Meet the Members: Casey O’Brien

LFC Tampa Bay
Sep 5, 2018 · 6 min read

I’m Casey O’Brien and I serve as the Secretary and one of the social media coordinators for LFC Tampa Bay.

My exposure to LFC and European football in general came about in 2010 when I started dating my now husband, Charlie. Being an NFL football and college football fan all my life, I was intrigued when I learned my boyfriend would get up at 6:30 a.m. on a Saturday to go to the bar (often a mere four hours after we just left the bar) to watch soccer.

Never one to shy away from a social scene that included sports, I asked if I could tag along. Soccer was one of the few sports I didn’t play as a kid, and I was never really exposed to the game before this. I knew nothing of the rules, who was who, what a card was, and why the clock counted up, although I did understand how a loss could affect the rest of your day or how a win could put you on cloud nine for the entire week.

Throughout the next few seasons, I would accompany my husband on and off to the bar. If I didn’t go with him, I found myself watching the matches at home just to prepare for his demeanor when he returned home. Would he be as happy as a kid in a candy store or would it be wise to come up with a plan to cheer him up?

Then one fateful day in April of 2014, Liverpool vs. Chelsea, on the brink of becoming PL champions, the infamous Gerrard slip occurred. We were at the home base bar with LFC Tampa and needless to say, the place was gutted. But somehow, there was still a spark among everyone. Pride beaming from their faces, arm in arm swaying to You’ll Never Walk Alone, hugging each other and discussing what a great run that season was with incredible goals and memories.

From that point on, the camaraderie is what hooked me to this club. I admire how “ride or die” the fan base is, the heroism of past squads and managers, the legendary European-night stories, the “do things the right way, the hard way” mentality. I was hooked.

From then on, I’ve followed the team as closely as my husband. We started our life as a married couple dancing to You’ll Never Walk Alone. I’ve spent time reading up on the club’s history and learning the game in general. Plus, getting involved with the great people of LFC Tampa Bay has been a blast and a way to connect to the club even more.

2018 preseason tour in Ann Arbor.

I feel so blessed that my husband has brought LFC fandom to my life. I thoroughly enjoy relishing in the glory of our Heavy Metal Football manager, our unstoppable front three, tenacious midfield, and solid defense. I look forward to a new era of European nights and the hope that we’ll lift many, shiny trophies in the near future!

What is your definition of success for LFC this season?

I’m shooting for the stars this season. I not only want a trophy, but first and foremost, I want to win the Premier League. Second, I want a rematch of last season CL final vs Real Madrid in their hometown. I want Salah to score a double hat trick and karma to come back on Ramos. An iffy, hard tackle from Keita on Ramos wouldn’t be the worst thing either ;)

If Jurgen Klopp was asked to describe you in a press conference, what would he say?

Oh jeez, I love Jurgen. He is such a great person and reading about him in Raphael Honigstein’s book was so cool! He’d probably say that I was enthusiastic, and very “in the moment” when watching the matches. I hope he’d remark on my support for Liverpool through thick and thin, like a lot of fans. Even though I’m a relatively new fan (officially became a fan at the end of the 13/14 season) I hope he’d comment on my commitment to learn the club’s history and mission, and that I was a great representation of an LFC fan.

What’s your favorite thing about matchdays with LFC Tampa?

Getting together and watching the matches as a group. One of the things that drew me to this club and soccer in general is the camaraderie around it. You may only know each other’s first names but you’re best friends for 90 minutes while watching the match together. Celebrating a goal and singing YNWA after a win is so much fun!

You’re down 2–1 with 15 minutes to play have one sub to make and on the bench you have any fringe player from Liverpool’s past available. Who do you put into the game and why?

Sturridge. I’m confident he will do great things for us this season!

What is your favorite LFC chant/song?

Allez Allez Allez — I love that it started with our amazing run in the European Cup last season and has become a staple during the matches. YNWA is also my favorite. My husband and I danced to it for our first dance as a married couple.

Of LFC’s rivals, what team you dislike the most?

United — they are the worst. I view them as opposites to Liverpool and what our club stands for.

What’s your favorite LFC Kit?

This is a weird one but I LOVED last season’s away kit; the white base with black and green. It was so simple and not flashy. I regret not purchasing one with Salah’s name on the back, especially since it’s the season he won the Golden Boot.

Strangest place you’ve had to watch a match?

I watched our first match vs Chelsea last season at a football tailgate. I was with my husband at an Arizona State vs. Arizona game day tailgate (dubbed the longest rivalry in college football!) Everyone was around playing drinking games and I was glued to my phone watching our match. The host of the tailgate noticed and very kindly put the match on the big tv for me instead of College Gameday. He said he’s never seen someone so intent on watching a soccer match that he couldn’t not put it on for me :) We tied Chelsea and it was a tough game for both sides.

Have you ever met a current or former player?

YES! I am so, so fortunate to have met Steven Gerrard and Martin Skrtel in Charlotte years ago. This was before I was a huge LFC fan. This summer my husband and I went to Ann Arbor and I had the chance to meet Salah, Mane (he hugged me!), Fabinho (I told him his wife is awesome on Twitter!), Virgil, Sturridge, and Robbo! It was such a good experience and I am forever grateful for the opportunity!

Have you ever been to Anfield and if so, what was your first match?

No, but my husband and I are traveling to Liverpool this December over the festive period! We have tickets to the Newcastle and Arsenal matches. I CANNOT WAIT!!

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Written by

We are a group of Liverpool supporters based in the Tampa Bay region of Florida. The opinions expressed here are the author's, not LFC Tampa Bay's.

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