David Fairclough's Swiss adventure:"I went to Switzerland to sign for Sion but ended up joining Luzern instead."

By John Hynes

Completing a transfer deal must be a hugely complicated situation. Satisfying all parties can't be easy. And then, what with football being a truly international sport, there is often a language barrier.

All of these elements were involved when David Fairclough was leaving Liverpool FC in the summer of 1983 and flew to Switzerland to complete a move to FC Basel. Then aged 26, he was sat on a balcony sipping a cup of tea in Zurich when Helmut Elp, the agent making the deal happen, informed him that the proposed transfer was not going to go ahead. Basel had pulled out.

“What am I doing here?” was the first thought that understandably entered Fairclough's head. Instead, another Swiss club had made their interest known: FC Luzern. He's honest enough to admit: “I'd never heard of them.” Despite this, David went along with Epp to meet the club's president, Mr Simioni. A conversation in German – which Fairclough didn't speak – took place about the potential deal before he was put through a rigorous medical and then given a tour of the local area.

“You could not fail to be impressed by the beauty of Luzern,” he says. A club with whom he was completely unfamiliar at first, suddenly became a tempting prospect. “They had a dream. It wasn't to win the Swiss league and get into the European Cup, but they did want to progress and grow. Financially their offer was good too.”

Fairclough returned to England with a loose agreement in place and a plan for Luzern officials to come to Liverpool to complete the deal. Before that happened, a few other clubs enquired about his situation, but only one of them was willing to match what Luzern had offered. “Bayer Leverkusen got in touch but the problem was their manager, Dettmar Cramer, was away for the weekend. I'd promised Luzern a definite answer by the Friday and didn't want to mess them around.”

So, despite the obvious appeal of the Bundesliga, his destination was to be Switzerland. But before he could depart for a new challenge, he had to obtain his release forms from Liverpool where – a loan-spell at Toronto Blizzard in Canada the previous year aside – he'd been since signing as an amateur in 1972. “Strangely, it just happened to be the Fourth of July, Independence Day, when the deal was going through. I went to Anfield to see Peter Robinson and he handed me a championship medal [for season 1982/83]. Getting one hadn't even crossed my mind. I don't know if it ever would have occurred to me. I suppose at that time we were all so familiar with success that we thought it would just carry on that way forever.”

But LFC and everything associated with it was now to be a thing of the past. Instead his focus was to be the Swiss Nationalliga. “I was familiar with a few of the teams there. Liverpool had played Servette in the Cup Winners Cup in 1971 and we'd faced FC Zurich in the semi-finals of the European Cup in 1977. But apart from that, my knowledge of the football scene there was very limited.”

David is in the middle row

A major difference from the English game was the fact that each team was only allowed to field one foreign player. This immediately made Fairclough a target. “They were like assassins,” he says of the treatment he received from defenders. “Most teams operated a man-to-man marking system – we even did it in training – and tracked me everywhere I went. I rarely picked up the ball to find myself with any space or time.

“Instead I'd have somebody right on top of me and it was a physical battle. If you are a wide-player you expect to be up against a full-back. In the middle I'd always been able to drop off, but even when I did that there was somebody right there. I found that very difficult to deal with and got into a few situations where I retaliated.”

Another aspect was the level of expectation that came with being a new arrival from the all-conquering Liverpool FC. People demanded a high level of performance whenever he took to the field. “There was no settling-in period, no thought of me needing some time. Instead they wanted me to be brilliant every week. I obviously wanted that myself. But – as I've come to realise later on in life – you can't be at your best every time you play. It's impossible for any footballer.”

David's new book and old shirt

One highlight of his time with Luzern was a hat-trick in a cup game against the side who had pulled out of the deal to sign him, FC Basel. “I'll admit it was satisfying to score those goals. I felt like I was making a point to them, although I'm not too sure if they were bothered!”

As well as having to acclimatise on the field, David also had to adapt to a way of living that was different to what he had grown up with in the UK. “There is a saying that goes: 'Every Swiss is a policeman'. And it was very true. There were rules and regulations for everything. If you parked in the wrong place somebody would quickly tell you or they'd leave a note to say you'd put your rubbish in the wrong bin. It was all organised to the last detail and took me some time to get used to.”

This meticulous Swiss way even affected his relationship with his then-girlfriend and future wife Jan. In the October after he'd arrived, they were both summoned to the local immigration office. “The officer, a Luzern fan, was friendly at first, chatting about football. Then the conversation turned. He wanted to know when Jan would be leaving the country. He informed us that she couldn't stay because she didn't have a visa. This had never been mentioned during my transfer.”

When the official explained that the only way Jan could be there on a permanent basis was if they were married, Fairclough thought quickly. “'Well, we are getting married', I blurted out. When I realised what I'd just said, I looked at Jan, unsure of how she was going to react. Thankfully she nodded in agreement. I wish I had proposed in a completely different way and took some stick about it later on. But I suppose it was unique to us.”

