AS ROMA 0 LIVERPOOL 2 #rome #asroma #liverpoolfc #lfc #bookreading #audiobook #travel

"Following my first two European trips in the 1996/1997 season it would be a further three seasons before I ventured into Europe again. On the footballing front the Reds would triumph over Celtic from Scotland in a much vaunted “Battle of Britain” (I had tickets until a dramatic reduction in the availability meant I lost in a ballot) and against a Valencia side from Spain who were fast gaining a reputation for thrilling, attacking football. Quixotically this victory was a nadir in so many ways as it projected into the consciousness the absurdity of Liverpool having joint Managers at this time and sadly the departure of Roy Evans, a Liverpool stalwart for decades, soon followed. Before and after came humiliations and embarrassments both on and off the field. On it, the Reds would lose to Racing Strasbourg and an improving Celta Vigo before not qualifying for European competition at all in the last year and season of the 20th Century and also firmly under a now singular manager in Frenchman, Gérard Houllier.

However, Liverpool’s boss had slowly installed a winning template into place with some astute signings combining with a local backbone already at the club in the form of Michael Owen, Robbie Fowler, Jamie Carragher and Danny Murphy. The absence of European football was soon rectified by Houllier and after a season without, the Reds again qualified for the UEFA Cup after the turn of the Millennium".

The above is a brief extract from a very long chapter entitled "St Michael, God, and the glory that was Rome" and for 14 of the 16 minutes it's almost, almost, perfect. Then I can't say the word "demonstrably"! But it's always a one shot, in the moment deal here and anyway, you're joining me on the banks of the River Severn in beautiful Ironbridge and just look at that backdrop!

Here's a link to a book I'm incredibly proud of together with other ways and means of supporting me, if you are able, to thumb the eye of the traditional publishers who refused to even read my original manuscripts!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C6W6TYCL

https://www.patreon.com/TheBlackfordBookClub
https://www.paypal.me/TheBlackfordBookClub
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/steveblackford

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