Liverpool’s ‘Voice of Anfield’, their stadium DJ, says he will be ‘HAPPY playing the national anthem’ at their Coronation Saturday match… but fans warn it will be ‘his worst received song ever’
Liverpool’s stadium announcer George Sephton says he will be ‘delightful’ playing the national anthem after the Anfield club reluctantly agreed to do so on coronation day.
The Premier League contacted clubs last week to ‘strongly recommend’ that they mark King Charles III’s accession to the throne by playing ‘God Save the King’ ahead of the game.
Liverpool fans have jeered the anthem in recent years, but the club felt they had little choice but to play it ahead of Saturday night’s game with Brentford.
Sephton, 77, who has been a DJ at the stadium for over 50 years and is known as ‘the voice of Anfield’, tweeted that he will happily spin it.
In response to a post suggesting that Sephton play “God Save the Queen” by punk band Sex Pistols instead, he wrote, “I’ll be happy to play the national anthem.” It’s coronation day.’
Liverpool stadium announcer George Sephton tweeted that he will be ‘delightful’ playing God Save the King at Anfield ahead of Saturday’s game with Brentford, after the club agreed.
Sephton, the voice of Anfield, responded to a tweet urging him to play the Sex Pistols classic “God Save the Queen” instead
Liverpool supporters have booed the anthem in the recent past and the club, fearing a backlash, has only reluctantly agreed to the Premier League’s request to play it.
Premier League clubs have been asked to play God Save the King ahead of kick-off this weekend to mark the coronation of King Charles III
In response, Liverpool fans told him that this “would be the worst received song you’ll ever play” and they will be singing the club anthem You’ll Never Walk Alone instead.
Liverpool found themselves in the spotlight after the Premier League contacted all clubs hosting matches over the coronation weekend and advised them to play ‘God Save the King’.
There was no guideline from the governing body that this was mandatory and Liverpool considered not taking the Premier League’s suggestion.
Liverpool were well aware that not playing the national anthem would expose them to nationwide backlash and they are also unlikely to win if fans jeer it.
Part of the supporters chanted ‘you can stick your crown up your ass’ during Wednesday night’s 1-0 win over Fulham.
The Liverpool and Brentford players gather around the center circle during play and the reaction of the supporters remains to be seen.
There may be boos or jeers, but some believe a spontaneous chorus of You’ll Never Walk Alone can be sung.
A minute’s silence to mark the death of Queen Elizabeth II last September was observed by the crowd at Anfield.
Sephton was told in fan reactions that the national anthem “will be the worst received song you’ll ever play”
Sections of Liverpool fans have booed the anthem in the past, although a minute’s silence at Anfield to mark the death of Queen Elizabeth II was generally well observed
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said he agreed with the club’s decision.
Asked about the coronation in the first question of Friday’s press conference, he replied: ‘The club’s position is mine. That is obvious.
“Besides, this is definitely a subject I can’t really have an opinion on. I am from Germany, we do not have a king or queen, I am 55 years old and have no experience with that.
“Looking from the outside, it’s fun to watch when all weddings are massive things in Germany, but no one really knows what it’s like. It’s like watching a movie. We don’t feel that.
‘That’s about it. I’m pretty sure a lot of people in this country will enjoy the coronation, some won’t be interested and some won’t like it. That’s it and that’s all over the country. That’s all I can say about it. The position of the club is mine.