In a sort of, slutty, modern footballing society where loyalty lies bottom of most people’s agenda’s, there is one man who has spent the previous 40 years at Anfield, albeit in the Match Control Room in the corner of the Kop. George Sephton and Liverpool go way back, to 1971 to be exact, and his voice on home matchdays has become as traditional as a chorus of You’ll Never Walk Alone at Anfield. Many false dawns and ten managers later, Mr Sephton spoke to Read Liverpool about his Liverpool tenure.
How did you get involved in Liverpool Football Club?
Personally, I was brought up as a Red. My Dad had a trial for the club as a big strapping centre forward. He was a Kopite of long standing. No pun intended. Professionally, one night in Spring 1971 I made a sarcastic remark about the man on the tannoy and my wife said “Its all right for you standing down here but I bet you couldn’t do any better!” I took up the challenge and wrote to the club. Four months later, 14th of August 1971, I was the man on the tannoy.
Can you remember that first day at the office?
Very well! I was asking what I’d let myself in for! In those days I had a big audience 2 hours before kick off. I just had to take a deep breath and go for it. I knew the routine and did it parrot-fashion.
You have been the voice of Anfield for over 40 years, do you have a favourite moment?
Probably the You’ll Never Walk Alone at the end of the Chelsea semi final in 2005. It had been so long since we were in the BIG final I’d thought it may never come again.
Do you still feel the same rush as in August 1971?
Not really but that’s an age thing! Having said that its still a buzz going in through the door where I used to hang around waiting for autographs when I was a kid.
Favourite all-time Liverpool XI?
Tricky – I can never get it down to 11! In fact it wouldn’t be fair to try. I could easily name 20 players who couldn’t be left out. Basically the team of the early 1980’s would be the basis of it plus Steven Gerrard, Robbie Fowler, Billy Liddell, Ian St. John, Kevin Keegan and on and on.
Is Anfield really lacking the famous atmosphere from the 70s & 80s and what needs to happen for it to return?
It is and it can’t return the way things are. The atmosphere used to build and build for two or three hours before kick off to a crescendo with 56000 people in there. Nowadays the crowd gathers in the last half hour before kick off. I used to have to fight my way in to get a place on the Kop in the sixties. Now people are safe in the knowledge that they have their seat guaranteed. We need something to attract people into the stadium early. I don’t know what that is; its certainly not me although I still do 90 minutes of music on matchdays.
Do you have a favourite goal that you have announced?
Its only the last few years that we’ve been announcing goalscorers, however; I’ve been told that Stevie’s goal against Olympiakos in 2005 sent me into hysterics. I can’t quite believe it. We were on our way out of Europe.
What have you made of Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool so far this season?
Like everyone else I’m desperate for Brendan to turn things around. Its been a roller-coaster which has tested our nervous system to the limit. Brendan is the first Liverpool manager who was actually born after I started working for the club.
What are Liverpool’s realistic targets for this season?
A Champions League slot is a must.
Best thing about your job?
Lots of things. Mainly the people I meet. Some of my Twitter followers and musician friends are people I would have never even met, let alone spoken with, if it wasn’t for my job at the club. I was recently named in the list of 120 men who made Liverpool what it is today. It doesn’t get any better than that.