While issues like the visa were resolved quickly and Fairclough found himself ranked as the third-best player in the league at Christmas time, a change in manager was to be the beginning of the end for his Swiss adventure. “Milan Nikolic, a Yugoslavian, was sacked and replaced by a guy called Bruno Rahmen, who was a former Luzern captain. Immediately I got the impression he didn't rate me. By the end of the season I'd scored 16 goals, which wasn't bad. But the team had finished just one place above the relegation zone and the manager made it clear he wanted to make some changes.”

Around the same time as David's first season at Luzern was drawing to a close, Liverpool were winning their fourth European Cup in Rome, courtesy of a penalty shoot-out victory over AS Roma. The following day he looked out of his window to be surprised by the sight of a familiar man making his way down towards the house. “It looked like my uncle but I needed a second look. It was him and my cousins, just casually walking to our front door. They'd been over to visit previously and knew where we lived. So, on the way back from Italy, they had decided to call in unannounced to tell us about the game.”

That summer the playing staff at Luzern was overhauled, with senior figures moved on to make way for younger players. Fairclough was suddenly one of the oldest members of the squad going into the 1984/85 campaign. “That was completely new for me. My place in the side was no longer assured. I got sent-off for a nothing challenge and was banned for four weeks, so that didn't help a situation which wasn't going well anyway. During the winter break I returned to England and actually trained with Everton to keep fit.

“While home I received a telegram from Luzern saying they wanted to cut my contract and were willing to let me leave. Rahmen had accused me of attacking him in training. I'd smashed him in a challenge once, but to say I'd attacked him was completely wrong. The fact that I was about 11 stone and he had been a tough centre-half told you everything. But it meant my time there was over. By the end of February I was back home permanently and looking for a new club. It happened that quickly.”

Fairclough signed for Norwich City later that year before going on to feature for Oldham Athletic, SK Beveren (Belgium), Tranmere Rovers and Wigan Athletic. Looking back on his time in Switzerland now he has no regrets. “I'm glad I went there and gave it a try even if it didn't work out as I'd hoped it would. I went back to Luzern a few years ago to see a game and the reception at the stadium was brilliant. Even on the streets, people were saying hello and wishing me well. Hopefully they appreciated the efforts I put in.”

Living next door to Ottmar

The German striker-turned-coach Ottmar Hitzfeld, was starting out on his managerial career when Fairclough was in Switzerland. “He'd been at Luzern the previous season [as a forward] and I'd signed as his replacement when he moved on to manage SC Zug. So I wasn't sure how he would react when I ended up living next door. But he was great, albeit a little quiet because he didn't speak a lot of English and I didn't know any German. My wife became good friends with his wife Beatrice, as she spoke excellent English. After I left Switzerland we stayed in touch and I remember speaking to him on the phone when he was manager of Borussia Dortmund. It was great to see him go on to do so well in the game at Dortmund and Bayern Munich.”

This article first appeared in the LFC vs Sion programme on Oct 1, 2015

ON THE ROAD WITH RADIO CITY

On The Road With Radio City 

“THE line-up just isn’t good enough,” ex-Red and Radio City match analyst John Aldridge states emphatically.
“Yeah, it was a lot stronger last year,” Radio City commentator Steve Hothersall agrees.
“They haven’t got anyone of the same calibre now,” Hothersall continues as Aldo nods with approval. “Alexandra Burke, she was great, I rated her.”
With the X-Factor competition nearing its climax the duo are putting forward their thoughts on who will win the annual ITV show.
The topic of conversation quickly moves on when Aldo enquires: “do you watch that I’m A Celebrity?”
Hothersall isn’t convinced by the reality contest staged in the outback.
Aldo loves it, especially when people have to put their fears aside to consume a plate of slugs or maggots. Although he does admit a lot of the contestants are too fake.
The conversation is fast-paced and witty, just like their award-winning live coverage of all Liverpool games.
On air or off, the entertainment level is still high as LFC Weekly discovered when we tagged along with them for the Reds recent visit to Ewood Park.

