LFC launch new museum in China
Liverpool Football Club today unveiled a new, week-long interactive pop-up museum in the Guangxi Zhuang region of China.
The Reds have more social media followers from China than from any other country and the new exhibition - located at the Guilin International Football Tourism and Culture Industry Park and chronicling the club's history from 1892 right through to the Brendan Rodgers era - is expected to attract thousands of visitors over the next seven days.
While fans will get to walk through the Shankly Gates to enter the museum before being greeted by an impressive collection of LFC memorabilia, including no fewer than 15 framed signed jerseys, there's no disputing the star attraction on show - a life-size replica of the 2005 Champions League trophy which was flown into China on Monday by LFC officials.
Much of the collection of memorabilia on show belongs to Philip Chu, founder of the LFC Hong Kong Supporters' Club and director of international business at Kingsborn Holdings, the company who have partnered with Liverpool FC to bring the museum to Guilin City.
"Liverpool are such a popular club over here," claims Chu. "Like many others in China, I started supporting Liverpool in the 1970s when we were the best team in Europe.
"I remember watching the 1977 FA Cup final and was so disappointed when we were beaten by Manchester United, but to see the players pick themselves up and go off and win the European Cup the next week was incredible.
"My favourite player was Kevin Keegan, but unlike any other club Liverpool was not about individuals. Liverpool was always about the team first and foremost.
"Some clubs have had more famous players but when one player is worshipped more than any other, there's a danger that when that 'star' player leaves, so do the fans.
"That's never happened at Liverpool but it has happened with some clubs and you'll find their fans are more fickle. They think nothing of switching teams if their favourite player leaves.
"With Liverpool, there's more loyalty. Even though we haven't won the league for a long time, the fans have stuck with the club.
"The older generation of fans - like me - have passed our love for Liverpool down to our children and then the Champions League success of 2005 introduced millions more young Chinese football fans to Liverpool.
"Anyone who watched that 'miracle' live on television couldn't help but fall in love with Liverpool and now we have a whole new generation of fans who love Liverpool in China.
"This new museum will let those younger fans learn about this club's amazing history and allow us older fans to remind ourselves what makes Liverpool FC the greatest club in the world."
Click here to follow Liverpool FC in China on Sina Weibo.
Click here to follow Liverpool FC on Tencent.
Follow Liverpool FC on Weixin...
