Liverpool Reserves aim to stay in town and call on Warrington for support in play-off final
4:25am Thursday 1st May 2008
LIVERPOOL are optimistic that pitch improvements will allow their reserves to stay at The Halliwell Jones Stadium and hope some of their Warrington fans will be at Anfield to watch next week's Barclays Premier Reserve League Play-Off Final.
Aided by average crowds of 3,968 at The Halliwell Jones, Liverpool won the Barclays Premier Reserve League (North) by 13 points and now face southern champions Aston Villa at Anfield on Wednesday at 7.45pm.
Premier Reserve League rules mean the match must be played at the home of the club's first team rather than their reserve home, although the game would not have been able to be played at The Halliwell Jones anyway because of pitch problems that forced their last two home league games to be moved to Wrexham.
That put Warrington Wolves' hopes of extending the Reds' stay at The Halliwell Jones in serious doubt but Liverpool assistant secretary Ian Silvester says they would like to remain in Warrington providing the pitch improves.
The two clubs are set to have a meeting once Liverpool's season is over and Silvester, who was a guest at Wolves' match against St Helens on Friday, said: "We want to give the pitch as long as possible. We're hopeful that, with some good warm weather, the pitch will come back.
"Some work has been carried out and it looked a whole lot different on Friday than it did when I came across before and it was in a very poor state.
"I couldn't allow a football game on it as it was. When I saw the pitch this time last year I couldn't believe how good it was and this year I couldn't believe it had deteriorated so quickly.
"We will have a meeting - they know that - and we'll discuss the quality of the pitch, intended work and future usage."
And the fantastic crowds that flocked to The Halliwell Jones - 10,546 watched the clash with Manchester United - otherwise made Liverpool's first season at the stadium a success.
Silvester said: "Football-wise we won the league and The Halliwell Jones Stadium and Warrington Wolves have been fantastic.
"We went from an average of 389 at Wrexham last season to 3,160 this season, which is a tremendous increase. Taking out the last two games the average was 3,968.
"I think it has helped the team. There's nothing worse than trotting out in front of 100, it can be soul destroying. I'm sure Gary Ablett (Liverpool's reserve boss) agrees it's great for them to play in front of 4, 5 or even 10,000 because they need to learn to ply their trade in front of spectators.
"You still have to have a dedicated team for success though and, having got this far with one defeat in 18 games, we want to win the final. It would be great for people to get behind the team in numbers. It's a chance for people to go to Anfield who might not normally get to go."
Tickets cost £5 for adults and £2 for concessions if they are bought in advance from Liverpool's ticket office. Prices will rise to £10 and £5 respectively on the day of the game.