Liverpool fans in NI revel in glory of first league title in three decades

Dave White, secretary of Dungannon Supporters Club, said he celebrated the win at home with his family.

“I had my wife and two kids, and my next door neighbour who is a member of our club, and we sat in the back garden,” he said.

“I was 16 years old when we last won the league and I didn’t think, back then, I would have had to wait until I was 46 for the next one.”

Liverpool clinched the league win on Thursday night when rivals Manchester City failed to win against Chelsea.

Mr White said when news that the title had been secured broke there was “a great relief but there was a sense of sadness to it as well”.

He explained that, due to the coronavirus restrictions, “we couldn’t celebrate this in the normal way.”

He added: “I’ve promised the boys that once we can celebrate this we will. We hope that by the end of the season we will be able to go out and celebrate properly — but with restrictions.”

Another big Liverpool fan celebrating the win is the BBC NI political correspondent Enda McClafferty.

“I’ve been a Liverpool fan all my days and little did I think when I was 20 that I would have to wait until I was 50 to see them win the league again,” he said.

Former Northern Ireland Finance Minister Simon Hamilton, who is now the chief executive of Belfast Chamber of Commerce, was also amongst those celebrating the victory on Thursday night.

Writing on Twitter, he said: “When I started supporting Liverpool, it seemed like we were Champions every year.

“After 30 long years, I am overjoyed that this team — this brilliant team led by a brilliant manager — are Champions once again.”

UUP MLA Robbie Butler was also in reflective mood after the win.

“I’m old enough to remember the glory years,” he said.

“I am most pleased for those younger Liverpool supporters who have not been able to see their team win the league. I’m delighted.”

And the News Letter’s own motorcycling correspondent Kyle White was amongst those celebrating the historic occasion.

“It’s been such a long wait and, even though Liverpool won the European Cup last year so it’s not as if there’s been a shortage of success, the league was the one that we wanted,” he said.

“This is the holy grail. I was 12-years-old last time around. so it’s been a long time.”