Former Grand National winner Sir AP McCoy has revealed that his love of Liverpool extends beyond Aintree and towards the people of the city - as the legendary ex-jockey discussed Anfield and the new Everton Stadium.
The legendary former 20-time champion jockey won at Aintree in the iconic race with Don't Push It in 2010, a feat which also saw him crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year. However, it was just one win for the now 48-year-old McCoy around the brutal Grand National fences.
His career is one of the most impressive in recent sporting memory. However, just a single win in the main event at Aintree shows just how challenging taking victory really is, even for such a legendary figure.
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On an annual trip to Aintree, McCoy revealed his love for the city of Liverpool and its people in an interview with the Liverpool ECHO's Ryan Paton on Ladies' Day. He said: “Aintree is a great place - I love the Liverpool people, I think my first time here was 1995. I love coming here and the Grand National is such a special race, but the whole build-up is special.
"You come here today on Ladies’ Day, the weather isn't great, but I don’t think the weather will stop people. That’s the great thing about coming to Aintree and Liverpool, the weather won’t stop people enjoying themselves."
He added: “I think I have a love for the Liverpool people. You come to Liverpool and you feel like you’re nearly in Ireland. There’s a real friendliness to the Scouse people, they really make you feel welcome and they know how to enjoy themselves.”
However, despite his professed love of Liverpool, he admitted that his support for Arsenal takes precedent despite a soft-spot in his heart for the Reds. Many Irish fans support Merseyside clubs due to connections to the city, with its proximity to the Irish sea, but McCoy said that his Irish connections saw his support for Arsenal emerge during the days of Liam Brady and David O'Leary.
He said: “I’m a huge Arsenal fan. I’ve been a huge Arsenal fan since I was five, because most of the Arsenal team were all Irish. But if I wasn’t an Arsenal fan, if I was to bring someone to a football ground that was neutral, then I’d bring them to Anfield.”
McCoy went on to admit that he might annoy some Everton fans with his comments, but that the 'special' atmosphere created at Anfield on European nights is why he'd make the decision. However, he also said that the construction of Everton's new ground at Bramley-Moore Dock could change things in the future.
He said: “The Blue side of the city won’t like me, and I know plenty of lads like Franny Jeffers and Alan Stubbs who played for the Blue side as well.
“But I do think that there is something special about European nights at Anfield and it’s a pretty cool ground. Although, I am staying at The Titanic [Hotel] and I’ve noticed the new Everton ground going up - I have a funny feeling that the Red half might be a little bit jealous when we see it finished!"
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