FeatureWe Love You Liverpool: Meet Official LFC Supporters Club... Kansas City

The Reds’ fanbase is famous for its passion and loyalty, cheering on both Jürgen Klopp and Matt Beard’s squads whether on Merseyside or watching from afar.

Our We Love You Liverpool feature aims to bring supporters closer together to learn more about each other wherever they are based around the globe.

Whether in the UK and Republic of Ireland, on Merseyside itself, in North or South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia or elsewhere, fans provide the very foundations that the club is built on.

Here, we meet OLSC Kansas City…

Tell us about the OLSC...

Prior to the formation of the formal OLSC, a handful of supporters would watch at a restaurant north of downtown Kansas City every weekend. Fast forward to the summer of 2013 at a bar in Chicago where Liverpool fans gathered for pre-match festivities while the team was on their USA tour. Three fellow Reds from Kansas City were inspired to take the steps to become officially recognised by our beloved club as an OLSC. Interestingly, this initial discussion occurred as Bruce Grobbelaar shared a plate of fries and a pint at our table.

We then took active steps to increase our social media presence and membership base to provide a foundation to become an OLSC. We were finally able to submit our bid to become OLSC Kansas City on September 16, 2016 (we know this because we saved the acceptance email as a relic) and our submission was graciously accepted. Since that day, our local supporters group and community have grown beyond our expectations, with our OLSC Kansas City membership numbers currently sitting just shy of 900 members.

How special is it to have the supporters club where you are?

It has truly been incredible. It is special each and every time someone runs into a fellow Liverpool supporter in the Kansas City area. Either they know about the OLSC and enjoy our shared community, or they are excited to learn of our association, as they previously had no idea there were so many other LFC supporters.

We are so fortunate to have established a place we call home, and where Liverpool fans can gather, no matter the circumstances, to chat, cheer, grieve, and celebrate in something so much bigger than each of us individually. Additionally, due to our ability to draw a diversified group of supporters from all reaches of the Kansas City metro and surrounding towns, we have been able to support and nourish friendships and relationships that never would have been possible without our supporters club.

It must give you a sense of community and connection to Liverpool and the club itself?

It absolutely does. Our participation and collaboration with the club and fellow supporters groups via Zoom calls, messages, and various projects, has been extremely rewarding. Additionally, the ability to provide a means by which our members can secure tickets to a match at Anfield has only furthered our connection with members, while simultaneously strengthening their allegiance to the club. Although we are physically over 4,000 miles from Anfield, being a part of the OLSC family has allowed those in our area to feel closer to the club than ever before.

What is so special about supporting Liverpool for your members?

No matter your affiliations outside of the club, how many years of dedicated support you claim, or, whether you are able to consistently join the group at our supporters bar, every single member that bleeds red is welcomed with open arms and a raised pint.

Do you hold meet-ups for games or any special events throughout the year?

We have had the great fortune to establish a partnership with a local bar, Chicken N Pickle, who graciously host and screen each and every Liverpool game, no matter the time or circumstances. As such, we have had the means to provide a place to come together for each and every match, be it a 6.30am kick-off, a midweek European clash, or a Champions League final. Additionally, we are in the process of partnering with other supporters clubs and affiliated entities for larger Liverpool FC supporters events, which we hope to enact throughout 2024.

Has the OLSC ever visited Anfield? If so, what was the experience like? If not, is it on your list of things to do?

Not yet as a group; however, we have sent many members over, most for their first ever match at Anfield. Some of the most rewarding feedback we receive are the thank you messages and commemorative photos from our members who we have assisted to make their first pilgrimage. To visit Anfield as an OLSC is very high on the bucket list for our group.

What is your favourite memory together as an OLSC?

After a disappointing end to the 2018 Champions League final, far and away the most incredible memory was the 2019 final. With our previous home pub packed to the rafters with Liverpool fans from all over (the building hit capacity before the match even started), the celebrations after Mo’s early penalty were unlike anything we’ve experienced prior.

The party never stopped after that final whistle blew, and it was truly a night for the ages. In fact, a few of our board members and supporters even went out to get tattoos that evening to commemorate the achievement. It’s moments and memories like those that supporters, young and old, remember forever. We all feel so fortunate to be part of such a special club.

Lastly, if anyone else is interested in joining your OLSC, how would they go about doing so?

The easiest way to get a hold of us is through our Facebook group. If you are interested in joining, please just message the group directly there, or use the feature on the OLSC website to contact our group email. We attempt to respond within a day to any posed questions about the group, or to requests to join. If you are ever near the Kansas City area, please reach out and join us!

OLSC info

Name: OLSC Kansas City

Location: Kansas City, MO

Home venue: Chicken N Pickle (NKC location), 1761 Burlington St, North Kansas City, MO 64116

X: @olsckansascity

Facebook: OLSC Kansas City

Instagram: @olsckansascity