Why I Love... Anfield

Sony Gold Award winner John Peel tells BBC Sport why he loves Anfield and Liverpool.

With Anfield looking set to become a piece of football history, lifelong fan John Peel has mixed feelings.

"I am fantastically nostalgic about football stadia," he told Radio Five Live.

"I am sad about the stadium move, if there is one, but I am also optimistic. I have never been able to get a season ticket for Anfield, but now there will be more available.

"So, maybe if I live long enough, I might be able to get one before I die. It is an ambition of mine.

Man Utd and Arsenal are like the Schumachers of football - the whole sport has become like Formula One

John Peel

"I manage to go at least once a season as my wife is an Ipswich Town season ticket holder, but that looks over now.

The Sony Gold Award winner has seen many changes since he first went to Anfield as a youngster.

But it is the effect any change of venue for Liverpool might have on his own children that concerns him most.

"I think I have every right to be nostalgic about the stadium because two of my children have got the word "Anfield" in their names.

"We might have to change their names if the club move.

"My children cannot be anything other than enormously proud of their association with the club.

"Although Alexandra Mary Anfield Peel is not terribly interested in football, William Robert Anfield Peel went to Liverpool University and is fantastically boring on the subject of Liverpool.

"He talks about virtually nothing else."

The BBC legend also voiced his concerns about the future of smaller clubs in the modern game.

Peel said: "Manchester United and Arsenal are like the Schumachers of football - the whole sport has become like Formula One in many respects.

Liverpool are all set to leave their spiritual home

"You feel that the smaller clubs have not got a chance to compete with the big clubs.

"I mean, for the smaller clubs like Ipswich it is like taking the family car out and trying to race against Michael Schumacher around Nurburgring - it is madness.

"I do not think we can change football back to the way it was. Big business has taken over.

"You wonder whether great Anfield managers - like Bob Paisley and Bill Shankly - would be able to survive in the game in this century.

"I think it very unlikely that they would be about to find work."