Know Your History? Kirkby is Liverpool

[liverbird04]

Know Your History?? Kirkby is Liverpool

 

By Raymond Williams : 27/11/06

There seems to be a bit of a witch-hunt going on against the people of Kirkby , which is definitely slightly vexing. Why would anyone not consider this town as scouse?

I grew up in Kirkby and although I live down south now, I am still linked to the town and have never felt the need to defend it so much as now but some of the vitriolic crap that has been seeping onto this Mailbag over the last few months would have the Daily Mail's editor think twice about publishing it.

 

Some versions of word-of-mouth history would have you believe that to be considered a scouser you have to have some kind of link to the Dockland industry of old or Scotty Road... (which is just more b******s tribalism... but anyway, for arguments sake...)

 

During the Second World War, Liverpool was battered by this country's footballing Nemesis with the dock areas and Scotty Road where especially decimated and therefore thousands of families had to be relocated. So what followed was the swallowing up of many of Liverpool's peripheral areas that where once just small villages connected to the city by dodgy roads and the odd canal link.

 

Kirkby was one such village and was chosen as one of the main places earmarked for growth. Over time, estate after estate was built to house the many in need of escaping the drudgery of post-war Liverpool City Centre and surrounding areas. Houses with indoor toilets and more than two rooms where built to house the proud scousers and go a small way to compensate for the decimation of their once great city.

 

So this led many Evertonians and (unfortunately) the ones who follow the other lot, to re-locate to Kirkby, which helped the city keep its identity as most of the affected people could leave the crap left in the City and stay within a safe distance to still be exploited and paid buttons to re-build the city... Everybody wins.

 

So, a couple of generations on, there are lots of real scousers in Kirkby, generations of Lacoste laden boys chasing bronzed-up ladies who wear pyjama's as evening wear... I remember those days with some fondness (although my tracky was always a fake one off the market), and I never remembered once being referred to as a 'woolyback' or not a scouser as I queued for the match. I had the uniform and the accent so I never saw a problem.

 

Personally, I still don't think that moving to Kirkby would be a great idea but not for 'purist' reasons ? mainly because that is an idea that is being touted with the Tesco money as the deal sealer and I think a link with such a gratuitous killer of small businesses would likely do just that to Everton Football Club, and the many businesses that thrive on a match day... but that's another rant for another time.

 

The main gripe I have is that so many people think that, if Everton moved to Kirkby, it would be the end of Everton as the Club of Liverpool ? which is obviously Daily Mail style bulls***. We need to worry about what is best for the club and if moving to a Liverpool suburb is the option we take then, as long as it has been financially weighed up for what is best for the immediate and for the future, then it shouldn't matter if it ends up in Kirkby. Kirkby's identity is scouse and it will always be scouse, as my nan and late granddad would testify, they remember being shipped out from their homes near Scotty and being re-housed in Kirkby, just a few miles away in new part of 'Liverpool'...

 

What seems to have begun is the kind of tribalism that wrecks communities, in this case the community of EFC. We have a proud family tradition at our club but this tradition is being jeopardised by gangs of 'know-it-alls' who will do their best to exclude people as to re-affirm their 'loyalty' to the club, even if it stands in the way of progress and s***s on and offends a large part of the Club's fanbase.

 

Kirkby schools are Red and Blue, Kirkby Kids play in the street as AJ or 'Captain Red neck'... they don't play rugby league and don't have annual sheep-shearing competitions (but if they did they would do it with a Everton top on). They sit down for Christmas dinner with their families from around the City and argue over Moyes's and Benitez's tactics, they are as scouse as they need to be. And scouse enough to realise the effects this ground re-location will have wherever it may be, so sensible debate is what is needed ? not just baiting for a scapegoat (or sheep) that happens to have the same blood as 'Real Scotty Road Scousers'

 

http://www.toffeeweb.com/season/06-07/comm...09-Williams.asp

 

they are getting a bit touchy aren't they

[Sion]

Denial...

 

Kirkby is about as Liverpool as Formby or Southport

[johngibo YPC]

I love the way he is trying to say Kirkby is part of Liverpool but refers to it as a town, and then a village.

