Given our work to progress the Football Quarter initiative and our ongoing constitutional commitment to the improvement of the Anfield neighbourhood, Spirit of Shankly welcomes Monday’s announcement of plans for the long awaited, and much needed, regeneration of the Anfield area. In particular, the Union notes the key role played by Mayor Joe Anderson and Liverpool City Council in bringing key agencies together to produce the regeneration masterplan.

This masterplan, which builds upon Liverpool City Council’s proposals presented earlier in the summer, is intended to deliver Mayor Anderson’s vision of:

“A future of high quality housing, first-class retail and leisure facilities, and at the heart of it all, a world-class football stadium, playing host to one of the world’s most famous clubs.”

For Liverpool supporters the key element of Monday’s announcement was Liverpool’s Football Club’s re-affirmation of previous statements of preference for redeveloping the existing Anfield stadium over building a new stadium in Stanley Park. The “Stadium Issue” has been a subject of much frustration among supporters and Anfield residents for many years and, while recognising that Ian Ayre’s statement was far from conclusive, Spirit of Shankly welcomes Monday’s communication.

Nevertheless, the experience of Anfield residents and Liverpool supporters alike ensures we appreciate that there is still a tremendous amount of work to be undertaken before the stadium expansion is confirmed and the local area’s regeneration begins to take shape. However, we hope that dialogue can be maintained between all stakeholders, ensuring that the needs of the residents, supporters, club, council and city are met and the twin challenges of re-invigorating the Anfield neighbourhood and providing Liverpool FC with a stadium worthy of the club’s position in world football can finally be overcome. 

For our part, Spirit of Shankly will continue to work with partners in the Football Quarter and strive to ensure that local residents and supporters, as well as millionaire footballers and billionaire investment funds, benefit from Anfield’s renewal.