PRE-MATCH
“Aldo is usually late,” Hothersall informed us with a chuckle prior to the day of the game. “I’ll get a text from him saying make the departure time 20 past rather than ten past. He never wants to get to the ground too early.”
The man who scored 63 goals in 104 Liverpool appearances and still enjoys legendary status on the Kop can enjoy that luxury.
For his colleague the day is more demanding. He likes to spend at least two hours in the eye-catching Radio City tower in the heart of Liverpool swotting up for the broadcast ahead.
“It normally turns into a chat about football with my producer Carlos, which I suppose is preparation in a way,” he says.
Today the statistics suggest the game against Sam Allardyce’s men won’t be easy; they’ve only suffered two home defeats in all competitions during his reign.
Rovers have also just eliminated Chelsea from the Carling Cup three days earlier courtesy of a penalty shootout victory.
Research done, sports pages of the newspapers scanned and broadcasting equipment collected, an extra layer of clothing is grabbed. Despite the fact the time is still before midday, it’s already freezing outside and will surely get even colder before the action kicks off at 3pm.
Descending from the top of St. John’s Beacon is an ear-popping experience. The time required for the lift to drop to the bottom is a reminder of how high you have just been. It’s an even longer journey back up when you’ve forgotten the car keys.
The hustle and bustle of pre-Christmas shoppers means we have to patiently exit the multi-storey car park that adjoins St John’s shopping centre before we go on our way to Lancashire via collecting Aldo.
“Me and John are great friends,” Hothersall explains as the Radio City car progresses through the Saturday traffic. “But we do argue like a married couple, you’ll see that today.”
A quick pit-stop at a petrol station acquires a pre-requested bottle of water for Aldo before we reach the former Tranmere manager’s home.
The front door is already open and he briefly appears before shouting something incomprehensible and disappearing again.
 Ten minutes later Aldo walks down the short driveway and jumps into the passenger seat.
“Did you see that Sepp Blatter at the World Cup draw last night?” he immediately enquires. “Taking the Mickey out of the Irish people, that’s what he’s doing.
“Did you see him joking about not handling the ball? He’s a cheat.”
The rant is delivered with the passion the world witnessed when the Republic of Ireland striker had a heated debate with a fourth official at USA ’94.
His radio work is also filled with the same level of excitement and honesty. It’s why supporters love to hear him on air.
Having got that irritation off his chest Aldo quickly scans over the Saturday Football supplement from the Liverpool Echo in which he does a regular column.
His reading is interrupted when Hothersall asks: “have you heard about Reading away in the FA Cup?”
“Awww,” is Aldo’s first response before he continues, “they haven’t have they, have they changed the time?”
“5.15 on the Saturday evening,” comes the confirmation.
“I’m not sure I fancy that, it’s a bit late isn’t it,” Aldo laughs. “I can’t believe they’ve put it on then.”
By now we are progressing along the M65. Aldo reveals he’s lost Sky Sports and Sky Sports News since the digital switchover. “I don’t know why, they’ve just disappeared from the system.”
Then he takes his phone from his pocket and starts laughing before revealing the source of amusement.
On the screen is a picture message of Tiger Woods’ wife striking the golf star with a club.
Aldo is highly amused as the conversation turns to the aforementioned X-Factor and I’m A Celebrity.
It’s unanimously agreed that the standard of Simon Cowell’s music extravaganza doesn’t compare to 2008’s version.

However Aldo has been amused by the “entertaining” Jedward, the Irish twins who were criticised by almost everyone except Louis Walsh before they exited the competition.
After a quick glance at the dashboard clock Aldo states that we will reach the ground far too early.
Steve isn’t so sure. “No, there will be plenty of traffic along the A666,” he replies.
“I’m telling you we’ll be in there by quarter past one,” Aldo counters.
“No, it’ll be at least twenty five past by the time we get from the car to the ground, grab our tickets and then go up to the press room,” Hothersall insists.
Aldo isn’t convinced. He’s shaking his head. “I’ll put £20 on us being in there too early,” he says with an outstretched hand. The wager is politely refused as the pair laugh about it.
“Look at the state of them idiots,” Aldo comments as two Blackburn fans dressed as Big Bird and Elmo from Sesame Street walk along.
“Drive quicker Steve,” he urges as we go past a huge crowd of travelling fans outside one of the local watering holes. Such is the former number eight’s popularity amongst Kopites that if he’s spotted in the car we could be here all day waiting for him to sign autographs.
The Scouser has a pen and paper in his hand himself. He starts to jot down his best Liverpool team from the last decade for an upcoming TV show.
The first thing he’s certain about is the formation.
“I’m going to have a diamond in the middle. Stevie’s at the head of it behind Torres and Fowler.
“Gary Mac and Alonso have to be in there too. Then I’d have either Mascherano or Hamann in front of the defence.”
“You can’t exclude Didi,” Hothersall correctly points out.
“Yeah, you’re right. It’s got to be Pepe in goals and Carra and Sami as centre-backs. I’d put Riise at left-back and then right-back would be either Finnan or Johnson.”
Starting eleven more or less selected those on the bench are next to be chosen.
“There’s no way I can put Michael Owen in there now he’s gone to United. Mascherano, (Markus) Babbel and Agger it is.”
We’ve arrived in Blackburn and park up before making the short walk to the stadium.
“You should put your boots on today John,” a supporter shouts as we stroll along.
Another shakes his hand before a carload of fans gives him a cheer.