It will be funny as f*** if they move there. Maybe they could support a club shop in Kirkby, cos the one in Liverpool has closed down.

[smithdown]

"Kirkby schools are Red and Blue, Kirkby Kids play in the street as AJ or 'Captain Red neck'... their families from around the City and argue over Moyes's and Benitez's tactics, they are as scouse as they need to be"

 

 

Er...if Kirkby is Scouse then shouldn't they ALL be blues?

[Guest Scot]

Blues would love it being in Kirby. Much easier access from the East Lancs road and the M57.

[L19red]

its a laugh to wind them up about kirby not being in Liverpool, but the points he is making are right. Liverpool doesn't end at the border with Knowsley MBC, anyone who thinks it does should feel free to go to the fusilier in kirby or the leather bottle in halewood and explain to the residents that they aren't really Liverpudlians.

[The Hitman]

Try telling Thommo,Terry Mac and my Dad that Kirkby isn't Liverpool.

And John Conteh....

[Guest efcrmagic]

Amount of people who spell it "Kirby", christ.

[R A Softlad]

Kirkby = Knowsley

 

Fact.

[Kvarme Ate My Food]

Kirkby = Knowsley

 

Fact.

 

still scouse though

[Murphman]

its a laugh to wind them up about kirby not being in Liverpool, but the points he is making are right. Liverpool doesn't end at the border with Knowsley MBC, anyone who thinks it does should feel free to go to the fusilier in kirby or the leather bottle in halewood and explain to the residents that they aren't really Liverpudlians.

 

 

The Kingfisher is a local wine bar in Kirkby I've often popped in for a cocktail whilst visiting the cousins, very nice it is too, my missus was well impressed . I'd like to see anybody tell them mad feckers in there they're not scousers.

[Falconhoof]

Kirkby = Knowsley

 

Fact.

 

True.

 

Its Knowsley council working on their stadium project. Liverpool city council have nothing to do with it.

[realtarragona]

Try telling Thommo,Terry Mac and my Dad that Kirkby isn't Liverpool.

And John Conteh....

 

The only people I'll be telling that to is Evertonians if they move there.

[Flasher]

Lots of people moved to Stevenage, Bracknell etc as overspill from, London. Just because those people are from london, doesn't make the likes of Stevenage etc London. Those people are just Londoners living elsewhere.

 

They may be scousers living in Kirkby, brought about by those from Liverpool moving on mass there, but that doesn't mean it's Liverpool surely? Certainly not when Everton move there anyway

[Coyler]

Cricklewood is Ireland.

[Murphman]

Lots of people moved to Stevenage, Bracknell etc as overspill from, London. Just because those people are from london, doesn't make the likes of Stevenage etc London. Those people are just Londoners living elsewhere.

 

They may be scousers living in Kirkby, brought about by those from Liverpool moving on mass there, but that doesn't mean it's Liverpool surely? Certainly not when Everton move there anyway

 

 

Kirkby is miles nearer to Liverpool than Bracknell or Stevenage to london. People in Bracknell speak with a Berkshire burr, people in Kirkby are scouse speaking, you couldn't tell the difference.

Edited November 28, 2006 by Murph

[cymrococh]

People in Bracknell speak with a Berkshire burr

RP doesn't.

[Murphman]

RP doesn't.

 

 

He f*ckin does. Not the most pronounced but he does.

[Guest Scot]

Lots of people moved to Stevenage, Bracknell etc as overspill from, London. Just because those people are from london, doesn't make the likes of Stevenage etc London. Those people are just Londoners living elsewhere.

 

They may be scousers living in Kirkby, brought about by those from Liverpool moving on mass there, but that doesn't mean it's Liverpool surely? Certainly not when Everton move there anyway

 

Is right, otherwise we'd need to count Skem and Winsford

[L19red]

Lots of people moved to Stevenage, Bracknell etc as overspill from, London. Just because those people are from london, doesn't make the likes of Stevenage etc London. Those people are just Londoners living elsewhere.

