Few stadiums in the world of football carry the emotional weight of Anfield. It’s football at its most personal; the Kop’s roar, the sea of scarves, the chill of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” echoing through the stands. It’s as much a living, breathing part of the city as it’s a home to Liverpool FC. But this cathedral for football fans around the world had humble beginnings. Who built Anfield Stadium in Liverpool and who do we have to thank for the legacy it boasts today?
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Who Built Anfield Stadium?
Anfield was originally built in 1884, not for Liverpool FC, but for Everton. Local brewer John Orrell, who owned the land, allowed his friend John Houlding, an Everton board member, to lease it for the club. Everton played their games there until 1892, when a bitter dispute with Houlding over rent and the future of the club forced them to move across Stanley Park to Goodison.
Houlding remained as ambitious as ever, and the stadium didn’t stay empty for long. He did something bold and created a brand new club to fill that void. That club was Liverpool F.C., and on September 1, 1892, they played their very first match at Anfield. At the time, the audience was comprised of just 200 spectators, completely unaware they were witnessing the birth of a legend.
A Stadium That Grows with Its Club
The first notable upgrades or renovations took place 3 years after the first match, with the renowned architect Archibald Leitch at the helm. Then came the Spion Kop in 1906, named after a hill in South Africa, to honor Liverpool soldiers who perished during the Boer War. The Kop quickly became the heart of the stadium.
Two decades after (1928), the Kop got a major overhaul, and this time around, it got a shiny new roof and increased its capacity to 30,000 standing fans. At the time, only a few stadiums could match that size, so it truly stood out. By 1957, Anfield had floodlights, and in the 1970s and 80s, both the Main Stand and Kemlyn Road stands underwent notable changes. Little by little, the ground transformed into a fortress, and just like a loyal companion, Anfield followed suit.
The Hillsborough Disaster and Seating Changes
The tragic Hillsborough disaster in 1989, had left its mark on the world of football forever. Based on the Taylor Report recommendations, the stadium design was to abandon and phase out standing terraces. As a result, within the next 5 years, Anfield became an all-seater stadium. The beloved old Kop was gone, but its spirit remained, reborn in the single-tier seated version that stands today, still home to the loudest voices in the house.
Redevelopment and Modernization
Even within the last decade, Anfield has seen some big adjustments. There was the redevelopment of the Main Stand, which finished in 2016. To be more specific stadium got 8,500 new seats and world-class facilities. Last year, Anfield Road Stand got a notable upgrade as well, so the total guest capacity is now over 61,000.
These improvements did come in handy, as during the 23/24 Premier League season, Liverpool welcomed a total of 1,060,362 fans across 19 home games, averaging 55,809 per match. The following season saw that number climb even higher. With 1,149,234 supporters through the gates, Liverpool now averages 60,486 fans per home game.
Anfield’s Cultural and Historical Significance
Walk around Anfield and you’ll see tributes to its heroes: the Shankly Gates, the Paisley Gateway, statues, murals, and the eternal flame memorial honoring the 97 fans who lost their lives in the Hillsborough tragedy. There’s also the “This Is Anfield” sign above the tunnel: a warning message installed by Bill Shankly in 1972 to give Liverpool players pride and put fear into visiting teams. Even today, players touch it like a sacred ritual, though Jürgen Klopp famously banned his squad from doing so until they won a major trophy – some traditions must be earned, apparently.
Legacy Over Relocation
At one point, there were serious plans to build a brand-new stadium in Stanley Park, but when Fenway Sports Group took over in 2010, they decided to stay put. Much like they did with Fenway Park in Boston, they chose to respect their history rather than erase it. Far from just a location, Anfield is part of the club’s soul. So they invested in the neighborhood and modernized the ground instead of moving out.
It was that elusive moment when practical decision-making and emotional loyalty lined up perfectly.
