A FOND FAREWELL W elcome to our special four-page supplement looking back at our Liverpool Life. From all of us here on the 2013/14 Liverpool Life team, the time has come to say thank you and goodbye to all our readers. We hope that over the last six months the 16 editions of Liverpool Life we have published have been as enjoyable to read as they were to produce. As the editors of this final edition, we feel that we speak on behalf of the entire Liverpool Life team when we say we have thoroughly enjoyed the experience. When we first started at the old Innovation Park in Wavertree, back in 2011, we weren’t entirely sure what to expect over the next three years. Since then, we have been part of a move into a new £37m building closer to the heart of the city and been given the opportunity to use brand new state-of-the-art newsrooms. Over this final year, there have been many highs (and some lows), but when things have got tough we’ve all pulled through it together as a team. We have covered everything from Facebook’s birthday to Liverpool’s controversial bus lanes. There have been stories about the re-opening of the Everyman Theatre, a touching tribute to former JMU jour-
nalism student Neil Warburton, and a whole lot more in between. The newspaper has taught a lot of transferable skills that will add to our credentials as we set out into the world of work. The class of 2014 graduates will be heading out on various career paths including news reporting, magazine design, radio presenting and TV broadcasting. Overall, it’s safe to say that the time we have had together will help us in whatever career we choose to pursue.
T
he last year has been a huge learning curve for everyone, and absolutely none of us could have got through it without our mentors Kate and Steve, who have always been a guiding voice. Ultimately though, Liverpool Life wouldn’t be even remotely possible without its readers. So the biggest thank you of all goes to you! Though this may be the end of Liverpool Life for this year, a new group of budding journalists will step into our shoes only six months from now. We wish them all the best, and the biggest piece of advice we can give is to take every news day as it comes, and enjoy every minute of it. From everyone on the team: thanks for reading! Editors Joshua Weale & Simóne Foggin
Life|Sport|18
5 European cups & 19 league titles?
Picture © Vegard Grott
After Sunday’s spectacular win at Old Trafford, can the Reds win the title for the 19th time after 24 long years? 1989-90 CHAMPIONS
1991-92 6th
1990-91 2nd
1993-94 8th
1992-93 6th
1995-96 3rd
1994-95 4th
Liverpool fans are dreaming that the 24-year wait to win the title may soon be over… but do they really think that the Reds are going to do it this season? The 3-0 victory against fierce rivals Manchester United on Sunday sent Liverpool back to second place in the Barclays Premier League, four points behind leaders Chelsea with a game in hand and nine left to play. Declan Farr, 22, Liverpool, said: “Yes, we’re playing the best football in the league and we can beat anyone on our day. I really think we can do it..” Manchester City still look to be the favourites two points further adrift in fourth spot behind Arsenal, as they have played fewer matches than the rest of the top four sides, though Liverpool are certainly now in with a realistic chance of ending their championship-chasing wilderness years. Steve Russell, 20, Bootle, said: “Of course we can do it! It’s the best we’ve been at this point in years and I really think this is the year we’re going to do it.” Steven Gerrard scored twice from the spot but missed out on a hat-trick at Old Trafford when he struck the post with his third penalty of a remarkable match, before Luis Suarez grabbed a third goal to see off reigning champions United, who also had Nemanja 1997-98 3rd
1996-97 4th
1999-00 4th
1998-99 7th
2001-02 2nd
2000-01 3rd
2003-04 4th
2002-03 5th
2005-06 3rd
2004-05 5th
Vidic sent off. After the confidence-boosting result, Gerrard told Sky Sports: ”We’ve showed today that we are genuine contenders and we are going to fight until the end for this. We believe it and the rest of the people that are fighting for it with us have got to believe that we are going for it.” Reds fans around the world will be sharing the captain’s optimism, yet how much faith do they have that winning the title is destined to happen? Craig Meredith, 26, Garston, said: “I just think that Man City will have the upper hand they’re just better, even with the momentum and the form we’ve got we won’t win it but it will be close and I think we’ll finish second.” JMU Journalism went out on the streets of Liverpool on Monday to ask 50 LFC supporters the question on everyone’s minds – not whether they hope or pray it’s possible – but are Brendan Rodgers’ side actually going to win the Premier League this year? It was clear that while not everyone is convinced that LFC will be crowned champions, the majority do back their team to succeed as 68% of those polled said yes, this campaign is going to finish with Liverpool on top of th table. 2007-08 4th
2006-07 3rd
2009-10 7th
2008-09 2nd
2013-14 ?
