The Winning Goal

With the Barclays Premier League on,the Liverpool Football Club is getting enough support and cheers from this group of fans.

The group gathers in striking red tees. The mood is upbeat and hopeful. Conversations begin,each one centred around the coveted win of the Liverpool Football Club. And once the screening starts,a hushed silence is followed by a roar of encouraging cheers for the players playing thousands of miles away. Meet the Red Indians Pune – hardcore fans of the Liverpool Football Club.

This group was started last season by Symbiosis commerce student Nikhil Nikam. From four members to over 300 members on its Facebook page,the group is today a strong Liverpool supporters community. And the Barclay’s Premier League,which started in August,keeps members on their toes. “We now have three members as administrators of the Facebook page and I am the page owner,” says Nikam. The group first had its presence on Orkut,but they followed the change of trends and switched to Facebook. “We started off with organising screenings of matches. Last season,we arranged for almost 6-7 screenings at Cafe 1730 in Koregaon Park and Cafe 160 degrees lounge in Camp,” he adds. Since the start of this season,the group has already held around three game screenings.

All the members on the Facebook page are required to fill in their contact details. And as and when events are organised,the members are invited. “The minimum turnout is 30 for any match,” Nikam says. In fact,the group even had a pre-season meet to decide screenings,competitions and to talk football. The members are spread across the city. “I’m from Sangli,another guy is from Jabalpur,someone else if from Delhi and so on and so forth. It is our love for the football club that has brought and kept us together,” Nikam says. The average age of members is between 20 – 28 years.

Smriti Shukla,a communications student at Pune University,joined the group four months back. “I came to Pune from Delhi around five months back. When I heard of this group I immediately joined it. I am a crazy Liverpool fan! I started watching football when I was in school. The history of the club,its achievements and players draw me to it,” she says.

The group members call themselves the Red Family. They dress up in the Liverpool jerseys while watching any match and sing the official Liverpool club anthem. “It’s like you’re in a stadium,” says Nikam,adding,”Even if we haven’t arranged for any screening,we gather at each other’s homes to watch the game together.” Nikam’s favourite Liverpool moment was last season when Liverpool beat Manchester United 3 – 1. “And plus,in 2005 Liverpool won Champions League title,” he adds with a smile.

Shukla and all the other members share the same passion. “We are all like-minded people. We meet regularly and discuss matches,issues,players and transfers. I was new to Pune and didn’t know anyone. But now I have so many friends,” Shukla says.

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