AT THE STADIUM
Even the ladies at reception are happy to see him as he greets them with a smile.
Hothersall immediately heads up to the press box to get set up while Aldo goes to the media room. The clock says 1.20pm.
With Hothersall being a vegetarian he’s asked Aldo to check if there is anything on the menu which will take his fancy.
The expected Lancashire hotpot is not available. Instead it’s bangers and mash doused in gravy.
Grub served, Aldo takes a seat and begins to dig in. As he does the sound of loud tapping on a laptop can be heard from the corner. The source of the noise is a bespectacled Stan Collymore.
“You writing your Christmas card list Stan?” Aldo cheekily enquires.
Portsmouth versus Burnley live on the TV is a good way of killing the waiting time until the radio broadcast begins at 2pm.
“It’s the worst part of the day,” he says. “I hate all this hanging around, especially when you have to spend it in the company of some of the journalists in here.
“When I was a player we used to take the Mickey out of each other in the dressing room, or you might have a read of the programme.
“Now I either watch the 12.45 game or do the Daily Express crossword.”
Another method he uses to kill the boredom is a pre-game flutter. “Usually £20 on Stevie to score first or last. I won a few quid on that last season. I don’t think I’ll put anything on today,” he wisely decides.
Aldo is clearly expecting a difficult 90 minutes. Having come up against Allardyce’s Bolton side during his days as Tranmere boss he knows exactly what’s in store.
Winning the two-legged semi-final of the League Cup against Wanderers in 2000 was one of his best results of his reign. “Fantastic,” he recalls, “getting to Wembley was brilliant.
“That, and the 3-0 win over Everton in the FA Cup at Goodison Park were probably the best wins of my time in charge there. We had some great nights out afterwards too.”
With Pompey heading for a vital victory it’s time to go on air or “start talking rubbish for a few hours,” as Aldo puts it before he fastens his coat and makes his way out to the open air of the press box.

Steve Hothersall

THE SHOW STARTS
“Who’s interested in the World Cup?” Hothersall begins the coverage.
He follows it up by revealing that Steven Gerrard scored his first senior goal exactly ten years ago today in a 4-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday. It would be just like the skipper to mark his 500th appearance with another strike. Maybe Aldo is now regretting not having that bet.
On the field a quiet opening twenty minutes is livened up by some typically quick-witted punditry.
“I think he needed another deflection on that shot, just like last week,” Aldo chuckles after Javier Mascherano attempts a similar effort to his opener in the derby but slices wide.
With Rovers sponsored by Crown Paints the name appears at regular intervals on the flashy modern advertising boards at the side of the pitch.
When it pops up again for the umpteenth time Aldo is straight in. “It’s suitable because so far this has been like watching paint dry!”
Halfway through the first period the broadcast unexpectedly ceases. “Gremlins” is the official explanation before normal service quickly returns. It’s later revealed the cause is Aldo’s knee accidentally disconnecting a wire.
The home side seem to be getting plenty of decisions from Martin Atkinson. “I’ve always said this ref wasn’t a Liverpool fan. I think he hates us,” Aldo responds.
A swift Liverpool break comes to a halt after Samba deflects Gerrard’s shot wide. Aldo bangs the table in frustration.
The whistle goes and it’s back downstairs to the warmth of the pressroom for Aldo. Hothersall has to remain on duty.
An orange-coloured soup, described by the woman serving it as “supposed to be vegetable” is available.
In freezing conditions the hacks don’t complain about the choice and slurp it down. Aldo brings some back upstairs to consume during the second half.
A lively start, especially when compared to what has gone before, results in the Reds appealing for a penalty before Franco Di Santo’s hesitancy causes him to squander a great opportunity at the other end.
Typically, the name of former red El Hadji Diouf enters the referee’s notebook. ”What an idiot” Aldo rightly states.

He is now happier because the Reds are pressing and have another shout for a penalty.
Unfortunately his knee again cuts out the broadcast leaving Hothersall frantically pressing buttons in search of a remedy.
Aldo just laughs, although his smile instantly turns to a grimace when Rovers go close to breaking the deadlock.
The game has sprung to life with both sides now creating chances and the commentary team becoming more animated.
“Glen Johnson is the first on to the loose ball and follows it up with a surging run towards the box,” Hothersall says in the 70th minute with his voice tingling in excitement.
”Inside the box, Johnson across goal, it’s off the crossbar by Ngog.”
Aldo releases a roar of anguish that instantly tells listeners the game remains scoreless.
The Frenchman and the Radio City man still have their heads in their hands while the replay on the nearby TV shows a bad bounce has made the opportunity slightly more difficult.
With the teams pushing for what would surely be a late winner Mascherano produces a brilliant tackle.
The man with the whistle doesn’t see it that way and awards a free-kick. “Nooooo,” Aldo disagrees. “That is garbage from the ref.”
Right at the death he is again screaming with fright. A Liverpool corner results in Blackburn counter-attacking and Nikola Kalinic thankfully wasting the chance.
The game concludes, the rain gets heavier and the fans stream out.
Aldo takes off his headphones and goes for a cup of tea and a welcome return to the comfort of the pressroom. Other journalists bash away on their laptops as they bid to file their ‘on the whistle’ reports.

