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Robbie Fowler stands in front of 800 people and pauses for breath. Before he can continue answering the question he has just been asked, three, four, 14 people shout up to him.

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The Legends Bar in New York is loud and boisterous. This is not LFCNY's usual meeting bar – in fact, this venue is usually filled with Manchester United fans – but such was the demand of the event with Fowler and Ian Rush, there was no other choice.

There is not a space in the place. Fans stand, shoulder-to-shoulder, many dipping their heads into plastic pint glasses to take a sip. The party had started long before the former Reds strikers appeared.

There is something quintessentially New York about the gathering. There are quiet people and loud people; there are people from England, Ireland, South America, Australia; there are those who want to listen, and those who want to talk and become the centre of attention.

This is New York – a brilliant metropolis where everybody can be how they want to be. Tourists snap pictures at every block, youngsters shout over to each other on busy streets, taxi drivers communicate in the language of car horn.

And football fans now take pride of place next to some of the more established sports. When walking along Fifth Avenue, there is a striking number of billboards to do with the game. Arsenal have not long been in town and their promotional posters remain.

This is different to Boston and Chicago. Until reaching Legends Bar, there is hardly a Liverpool shirt in sight. This city is too big for even Liverpool to make an imprint upon its everyday life. But the passion is bubbling beneath.

“The game is known over here now and the idea of it being a minority sport is long gone,” explains Nathan Smith, co-president of LFCNY, the official supporters club of New York City. “There's excitement amongst supporters because the team are here.

“If you're a Liverpool fan in New York, you're excited. There's a buzz, but I wouldn't say there's a buzz in the city – that will come when the season starts.”

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The work of LFCNY is evident, as is that buzz. The event with Rush and Fowler is so packed, fans gather outside and watch through the window of the bar, cupping their ear to the window. It is quite the feeling to know that while the city continues to snap and shout and beep, this street had become Liverpool.

This led to the supporters club organising Anfield Row – a series of bars, including their regular haunt 11thth Street – which will recreate the match day experience at Anfield before the game with Manchester City.

The organisation of the club is impressive from Nathan and other co-president Darragh Kennedy. Liverpool have not played in New York since beating Roma at the Giants Stadium in 2004, so demand was at its peak. Ninety-six wristbands were distributed to lucky fans who could meet Rush and Fowler – poignant, classy, but also functional.

“The club started 20 years ago now, we're the oldest supporters club in North America,” adds Nathan. “It started with a bunch of mostly Scousers and Irishmen trying to find a bar to watch the game, and they all came together to try to organise something.

“It was much more difficult 20 years ago to find the bar to watch the game, and you had to pay 10, 15 bucks to watch a football match.”

No such worries now. LFCNY has over 800 members and counting, while their 11thth Street Bar – capacity 150 – is often full long before kick off. While this event is a special one, it's clear how demand is high.

“Our club is comprised of around 70% to 80% American, and that's grown over the past few years. It's come a long way over a relatively short period of time,” says Nathan.

“You see the growth. Now NBC are doing the coverage, they show every single game live so you can see every game you want to over here.”

This is the essence of New York and football. Football is becoming on trend, and this is a city always ahead of the curve. They will soon have another MLS team, while marketable players like Ronaldo, Bale, Neymar and Messi have faces made for Times Square. The support of Liverpool is not just growing, but the sport as a whole.

There are some at LFCNY who have been there from the start, others who have not long began their affinity with the Reds. The beauty of that is everybody here is equal, everybody has a voice; fans hug and talk long into the night, meeting up with old friends in what is a thriving community of fans from all cultures and nations.

LFCNY is growing so much, that it even had to turn away a special guest.

“We had to turn down James Bond,” laughs Nathan. “At the Palace game at the end of last season, the bar was at capacity, the doors were closed and we were letting nobody in.

“Someone realised we turned down Daniel Craig.

“He didn't get in, because every Scouser is equal - he didn't get there on time and didn't get in.

“Daniel Craig got into the World Cup final on the guest list – but he couldn't get into our bar. That's LFCNY.”

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