LIVERPOOL IS… PURPLE?!
City of Liverpool are the brainchild of Reds and Blues, with very different ideals
The qualifying rounds of the FA Cup feature a fine array of non- league clubs. Traditional employers’ outfits take on cultural communities – or village sides with names nabbed off a cheeseboard ( yes you, Charnock Richard). Then the odd metropolis pops up amid the hamlets, and you wonder: who are City of Liverpool FC? Just an inclusive, fan- oriented socialist utopia, that’s all.
COLFC played their maiden fixture in 2016, but the dream formed from the embers of a 1980s nightmare.
“After the Heysel disaster in 1985, I and others began looking into how football was run and why fans were bottom of the pile,” says co- founder Peter Furmedge. “Bonds formed in the ’ 80s remained strong, and with the formation of AFC Liverpool [ in 2008] and FC United of Manchester [ 2005], we discussed whether to abandon franchise football, as many saw it.”
Politically and meteorologically, however, the North West requires a broader umbrella. Peter, chairman Paul Manning and like- minded souls realised this. “By design if not intent, those supporter- owned clubs would appeal only to fans of Liverpool or Manchester United,” explains Peter. “Our discussions involved supporters of Everton, other clubs and no clubs.
A group of Reds and Blues created the Purples: a club to represent the city of Liverpool’s diverse identity.
“It’s a united city: the Merseyside Derby can get tasty, but the football loyalties aren’t decided by geography or religion. And it’s a politically savvy city. Everton haven’t gone quite as far down the global corporatist route as Liverpool, but many Evertonians know it isn’t for want of trying.”
Even allowing for COLFC’S fetching purple kits – though not a deliberate mix of Everton’s blue and Liverpool’s red, says Peter, so much as the city’s civic colour ( and wheelie bins) – fans must come from somewhere. Where?
“I used to go and watch Liverpool’,” Bill Sheppard tells FFT. “When I began doing shift work, it would have been stupid to buy a season ticket, but you couldn’t pay at the gate any more. So, I tried local football. I went to Formby, Bootle, AFC Liverpool and Ebbsfleet’s MYFC experiment – then I heard about a new club. Brilliant: I love non- league football, I love stats, and I can follow this from the start. And I liked that it wasn’t a protest club, but a new club with community and social ideals.”
Bill has seen more than 200 COLFC matches. The club is five years old.
“I went to the fourth game, against Stockport Town, with more than 400 other fans and got hooked,” he says. “The atmosphere was fantastic. I just wish I’d seen the first home match.”
It isn’t always easy to persuade the curious to stay. Naturally, attendances suffer when games clash with Everton or Liverpool fixtures, and playing at Vauxhall Motors’ ground doesn’t help.
“It’s excellent, but it’s in Ellesmere Port, in south Wirral. We still attract decent crowds, partly through free transport we provide from Liverpool, but our attendances would double in the city itself. We’re really happy with the core support we’ve established.”
The Purps are neither red nor blue, but that doesn’t mean they’re neutral. They stand for inclusion, collectivism and common ownership, while their community activities include helping refugees and asylum seekers in the city. “We attract politically- motivated fans,” says Peter. “With our actions and alliances, we’re a socialist club.”
COLFC dream of turning part- time down the line, but for fans, simpler aims suffice. “I want to see us beat Runcorn Linnets,” says Bill. “I want to see us eventually move up the levels. And in 10 years’ time, I want to read an article about how COLFC are doing in the National League.”
See you in 2031, then.