PHONE IN
Following a cuppa Aldo is soon back in his seat and the phone-in begins after the 5pm headlines.
Eager callers make their point while he takes a note of what they’ve said and also doodles.
In the next row of seats Collymore is conducting a phone-in of his own, although his is of a louder and more controversial nature.
While ‘Stan’ shouts about players moving abroad and also seems to be taking credit for Birmingham’s recent switch to a 4-4-2 formation that has brought about better results, Hothersall and Aldo discusses the passion, desire and commitment which Gerrard has just displayed.
A caller by the name of ‘Bob’ makes some valid comments. Aldo rightly suggests he sounds suspiciously like Phil Thompson.
The TVs in the now almost deserted pressbox are screening the day’s late kick-off; Man City against Chelsea.
It’s a bright opening. Aldo is watching with interest while responding to callers’ comments.
Some he agrees with, others not. It’s all done in a knowledgeable and witty way even if the increasing wind strength is making it harder to hear.
Thankfully Collymore is having some microphone problems so he is temporarily silenced.
With the day’s LFC issues wrapped up there is one other subject to address. “Finally John wants to quickly mention Sepp Blatter,” Hothersall announces mischievously.
And Aldo is off again.
“Blatter insulted the Irish people with what he did at the draw last night.
“Now he wants to give us a special merit award. It’s a joke.
“They’re also talking about banning Thierry Henry. I’d agree, but I’d do it for the whole competition.”
With that off his chest (again) all that’s left is for the show to be wrapped up.
“We understand some listeners had problems with background noise here in the stadium,” Hothersall concludes. “I’m sorry, we couldn’t turn that drone off.”

JOURNEY HOME
With the equipment wrapped up and a quick goodbye to the tea-ladies at Ewood the trek back to Merseyside begins.
The Blackburn players are clambering on to the team bus at the main reception area while we exit the ground.
Just like during his playing days Aldo is one step ahead of the nearest man and leads the dash along the deserted streets in a bid to beat the downpour.
Not even a nervous looking police horse cutting across his path stops his charge to the car park where there are two possible ways in.
One option is to take the long way around and enter through the gate, getting even more soaked in the process.
A much quicker route is clambering over a two-foot high muddy embankment. With the rain becoming even heavier Aldo understandably opts for this faster path.
He negotiates the ascent easily. Unfortunately the descent is a different story.
In greasy conditions he slips before temporarily regaining his balance. It looks like he’s going to stay upright but another misplaced foot ensures he goes down into the mud with a yelp.
“I’ve got mud all over me jeans,” he shouts before getting back to his feet in a fit of laughter.
He gets a cloth from the boot to clean his pants and continues laughing.
As we quickly make our way along the motorway back to familiar surroundings the conversation again reverts to the recent France v Ireland controversy.

Aldo rightly points out that an Irish victory would have given everyone in the Emerald Isle a huge lift.
Thoughts also turn to possible January transfer activity at Anfield with the names of Aiden McGeady, Kevin Davies and Ruud Van Nistelrooy all mentioned before the more important subject of dinner comes up.
Aldo fancies a curry, one that’s hot but not too hot. Hothersall is starving as being a vegetarian he didn’t indulge in the Ewood Park bangers and mash for lunch.
“Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you they had veggie sausages in the ground earlier,” Aldo smiles.
His partner in crime shakes his head with disbelief, before laughing too. Then, for the first time in the day, silence pervades.
The Reds might not have taken maximum points. But the scoreline doesn’t matter.
Win, lose or draw; Radio City always produces an entertaining show thanks to a combination that works as well as Shankly and Paisley, Keegan and Toshack or Gerrard and Torres.
ENDS

This article first appeared in LFC Weekly magazine, December 2009.

30 years since Heysel: Chris Pile's story

You probably won't have heard of Chris Pile. Even some Liverpool supporters who religiously followed the team home and away during the 1980s, struggle to recall much about him. 

 A goalkeeper from the same Huyton suburb as Steven Gerrard, he was just 18-years-old when Joe Fagan's team were preparing for the European Cup final against Juventus three decades ago.

 Then, he was unexpectedly catapulted in to the first team picture for the biggest club game there is. 

 "I was walking in through the players’ entrance at Melwood," the now 48 year-old recalls.  "A few apprentices started whispering as I went past. I asked them what was happening? 

 "They said: ‘have you not heard, have you not read the paper? Bob Bolder [the usual substitute goalkeeper] broke his ankle in the reserves last night. You’ll be in the squad for the European Cup final'.  

 "There was no coverage of the reserves on club TV channels then, no mobile phones, no texting; so I didn’t have a clue about what had gone on. None of the coaching staff said anything to me until I was putting some gloves away later that day and Ronnie Moran was putting his kit away too. He told me to just look after myself and not to speak to anyone that I shouldn’t. He basically told me to keep myself fit."

