| We are proud to introduce a NEW SEGMENT on our website.. a feature on "People".. whether LSCM Members, Supporters Club of other countries, ex-Players/Legends or even our Present Players !!
 We kick off by featuring an interview done with Ruth "RED" Hong of Liverpool Supporters Club Taiwan.
It was an interview conducted by Carlsberg Taiwan during their Carlsberg Football Night for the FA Cup game against Man Utd. You can CLICK HERE for details about Carlsberg-Cottingham Ltd (CC) that runs Carlsberg Taiwan. And you can CLICK HERE for the full article.
Liverpool is the most successful club in the history of the FA. We sat down to talk to Ruth Hong from the Taiwan chapter of the Liverpool Supporters Club on the eve of their FA Cup clash with Manchester United.
Please scroll to the bottom for photo galleries
CC: What attracts you to Liverpool over all the other clubs out there?
Ruth: I think for the “never say die” spirit that Liverpool has. As you know, Liverpool has the most successful history of any Premier League club, but they have also had periods when things haven’t been going their way. This is when the true spirit of Liverpool shines and the “never say die” spirit becomes most apparent.
A lot of clubs will say they have the same spirit, but I think that it is more evident at Liverpool. For example, in the 2005 Champion’s League Final against favorites Milan, we were down 3-0 at halftime, and the match looked over. However, Liverpool turned the game on its head with 3 goals in 6 minutes and then went on to win the penalty shootout. It’s moments like these that make you a Liverpool supporter forever.
CC: Looking around the bar, it seems there are more Liverpool fans out there than Manchester United. What do you think it is about Liverpool that attracts so many to the team?
Well, when you are first introduced to football in Taiwan, it is usually via the big four [Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United] and most people will choose to follow one of those teams.
Of course, your friends will try and influence your choice of team, and at that time I had a few Manchester United supporters trying to convert me. However I never really felt an affinity with that team. Plus Chelsea was on a winning streak, and I am not usually the type of person to jump on a band wagon!
I did get to know more and more about Liverpool, and gradually my respect and admiration grew until I woke up as one of the Reds faithful!
CC: This was before you ever visited England right?
Yes.
CC: I take it you have been to England now.
Yes, twice. The first time I was only able to take the tour of our Church - Anfield but the second time I was able to watch three games there. Liverpool vs. Fiorentina which we unfortunately lost, Liverpool vs. Arsenal which we also lost, and the last one was Liverpool vs. Wigan which we won! So luckily I got to see Liverpool win a game LIVE for the first time!
CC: How were you able to get tickets?
We have a great association with the Liverpool supporters club in Malaysia which has direct channels to obtain tickets. In addition, we are sometimes able to get tickets with the support of Carlsberg as they are the official beer sponsor of Liverpool. Those tickets are great, as in Anfield there is a Carlsberg lounge in the stadium, and those tickets allow you access to that lounge.
CC: So, back to Taiwan, how many Liverpool supporters do you have?
We have about 124 registered members in Taiwan. These are not just Facebook members, but people who have actually sent us their details to be registered. Then there are a number of people behind the scenes like Daniel, Janet and Vita that do a lot of great work.
CC: How does one become registered?
Simply send your data (name, contact number, email, mailing address and jersey size) to
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CC: Liverpool has had its share of problems both on and off the field lately. Does this affect your membership or ability to recruit?
Not at all, we are The Taiwan Liverpool Supporters Club. We are not a fan club. Our club instills a sense of pride in our members who support it win, lose or draw. We want people to like the team, not the trophies or star players like some other teams.
It’s funny, in Hong Kong, I have heard the majority of people support Liverpool. In fact there are three separate supporters clubs for Liverpool. Although looking around this bar might tell you otherwise, here in Taiwan we are in the minority but it only makes us more passionate!
CC: Speaking of minorities, in Taiwan football is not covered much in the media. Do you see this changing and Taiwanese becoming more interested in football?
I believe so. Every four years, football becomes the fashion, and everybody goes crazy about the World Cup.
CC: But isn’t that the problem, it’s a fashion, not a passion?
Yes that’s right, but you have to start from somewhere. Look at Taiwan’s phenomenal increase of interest in the World Cup from 2006 to 2010. It really exploded this year, and from our point of view, the more people that get to see Liverpool players like Gerrard and Torres in action, the more people will get interested in Liverpool and football.
Today, there is much more exposure to football than even 5 years ago and many Taiwanese people are getting involved in football as another way of connecting with the outside world and other cultures. Football is a global game, where as baseball, the game that dominates Taiwan, it’s seen as predominantly American. When people talk about football they talk about people from all over the world, not just the US and I believe many Taiwanese find this aspect very attractive.
 CC: What cooperation have you had with Carlsberg Taiwan?
We have done a number of events with them. In the last event, Carlsberg provided us with 2 very rare Liverpool jerseys that actually had the Carlsberg Logo printed on the front in Chinese. Only 200 of these jerseys were made and we managed to get two to giveaway which was great and very exciting for our club.
We are also looking to plan some further events with Carlsberg this season and the next.
To join the Liverpool Supporters Club Taiwan, please email your details (name, number, email, mailing address and jersey size) to
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Click here for photos of the last Carlsberg Football Night
Click here for photos of the Liverpool Jersey Giveaway
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From Claire Pringle of Liverpool
From Laczi Eragon of Vietnam
From Gerry Dean of Liverpool
From Farouk Yahya of LSCM
From Mat Hk of Brunei
The following is the response from Mike Hinden.. a long-time Liverpool Fan who has seen it all and done it all !! He is pictured here on the left, with one of our LSCM Members Denny Liong whom Mike hosted last year when Denny made his pilgrimage to Anfield.
Q1) Thank you for joining us Hanan. With the Torres Dilemma looming over us (9 hours till closing of the transfer window).. Should players be held against their will, contract aside, to stay at the club ?
Q2) In your years with LSCM, would you like to suggest any areas at which there is room for improvements ?
Q4) And lastly, how important will it be to have your spouse/fiancee/girlfriend to also support Liverpool ? Perhaps you know of some "horror" stories of relationships split on football allegiances or even family members.. :)
