the ticket came I was buzzing, it's with all my lads things, programme, scarf, from his first game, the quality was superb and it covered everything you want on a ticket. He was made up, he doesn't quite understand the meaning of having it, but when he's older and it's in hand, he can tell his grandkids, I went that game with my dad, I sat there, and…”
Then came the bombshell, what had started as a lovely piece about ticket stubs quickly put his ticket into perspective with this statement as Dom continued:
“….I got Alisson's top!”
So on this occasion, the stub wont be taking pride of place from Dom’s little lads first game! “That makes the stub look a bit shit mate” I went back.
“It made our day it did - no expectancy at all going the game, comes away with arguably our greatest ever keepers shirt.
“He wanted to go again to get someone else’s after that, had to explain that's now how it works!
“He's obsessed. He knows everything about the team, the club, the history, it's genuinely like a look at myself in the mirror at his age!”
That’s what it’s all about!
You can listen to The Road End Podcast on any device, just search on your chosen podcast app and you can follow Dom on X here >
The Road End Podcast is a fan driven podcast, interviewing Ex Players, Staff and genuine Liverpool fans. The aim is to find out how the guest joined or began to follow the club, and also to share their experiences playing, working and supporting the mighty Liverpool.
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