 That quiet, understated way was the usual Liverpool approach at the time, even ahead of the season's most important fixture where they would have a chance of retaining the trophy they'd claimed on penalties against AS Roma in the Italian capital a dozen months earlier. There was no fuss about anything ahead of the trip to Brussels for that season's showpiece at the Heysel Stadium.

  “We had some warm up training sessions,” Pile says. “There was no specific goalkeeping coaching then, so I had to play outfield against players who were the champions of Europe. Guys like Kenny Dalglish and Ian Rush. I was okay, but I was playing with superstars and it was really difficult. We finished the session before travelling to Belgium and all the management said was: ‘right, let’s go win the European Cup’.”

Pile as part of the LFC squad in 1985

 Pile, a Liverpool fan, was still getting his head around the fact he was involved at all. And thoughts of Aston Villa’s Nigel Spink naturally entered his mind.

 In the same game three years earlier Spink, with just one senior appearance for the midlands club behind him, was required to come off the bench to replace regular goalkeeper Jimmy Rimmer, who had picked up a neck injury just 9 minutes in to the contest with Bayern Munich. The 23-year-old managed to keep the Germans scoreless with a number of impressive saves as Peter Withe’s goal ensured ‘old big ears’ ended up at Villa Park.

 “Getting a chance like that is every young goalkeeper’s dream," Pile continues. "I'd watched the '82 final and I imagined something similar happening to me. It was a thrilling prospect but at the same time terrifying."

 Pile's understandable nerves were slightly eased by the aforementioned calmness that seemed to pervade the Liverpool camp. 

  "It was very relaxed. I didn't even have a player's suit. I just wore one of my own. We were given some training gear, but nothing like the lads get today. We flew to Belgium and I did a couple of interviews with some of the Merseyside papers, but that was all the attention I got. Although Gary Gillespie was aware of my presence. He was my roommate and wanted me gone because his wife was coming to stay!" 

  Early on the day of the game Liverpool's tranquility remained. They had been here before, having won the competition four times in the previous eight seasons. Winning it again was the only focus. 

  "When we went to the ground there were thousands of people around. We didn’t need official UEFA passes to get in. We wandered around and you could instantly see Heysel was an athletics stadium rather than a football stadium. There was a kids’ match on before ours. We went around to the Liverpool end to see people and pick friends out of the crowd. Then we went inside to get changed. At that point we heard there had been a little trouble between fans in town but nothing major."

 The truth was serious, much more serious. Minor scuffles earlier in the day had escalated. Inside the ground missiles were being thrown back and forth, the levels of aggression rising steadily. When Liverpool fans charged at their Italian counterparts they fled in an attempt to locate safety. In desperation some of them opted to climb a wall. Such was the nature of the dilapidated ground it collapsed. The eventual tally of those who died would reach 39.

 "Each dressing room was situated in line with the edge of the 18-yard box," Pile recalls, suddenly turning more sombre. "There was a huge crash at our end of the stadium. Rumours quickly started going around that 10, then 20, then 30, then 40 people had been killed. We didn't know what to believe. There was a suggestion that some kids had died. Then it was a case of 'what do we do now?'"

  As far as the players knew the game was still set to go ahead and they had to remain focused.

 "The lads in the dressing room were doing different things to pass the time, such as playing cards or head tennis, the normal stuff. I don’t remember too much discussion about whether the game would be abandoned. We didn't have a clue what was really going on outside. Phil Neal, the captain, disappeared a few times to talk to different people about what was happening. Then the lads walked out on to the pitch and the game kicked off."

 A non-event is how those who watched it remember, or choose not to remember, the 90 minutes. Understandably, the players didn't want to participate after what had just happened. Only one goal was scored, a Michel Platini penalty in the second half. Nobody cared. People had died at a football match. 

  "It must have been very difficult for the lads who had to play," Pile says. "I remember doing a warm up during half time and there were horse hoof prints on the turf. That emphasised to me some of the carnage that had gone on.

 "Not that anybody wanted them, but we got our runners-up medals in the dressing room. Craig Johnston and I were walking out of the stadium afterwards and took a wrong turn. We ended up in a gym where there were bodies being laid out. Armed guards stood nearby. We quickly turned around. I think there would have been more trouble if the game hadn’t actually gone ahead. The authorities knew that so they probably didn't have much choice."

 Obviously Pile and his team-mates didn't see exactly what had happened. But he is certain about one vital element of that tragic day. 

 "It was an ill-suited venue for a football match. What proper preparation and planning had gone in to the game? Not much I would guess."

 The Liverpool contingent had hoped to be travelling back to Merseyside the next day as heroes who had conquered Europe again. Instead the flight was a silent journey, although the full extent of what had just happened was still only sinking in.   

