While results on the pitch are still a work in progress, Liverpool’s work off it has been a success – their move to St Helens coincided with improved training facilities at Melwood.
The club’s fundraising charity, the LFC Foundation, launched a new center at the women’s stadium this week, linking up with its rugby club counterparts.
They hope it will help expand their fan base on Merseyside as the stadium relocation will take them away from the Wirral, where the majority of Liverpool Women’s season ticket holders come from.
Nicki Fitzpatrick, a loyal supporter for the past five years, is one of those making the longest journey to home games this season.
“It’s obviously a journey for some fans. One of the buses arrived late this morning so there’s always a bit of concern with the journey considering it’s a home game,” he told BBC Sport.
“But I think it’s a great move and it’s a red stadium. The concourse is really nice inside. It’s spacious and during the winter we can go inside.”
“The pre-match preparation is really nice and much better than at Prenton Park.”
Before kickoff, fans can gather in a controlled area outside to watch the players enter the stadium and take photos.
There’s a new fanzone with small football cages, penalty shoot-out competitions, creative bracelet-making spaces and a musician playing in the bar, mirroring the pre-match offering at Anfield.
The club can also sell hospitality packages and offer seating to friends and family in private areas.
Olivia Brack, 11, a season ticket holder with her father, says she prefers the experience at St Helens.
“There’s more for fans here than there is at Prenton Park,” he told BBC Sport.
“We usually go to the fanzone and meet a lot of other fans, and then we tend to buy some food at the stadium. I like it.”
