The 'magic' of living along Liverpool FC's parade route

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When Liverpool FC win a major trophy, one of the longest roads in the city is transformed. Queens Drive, which stretches 10 miles (16.1km) from Sefton Park in the city’s south to Walton in the north, traditionally hosts large parts of any open-top bus parades for Anfield’s conquering heroes. On Monday, Reds lucky enough to live close to the route are planning to host friends and family from across the country, fire up their barbecues, and join the crowds of hundreds of thousands just outside their doorsteps. And preparations begin weeks in advance.

Perhaps nowhere in the city is more ready than to celebrate than a terrace of seven properties along Queens Drive, as it passes through Stoneycroft. Each home has been decked in flags, banners, and red bunting since it became clear Liverpool were going to emerge as Premier League champions for the second time in five years. Vicky Potter, who lives in one of the homes, told the BBC there was no co-ordinated effort – all the neighbors just happened to be on the same page. “It’s always the same every year, we’re all just Reds along here so everyone does it naturally to be honest,” the 37-year-old said. “When we go down the Drive we always look to see if there is any other blocks like ours but there never is.”

For mum-of-two Naomi Dunne, who lives just off Queens Drive in Wavertree, another major celebration is a chance to “show off the city”. “Liverpool still does have a bit of a reputation in some parts of the country,” she said. She said: “I think actually it just shows we’re a fantastic city, Eurovision two years ago showed that when there’s something to celebrate, we celebrate it well. “We’ve friends coming up from London to stay, we’ve had a couple of other friends asking if they can come and stay as well from Middlesbrough.” For her children, she said the chance to see their heroes up close in their own neighborhood is “just magic

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