 "Everybody was very quiet. When we landed there was a scrum of reporters and photographers. They all wanted to see Joe Fagan because he was leaving. There wasn't as much talk or questions [from the press] of what had happened at the ground as you might have expected. I just got in a taxi and went home."

 What looked like it might have been a special occasion for the teenager had gone horribly wrong for everyone concerned. English clubs would be banned from Europe. Pile just wanted to forget about it all.

 "Before the game my mom had said to my nan about how proud she was to see me in the squad. My nan was proud too but said she had a bad feeling that something was going to go wrong. Hearing that when I came back was quite eerie.  

 "Like a lot of people who had been there, I was a bit down. I don't know if it was shock. I just needed to escape from it so I got on a train to Bournemouth to see my brother Simon, who worked as a chef down there. I stayed on the south coast for six weeks and that really helped me."

 Inevitably though, pre-season came around and it was time to return to Melwood. The big subject amongst the squad on their resumption of duties after the summer break was of Kenny Dalglish succeeding Fagan. 

 "There was just no mention of Heysel. It was a closed book. It took me maybe five years to ever discuss it with anyone. I remember a friend of mine once said: ‘I’ve known you for roughly a decade and you’ve never mentioned Heysel.’ He didn’t want to ask me about it. I didn’t want to talk about it. I was only 18 at the time and it made a huge impression on me."

 As always, the life of a footballer moved on quickly. Bob Bolder, the back-up goalkeeper to Bruce Grobbelaar, had decided to leave in search of more playing time and departed for Sunderland. This meant Pile moved up the ranks to become the permanent number two. 

 "There were no sub 'keepers for league games then so I'd go along and just sit in the stands. Then I caught my studs in the turf at training and slipped a disc in my back."

 The club needed cover; Mike Hooper was signed from Wrexham that October and would establish himself as the regular back up to Grobbelaar.  

 Pile's reaction? "That's life. I just had to get on with it." He would never be so close to the first team scene again. Instead, a few outings for the reserves were as good as it got and he was released in 1987.   

 Brief spells at Tranmere and Bury followed before going to play in New Zealand for a team named Waterside. A talented cricketer too, Pile embraced his love for the bat and ball while down under to such an extent that he was offered the chance to return to England and play for Blackpool alongside West Indies captain Richie Richards. While back in the UK he signed for Southport FC during the winter only to break his wrist.

Pile pictured on a recent return home

"It was the fourth time I'd had that injury. The specialist suggested I look for a new career away from football. I was only 24. I went back to New Zealand and got a job in the motor industry."

Since then he's combined his role as a Volkswagen salesman in Wellington with coaching young goalkeepers. Some people would be bitter about coming so close to being a Liverpool player and having the chance snatched away. He looks at it a bit differently. 

  "I had a little bit of resentment for about 30 seconds when they let me go. Then I moved on. That’s my philosophy in life. There’s no point looking back or thinking: ‘If I, would I, could I, why didn't I.’ I know I was lucky to be at Liverpool. Some people never get that far. And not making it wasn't the end of the world for me. Worse things can happen."

Steven Gerrard – by the men who made him

“I know the names of those who guided me along the road to the first team – Steve Heighway, Dave Shannon and Hughie McAuley”

“There wasn’t anything he couldn’t do” 

HUGHIE MCAULEY (LFC Academy youth-team and reserve-team coach 1988-2009)

If you go to Melwood to watch the first team train you’ll see that Steven wants to win every five-a-side game. If he doesn’t he’s upset or he’ll be having a go at the others on his team. That winning mentality has been part of his character since he was a young boy. Every time he took to the pitch he showed it. People who play for Liverpool need a winner’s attitude and he has that.

Then there is desire and commitment to play and train – again he had plenty of those qualities too. It was up to us to put other good players and teams around him to make him even better. Hopefully we did that. In such an environment he was able to express himself, improve and develop. Talent-wise there wasn’t anything he couldn’t do. And tactically – which isn’t the case with every youngster – he knew the game inside out.

The only area he really needed to work on was his decision-making regarding when to challenge for the ball. A lot of that came from his natural enthusiasm. He wanted to win every 50/50, 70/30 or even 80/20 in the opposition’s favour and felt he could. He didn’t want to hurt other players, he just wanted to compete. Football is an aggressive game. At times though he was overzealous and we thought if he didn’t curb that instinct he would end up getting injured.

When boys are still growing up it can sometimes be hard to speak to them about their own game. But Steven eventually took our message on board. Coaches have to earn a player’s trust and he knew we were only trying to help him.

Another big part of his development was his family. They were always there for him and that support is vital for a youngster because there will be disappointments along the way. You won’t win every game or every trophy. You won’t always convert every chance. Sometimes things will go wrong. Learning to deal with those moments is part of becoming a footballer. Steven was able to do that. Once he went out on the field he had this ability to leave everything else behind.

