“The Voice of Anfield” – George Sephton Reflects on 54 Years at Liverpool | OneFootball

Anfield’s Voice and Soul: George Sephton’s Story Echoes Through the Ages

George Sephton’s tale is not just one of longevity, it is steeped in Liverpool’s very fabric. His journey, shared with Greig Hopcroft on Anfield Index, reveals more than anecdotes. It is a living archive.

“I started going to Anfield as a spectator about three or four weeks after Bill Shankly took over,” Sephton said. That wasn’t just a seat in the stands, it was a front-row view to the greatest transformation in English football. He reminisces about life in the old Kop: “If you see all of those old news reels of the Kop, when they’re all cramped together like sardines and swaying from side to side, I was in the middle of that.” Those moments, dampened in steam and sweat, were the beating heart of the club.

A Job That Found a Legend

The iconic voice that narrated decades of triumphs and tribulations was born from a hairdressing chat and a bit of Scouse cheek. Sephton recalled, “My wife used to have a hairdressing business in the middle of Liverpool… one night in April 1971… the guy on the tannoy said something silly and I was tutting like an old grouch.” What followed was classic Liverpool spirit. His wife dared him to do better. So he did.

“I went home and got my old typewriter out and made a full A4 letter to ask for the job and they gave me the trial.” Fifty-four years later, he laughed: “I think the trial has only just finished now after 54 years!”

Sephton’s debut came on 14 August 1971. “A young lad from Scunthorpe made his debut, goes by the name of Kevin Keegan.” That was no ordinary afternoon. It was the start of a new chapter for both of them.

Inside the Booth and Beyond

The gantry was no place for the faint-hearted. “I had to go through the fire escape in the side of the main stand and literally go through the roof and into the gantry,” he said. It was far from glamour. “I remember freezing and thinking, ‘how did I get into this situation’.” But his resolve never wavered. “I took a deep breath and got on with it. As soon as things start happening, I was okay.”

The anecdotes keep coming. But it’s the sincerity and love that shines through. Even when reflecting on the legends he’s seen, Sephton’s clarity is absolute: “People say to me who was the best player you’ve seen at Anfield, and I say Kenny Dalglish… and I still say Kenny.” It’s not just for his brilliance on the pitch. “He’s a terrific human being… on my last day at Anfield three weeks ago, he presented me with a replica championship board and a shirt. He’s such a funny guy and such a pleasure to be around.”

Legacy in Red

There’s a poignancy when someone who is part of Anfield’s soundscape steps away. Sephton did not just announce goals, substitutions and walk-on songs. He gave a voice to memories. Every supporter growing up with Liverpool’s golden era, and even in the darker days, has George in their ears.

He once said, “I was fully expecting somebody else to do to me what I done to my predecessor, but it never happened.” That’s respect. That’s legacy. That’s Liverpool.