Liverpool FC: How The Kop Found Its Voice

When the 1962 World Cup was aired on TV in England, the witness of thousands of Brazilian supporters chanting their team on inspired English supporters to follow suit with their own clubs.

For the first time the world heard a new experience of supporters chanting to a beat, the words: "Bra-zil" echoed around the globe and stirred something in the hearts of passionate followers everywhere.

The first game of the season was against Blackpool and was Liverpool's first match since being promoted up from the second division in 1961-62.

Some 51,000 supporters filled Anfield with around half of them packing out The Kop, and as they stood waiting for the game, a chant of "Liver-pool, clap, clap, clap" broke out and began to sweep the stadium.

Before long, the entire crowd was singing as if one and it would appear that a new trend was beginning to form.

As the Beatles were taking England by storm, it would seem the Kop had found its voice as well and they began singing before games, with the chart top ten being played over the PA system.

The big songs at the time were changed around and the Liverpool supporters created an original version to belt out at the next home game. Songs like "When the Saints..." took on a new identity as "When the Red's..." and "Yellow Submarine" became "Red and White Kop" and was common place during matches.

One local band had a hit song called "You'll Never Walk Alone" and it was voiced on the Kop alongside the other chart songs being sung.

However, at the time, Liverpool supporters would be unaware that the Gerry and the Pacemakers classic would take on a new life and become one of the most respected and recognized songs at a football match.

Here is a widely considered top nine of Liverpool classics sung by the Kop:

1. You'll Never Walk Alone
2. Fields of Anfield Road—Fields of Athenry
3. Liverbird Upon my Chest—Ballad of the Green Beret
4. Poor Scouser Tommy—Red River Valley and The Sash
5. When the Reds go Marching In—When the Saints go Marching In
6. L.I.V.E.R.P.O.O.L—From the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar
7. Red and White Kop—Yellow Submarine
8. Bill Shankley from Glenbuck—Sean South from Garryowen
9. Underneath the Floolights—Lili Marlene

It has been 120 years since the creation of the Professional Football League and there were 12 founding clubs that took part. Click Here to find out where the founding teams are now.

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