Another big part of making it is taking your chance in the first team when it eventually comes along. Steven earned his opportunity and then grabbed it. His first senior goal against Sheffield Wednesday was part of that. A terrific solo effort, it was Steven announcing: I can play at this level – this is what I can do and I’m here to stay.

Favourite Gerrard moment

I don’t think I can just pick one. For me his goalscoring ability is what really stands out. At junior level he scored so many brilliant goals it just became the norm, we expected it. The goals you’ve seen him score for the first team in Istanbul or the FA Cup final, he was doing the same spectacular thing at the age of nine or 10.

“He still calls me ‘Ping’ to this day” 

DAVE SHANNON (LFC Academy youth-team coach 1987-2009)

I was sitting at home one night when a guy called Ben McIntyre, who was involved with Whiston Juniors, phoned me. Hughie, Steve and I used to go to a lot of Sunday league games in an attempt to find talented youngsters. Of course we couldn’t cover every fixture so we’d always ask those working in under-age football on Merseyside to let us know if there was a player they really rated. Ben was one of those people and he told me: “There’s this kid in our Under-9s and he’s outstanding – you’ll have to see him play.”

We organised for Steven to come to train with us at the Vernon Sangster Centre in Stanley Park and he was simply phenomenal. Full of energy, he was getting stuck into the older players. Obviously we had a lot of talented boys at the club. But from the first minute Stevie was special. It was natural talent. All we had to do was ensure he kept working on his technique and continued improving. He did because he loved training. He never wanted to be anywhere else.

I can easily recall how he excelled during the passing drills. We’d strike balls at him from 10 or 20 yards away and he’d control them with one touch before knocking the ball straight back to us. When I speak to him now he jokingly calls me ‘Ping’ because I would always emphasise the need to ping passes to stop defenders intercepting them. He could do it superbly then and you see him doing it on a regular basis now.

As a lot of people will know Steven was small, the same size as Michael Owen at one stage. That didn’t concern us at all. Our views were always based on the talent, not a player’s height. The Barcelona team of recent years are a great example of that. It became irrelevant with Steven when he went through a growth spurt later on and he shot up.

Right from the start we were certain he had what was needed to go all the way to the first team. We knew if he avoided serious injury and illness he would make it. Steven’s natural talent was a big reason for that belief. There was also his inclination to take responsibility. As a kid he wanted to impress people. He wants to be the main man in the team and usually is. He relishes being a leader, and delivers on a regular basis.

Favourite Gerrard moment

It was a B-team game against Man United at Melwood. The ball dropped to him about 25 yards out. He chested it down before smacking a shot straight in to the top corner. That is a brilliant memory for me and summed up what he’s about. Of course he’s done it plenty of times for the first team since then. It was something we spent hours getting right so it’s always good to see such hard work pay off.

“I never like predicting but I knew he’d make it”

STEVE HEIGHWAY

(LFC Academy director 1989-2007) 

Roughly ten years ago I had to leave a first-team game early. It was raining as I ran down Anfield Road towards the car park in Stanley Park. On the other side of the street I spotted someone else doing the same – it was Steven’s dad. As we jogged along he told me: “Everything you and the other coaches said would happen in our Steven’s career has come true. Thanks for all your help.”

It was great to have been given their trust. Working with Steven was a real pleasure. We saw him develop from an enthusiastic boy in to a world-class player. His talent was there right from the beginning but I never like predicting players will make it until they are slightly older. By the time he reached 14 or 15 I was certain he would go on to be a Liverpool player. The only other individual I’ve ever said the same about at that stage was Michael Owen.

Steven’s love for LFC was something that really shone through. When it came to him signing a new deal every year – as young players do when they progress up through the various age groups – it was always very straightforward. In total I must have signed or re-signed him about seven or eight times.

We always knew he was one of the best young players around and nothing convinced us otherwise. Steven has said he was gutted not to be selected for the school of excellence at Lilleshall. That didn’t concern us in the slightest. Only a few boys were chosen and not all of them went on to make it. In a selfish way we were happy because it meant we could still work with someone who we thought so highly of. We were certain he was good enough to have gone there. In the end it didn’t hinder his development at all.

The growing pains that caused Steven some niggling injuries weren’t a huge concern either. He was slightly frustrated because he saw his mate Michael [Owen] pushing on. But we knew Steven would be okay once, if you like, he settled in to his new body. If we were certain about Steven’s future, Michael felt the same way. I remember him saying: “I can’t wait until Steven is in the team because he knows all the runs I make and how to find me.” It wasn’t long before that awesome sight became a reality.

I don’t see much of Steven now, but he knows that if he ever needs help or advice from me all he has to do is pick up the phone.

Favourite Gerrard moment

We took a team to an U-18 tournament in Spain and brought Michael and Steven along for the experience. They were just 14 and we never intended for them to play. Before games and during half-time they were out on the pitch entertaining the fans with their skills. To see two small lads enjoying themselves in that environment and being so well behaved was brilliant.