Van Dijk: Community Solidarity Part of Liverpool “Fabric”
The Captain penned a column for the match-day program highlighting the LFC Foundation.
Community as a term and concept feels very much a part of the Liverpool way of life. Not talking specifically of the happenings at Anfield, but rather beyond - and inclusive of - the folks sporting the famed red shirts.
Liverpool’s history and experience as a working-class port city that has had and continues to endure the negative effects of an economic and political system meant to demean the lives of laborers is written throughout the DNA of the city. It’s something that I’ve written about, myself, as the product of a similar community, albeit thousands of miles away.
That same ethos was instilled into the club with Bill Shankly famously talking about the game of football that he wanted to be played reflected a type of socialism: everyone doing equal work, sharing in the spoils as a unit. That same thread carried through to the present day with Jurgen Klopp espousing a similar sensibility.
Today, one of Klopp’s most celebrated and important players, club captain Virgil Van Dijk, extend that link into the present as he penned words in the matchday program ahead of the clash with Wolverhampton. The match, itself, is considered Community Day and the club are planning to honor Mark Henderson as he receives an award as the LFC Foundation’s Community Captain.
“The LFC Foundation celebrates its Community Day, an event held to mark the incredible work that they do. I have been fortunate enough to see this work up close, and I could not be more impressed. Everyone knows we are a football club first and foremost, but it is so important that we can be so much more than this, especially in a city like Liverpool where community and standing together are part of the fabric.”
The whole article is worth a read as VVD also makes mention of the disappointing results against Plymouth Argyle and Everton, but also pivots fans towards the match at hand. It is precisely the type of response you’d expect from a player who exudes calm and level-headedness; someone whose sights are set entirely on the horizon. Lucky for us, he’s leading our lads.
Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com
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