2011-12 8th
2010-11 6th
2012-13 7th
Title fight Merseyside shows its rumbles on support for Sport Relief By Aimée Hamilton
By Lucy Bannister Sport Relief begins this Friday, with fitness fundraisers happening all over Merseyside. It is the 7th Sport Relief charity event since the biennial fundraiser began in 2002. It aims to couple sport with charity, helping the poorest people in the UK and across and world. Running, swimming and cycling events will be taking place across the country, with plenty of areas in Merseyside getting involved. The Sport Relief mile will be taking place at IM Marsh, Croxteth Country Park, Birkenhead Park, as well as many others. There will also be swimathon events at the University of Liverpool Sports and Fitness Centre, Crosby Leisure Centre and more. Plenty of celebrities are doing their bit for Sport Relief this year including Liverpool comedian John Bishop, who will be competing in a showdown of sporting challenges against Olympic champion Lord Coe. They will be leading two teams of celebrities in a series of cycling, swimming and gymnastics events. John Bishop raised nearly £3.5m for the last Sport Relief in 2012. His challenge, entitled “John Bishop’s Week of Hell”
involved him rowing, cycling and running 295 miles from Paris to London within 5 days. For this year’s Sport Relief, Davina McCall completed a triathlon challenge “Beyond Breaking Point”. She cycled, swam and ran 500 miles from Edinburgh to London. She was helped through this gruelling journey by her trainer Professor Greg Whyte, who teaches applied sport and exercise science at LJMU. The former Olympic Pentathlete helped the presenter battle through the 7 day challenge, staying by her side when she had to be carried from Lake Windermere and get tested for hypothermia. Greg said: “This has been an epic year for Sport Relief the highlight of which has been my work with Davina McCall on her 'Beyond Breaking Point' challenge. The support that I provide for all the Comic/ Sport Relief challenges is underpinned by my work at Liverpool John Moores University.” Greg Whyte received an OBE this year for his services to sport science and charity. He has also coached Eddie Izzard when he took on his marathon challenge. To donate to Sport Relief or find out how to get involved in fundraising, visit their website http://www.sportrelief.com/
It was a successful weekend for Everton and Liverpool as the Toffees won a late victory against Cardiff and the Reds thrashed Manchester United. Liverpool visited Old Trafford looking to sustain their title challenge and did just that by thoroughly outplaying their historic rivals in a 3-0 drubbing that saw team captain Steven Gerrard score two penalties but fail to score a third. Luis Suarez bagged the final goal for his 25th of the season. The win puts Liverpool second in the Premier League, four points behind leaders Chelsea with a game in hand, and making their supporters dare to dream of their first league title since 1990. Elsewhere, Everton kept up their challenge for a European spot when Seamus Coleman sliced in a 92nd minute winner against Cardiff at Goodison Park. They are now in sixth place with 51 points but have two games at hand over nearest rivals Tottenham Hotspur. Everton face Swansea this weekend with another home
match on Saturday, whilst Liverpool take on Cardiff away on the same day; both games kick off at 15:00. Tranmere Rovers have gone up to 19th in League One, after beating Notts County 3-2 at home on Saturday. It was a narrow victory with Rovers’ Steve Jennings scoring in the 84th minute. Tranmere’s most influential players James Wallace and Jason Koumas were forced to leave the pitch due to injury in the second half. Tranmere are avoiding the relegation zone at the minute but with a tough game ahead this Saturday against Port Vale. Liverpool Ladies’ Lucy Bronze, Gemma Davison, Natasha Dowie and Fara Williams all started for England last week. However the ladies suffered a 2-0 defeat to France in the Cyprus Cup final in Nicosia. First half goals from Gaetane Thiney and Camille Abily gave the French a 2-0 lead to seal victory as England failed to regain the trophy they won last year. Liverpool Ladies next face a tough game against Manchester City Ladies on the 17th of April at home.