Posted on 05/24/2007 9:54:36 PM PDT by SandRat
A Liverpool fan wouldn't have missed last night's match, 'no matter where in the world they were', so even the desert and rogue militias in Iraq weren't going to stop the club's fans from the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment.
The 2nd Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment are currently based in Basra. And last night, 23 May 2007, the Liverpool fans in the Regiment gathered together in a specially decorated welfare tent to watch the final of the Champion's League, being held in Athens, Greece.
Liverpool shirts were worn and Reds towels and flags hung from the walls as about 40 fans stayed up to watch the match.
Iraq is four hours ahead of British Summer Time, so the match started just before midnight for the Duke of Lancaster boys.
The soldiers were joined by Major General Jonathan Shaw, General Officer Commanding, Multi National Division (South East), himself a keen Liverpool fan, and their Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Mark Kenyon.
Despite the result (Liverpool lost 2-1 to AC Milan) the match gave the soldiers the opportunity to socialise and enjoy a well earned rest period from operations. There were bacon and egg butties served at half time and the occasion brought together soldiers from across the Regiment.
Company Sergeant Major Percy Gardner said:
"It was great to be able to watch as we're very busy at the moment. Liverpool were robbed. We all agreed that they were the best team on the night – but that's football. It was a shame that I couldn't be there but I'm looking forward to getting to Anfield when we return."
Major Andrew Davidson added that:
"The soldiers wouldn't have missed this match, no matter where they were in the world. Many of them were thinking of their friends and family who would have been watching it in Athens or Liverpool so they felt like they were sharing the experience with them."
Liverpool is one of the main recruitment areas for the Regiment and many families throughout Merseyside and the North West look forward to the return of the soldiers at the beginning of June after a challenging but successful tour of operations in Iraq.
They are hoping to hold freedom parades throughout the North West in July.
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