Liverpool FC fans joy at Carling Cup victory (VIDEO)

Feb 27 2012 by Luke Traynor, Liverpool Echo

Linda Daly said: "I felt sorry for Steven Gerrard’s cousin as he missed that final penalty, but I'm a true Red and I'm made up we lifted that trophy."

Dennis O'Brien, from Woolton, said: "It was an amazing atmopshere. I came recently for England against Switzerland which was a friendly, and after that I just wanted to come to a Liverpool cup final, and it lived up to all my expectations.

"I'm staying in Windsor, and we might just have a few beers now to celebrate the day.”

In the hours leading to kick-off, fans in red and blue flooded in off the Wembley Park tube station and immediately burst into song as they stepped onto Olympic Way, before the short five minute walk to the new stadium in the distance.

Dave and Jeanette Collins, both 59, had travelled from Thornton, Crosby, with one ticket short and so wore signs plastered to their backs pleading for a spare.

Dave said: "We're fan card holders, and been to every match in the Carling Cup competition, but we missed out in the ballot.

“We were told we were the 3500th in line! Jeanette's a bit apprehensive of going in the stadium on her own as we lost our nephew Gary Collins at Hillsborough.

"I'm prepared to spend up to £100 for a ticket. Somebody offered us one for £400 but that was just silly."

Michael Schiller, 26, had travelled from Nyon in Switzerland in the hope of buying a ticket, and said: "I've left my girlfriend shopping around London and I'll pay up to £250 for a chance to get inside and see Liverpool. I'm desperate!"

Mark Hazelhurst, 45, from Wallasey, said: "The atmosphere was just fantastic. I got off the train at Euston and I'm surprised the tube didn't derail as there were so many Liverpool fans bouncing up and down in the carriage on the way to Wembley.

"The London people didn't know what had hit them, but it was all good-natured."

The ECHO bumped into David Newman, 34, from Sydney, with the following sign strapped to his back: "48 hours in transit and 11,000 miles. One Australian willing to give a vital organ for a ticket." 

When we arrived he had just done a deal for a Wembley ticket for the very reasonable price of £50, and he said: "I’m ecstatic I've got this. It's a lot less than I thought I was going to have to pay. Let's hope it gets me through the turnstiles and barcode scanner.

"I've got friends and family in Liverpool but I've never been to Wembley. I had the chance to go in 1992 when Liverpool played Bolton, but I passed up the chance to do that with my grandad, which I really regret now, so this will make up for it."

Keith Ames, 52, from Kirkby, was with his brother Keith, 54, and said: We were in Baker Street where there was some cracking sing-songs going on. I thought some of the Cardiff fans were a bit aggressive, so we had a bit of a word with them just trying to encourage more friendly banter."

Liverpool fans launched a public demonstration against the Sunday Sun, the replacement for the now-defunct News of The World which sold its first edition yesterday.

Don't Buy The Sun leaflets adorned walls and street furniture while chants of Justice For The 96 was a common sound as Reds supporters paraded to the stadium.

VIDEO: Hillsborough Justice Campaign protest against new Sunday Sun

Sheila Coleman, spokeswoman for the Hillsborough Justice Campaign, said: "It was brilliant to see the mass of Don't Buy The Sun posters in the crowd at Wembley. The fact that Liverpool fans are willing to commit to this protest on a day which is so special goes to the heart of the matter - our enduring fight for justice for the 96.

“We should give a special thanks to Cardiff supporters who stood shoulder to shoulder with us, united in boycotting a scurrilous publication."

*Click here for more Don't Buy the Sun video - Hillsborough campaigner Nicola Branch on the ongoing campaign