---
title: "Alex Ferguson lauds ‘remarkable Merseysiders’"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/articles/alex-ferguson-lauds-remarkable-merseysiders/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Ben Smith"
section: "Articles"
published: "2015-11-12T11:58:20Z"
modified: "2015-11-12T12:07:11Z"
---

# Alex Ferguson lauds ‘remarkable Merseysiders’

Sir Alex Ferguson lauded the Liverpool supporters, and said that incredible is the “only way to describe the remarkable Merseysiders”.

His views may have changed since but, in December 1977, when he was manager of St Mirren, he was full of praise for the Reds.

The Kop Magazine have dug out the matchday programme from a friendly match between the Buddies and Liverpool, which took place whilst the Reds were European champions.

> Fergie revealing he was at [#LFC](https://twitter.com/hashtag/LFC?src=hash) v St Etienne in ’77 & praising our “incredible support” there [pic.twitter.com/1INRbGkuLz](https://t.co/1INRbGkuLz)
>
> — Kop Magazine (@TheKopMagazine) [November 12, 2015](https://twitter.com/TheKopMagazine/status/664740456664834048)

Fergie, who of course went on to manage Manchester United, said: “What a fantastic honour it is for us to be playing the European Champions on our own ground! Liverpool are a side every football fan born north or south of the border admires tremendously.

“The Anfield club has almost become an institution: I don’t see them ever being known from now on as anything less than one of the best teams in the country.”

The then 35-year-old was in attendance on one of Liverpool’s most famous European nights at Anfield – the 3-1 win over St Etienne in the 1977 European Cup quarter-final second leg.

Discussing that particular night, he said: “You can’t talk of how great the Reds are without mentioning their incredible support. I travelled down to Anfield with Davie Provan last season to watch Liverpool play St Etienne in the European Cup.

“I will never forget the experience as those fanatical fans sang their heads and helped carry their team into the next round.”

The Scot also praised the depth of the Reds’ squad back then: “Bob Paisley can bring in people like David Fairclough, Jimmy Case, Phil Thompson and Tommy Smith. Incredible, isn’t it?”

Paisley’s side emerged victorious against St Mirren, albeit on penalties.

Five months later, Liverpool beat Club Brugge 1-0 at Wembley Stadium to retain the European Cup courtesy of a Kenny Dalglish goal.