 

They may be scousers living in Kirkby, brought about by those from Liverpool moving on mass there, but that doesn't mean it's Liverpool surely? Certainly not when Everton move there anyway

 

yeah but bracknell and stevenage dont have London postcodes or london phone numbers or london accents or london buses or any number of other cultural associations with London whereas kirkby has all of those ties with Liverpool and many more.

 

I'll take the piss out of the blues if they move as much as anyone, but it doesnt change the fact that Kirkby is a suburb of the city of Liverpool. I know technically Kirkby is in Knowsley MBC, but Bootle and Seaforth are both in Sefton so are they excluded as well?

[fyds]

Kirkby = Knowsley

 

Fact.

WRONG! Kirkby = what used to be called 'Simonswood', postcoded L32 and was always a part of Liverpool. I grew up at 3 Imber Road, Southdene Kirkby and attended Brookfield School along with Thommo, his brother Ian, sisters May and June (I know!), Dennis Mortimer and his brother Brian who lived on Russland Road riound the corner, drank in the Kingfisher and the Falcon and it was as scouse as it gets. Terry Mac and Tommy Caton went to St Kev's, John Conteh went to Roughwood along with his nutter brother Michael. Bewley drive which bisected my house from our School had a Liverpool Corporation Works Depot and rent office on it.

 

Kirkby became a part of the 'Knowsley' bit after the electoral boundaries where redrawn in the late 70's - up until then we were part of the Kirkby and Huyton wards, with Harold Wilson (and later Robert Kilroy Silk () as our MP's. What the bluenose misses out on is that almost the entire first resettlement of Kirkby from 1947-1955 was made up of families cleared from bombed out slums in Kensington, Tuebrook, West Derby, Sefton, Garston and Whitechapel - more scouse you couldn't get. Knowlsey was originally a part of Lord Derby's estate.

 

The Kingfisher is a local wine bar in Kirkby I've often popped in for a cocktail whilst visiting the cousins, very nice it is too, my missus was well impressed . I'd like to see anybody tell them mad feckers in there they're not scousers.

Less than 60 yards from where I was broght up and rough as a bear's chuff. The chippy on Broad lane round the corner did the best curry sauce and chips anywhere, ever FACT!

 

Is right, otherwise we'd need to count Skem and Winsford

I doubt you could see Anfield's old floodlights or Woodison from Skem ior Winsford - you could from my old bedroom window.

[Murphman]

 

Less than 60 yards from where I was broght up and rough as a bear's chuff. The chippy on Broad lane round the corner did the best curry sauce and chips anywhere, ever FACT!

 

 

The Kingfisher Kirkby home of the Conteh's and other assorted 'faces'. My cousin Chrissie Richardson married one of the locally 'famous' Thomas family, they lived in Hallsands Road just around the corner, emigrated to Vancouver and eventually came back to Kirkby where they live to this day. That must say something although i'm not quite sure what.

Edited November 29, 2006 by Murph

[Coyler]

Nowt so touchy as a touchy culchie.

[fyds]

The Kingfisher Kirkby home of the Conteh's and other assorted 'faces'. My cousin Chrissie Richardson married one of the locally 'famous' Thomas family, they lived in Hallsands Road just around the corner, emigrated to Vancouver and eventually came back to Kirkby where they live to this day. That must say something although i'm not quite sure what.

The Contehs' pub was the Woodpecker on County road (I was sitting in there once with my adoptive brother Brian who still lives round the corner on Delby Road, when an axe came through the window and buried itself in the foot of the bar - somone shouts 'Arlo, yer fuggin' w*nker!' and runs off), near where the academy now is. Dennis Mortimer, Terry mac, Joey Jones and occassionally Thommo would drink in the Kingfisher, predomoninently a 'Catholic' pub.

 

Nowt so touchy as a touchy culchie.

Piss off, Pikey!

[Coyler]

Dennis Mortimer, Terry mac, Joey Jones and occassionally Thommo would drink in the Kingfisher, predomoninently a 'Catholic' pub.

Makes sense.

 

Kingfishers are a Roman Catholic species of bird.