LFC Women'It's fantastic to see the growth of this team, the future is exciting'
As always, the loyal Liverpool FC Women fans will be singing their hearts out on Sunday as Matt Beard’s Reds face Everton Women at Anfield in the Barclays Women’s Super League.
You’re guaranteed a special atmosphere at every LFC Women fixture, with each member of the squad having their own song and a strong camaraderie between the players and supporters.
Among those leading the way in generating extra backing for the team is Jay Goodall, chair of the Liverpool FC Women Supporters Club.
It was Jay’s passion for the club and a chance conversation that led to the formation of the organisation several years ago.
“Back in 2020 a friend of mine who looks after the women’s network in the FSA [Football Supporters’ Association] got in touch and basically told me about the new role she was doing in looking after women’s supporters clubs,” Goodall told Liverpoolfc.com.
“I found out Liverpool didn’t have one for the women’s team and she said, ‘What do you think?’ At the time I was doing some football coaching and I decided why not?
“It was a new adventure to set up the supporters club for Liverpool FC Women, so I set it up in March 2020, which was just before the COVID-19 pandemic.
“So, we set it up but due to COVID we couldn’t get to any games for at least six to 12 months. We set it up online and the foundation of what we have built was online on social media.
“I was just putting my name out there saying, ‘This is me and this is who I am’ and explaining my desire to bring a lot of fans together with the supporters club, so if there are people who go to games on their own they have got some familiar faces to get to know, can sit next to at games and chat to.
“It wasn’t until December 2020 that we managed to get to a game and I managed to get a few people together in the stands and get them on board with us. Then the following season I was able to build it more when we were able to get back to the game itself.”
Since then the LFCWSC has gone from strength to strength, following and supporting the team on their journey back to the top flight.
“It has been an incredible rise for us,” Goodall added. “The actual growth of the supporters club is beyond what I expected when I first set it up.
“I thought we might get a few hundred people signing up as members but you look at the following that we have got across social media, we’ve got tens of thousands of followers on Instagram, X [formerly Twitter] and Facebook.
“We are always trying to be interactive with the social media and we try to interact with as many people as we can to keep them involved and get people to come to the games, and if they enjoy it get them to bring a friend or a family member next time.”
Beard’s squad are now settled in to their new home at the iconic training base of the AXA Melwood Training Centre.
The manager has described the move to West Derby as game-changing for his squad, and that is certainly echoed by the fanbase.
“I think this move to the AXA Melwood Training Centre is fantastic,” said Goodall. “The facility has been transformed since the club brought it back and it’s such a great move for them to have their own home.
“I was invited to the official opening day the other week and enjoyed a look around and I just think it’s brilliant that they have got this fantastic facility they can use.
"I think this will help grow the club even more, and fingers crossed it’s going to help us this season with some more wins.”
Liverpool’s opening-day win over Arsenal Women at Emirates Stadium was delivered in front of a WSL-record crowd of more than 54,000 supporters, including a large following from Merseyside.
Once again this season, Expedia is offering free transport for fans for all of the team’s away matches in the league. The club’s official travel partner launched the initiative last season and hundreds of supporters were carried to fixtures up and down the country in a special, branded coach.
And there is even better news for this campaign after Expedia committed to supporting a second coach, which will allow even more Reds to travel when demand is high.
“The Expedia partnership with the club has been fantastic for fans,” added Goodall.
“I know there is a lot of our fans who struggle to get to away games because they might not be able to drive or get there via public transport because of the strikes, so it’s difficult for them to get there.
“So, this partnership that Expedia have done with Liverpool we are all very grateful for. To get two away buses this season is just brilliant and besides helping the regular fans get to the games it’s also helping new fans getting to the games as well, which is really nice.
“We look after them with the supporters club and make sure that if anyone has got any issues we can point them in the right direction of who to go to for help.”
Sunday sees another opportunity for Beard’s charges to play at Anfield as they host neighbours Everton in the WSL derby (kick-off 4.30pm BST).
In the corresponding fixture last season the Blues won 3-0 in L4, and the Reds are determined to show their true colours this time around.
“I think playing at Anfield is going to be really good for us on Sunday and it’s always special for the team to play in front of the Kop,” said Goodall.
“Playing and winning at the Emirates Stadium on the opening day shows that we can play under pressure, so hopefully we can keep up our good form and get the three points in the derby.
“It’s fantastic to see the growth of this team and I’m really excited for this season to see what the new players can bring as well as some of the older ones that we’ve got as well.”
You can join the Liverpool FC Women Supporters Club by visiting the website or via social media.