Robertson open letter
It feels a bit self-important writing a letter like this, if I’m honest. But when I was asked, I didn’t want to miss the chance to say thank you to a city and a community that has made me and my family feel like one of their own from day one.
Let me start with something that probably sounds more suited to a letter in The Herald back in Glasgow.
I’m a proud Glaswegian. I always will be. I love telling people where I’m from. It’s part of who I am. It’s where I was born, where I was raised and it’ll forever be in my blood.
But after nine years here, I’ve realised there’s room in my heart for two cities.
Liverpool will forever define a huge part of my life.
Honestly, I think the reason me and my family settled so quickly is because Liverpool reminded us so much of home.
The humour, the people, the mentality — it all felt familiar straight away. At times it genuinely feels like Glasgow and Liverpool are only separated by two different accents.
Both cities have that working-class spirit. Pride. Defiance. People who say what they think. No airs and graces. What you see is what you get.
And more than anything, both places value honesty. There’s something real about Liverpool. People here can spot nonsense a mile off, and I’ve always respected that.
I know from the outside my connection to this city will always be tied to the football club and everything we achieved together. Of course I’m immensely proud of that. How could I not be?
But for me and my wife, our bond with Merseyside goes much deeper than football.
Rachel and I arrived in 2017 as a young couple expecting our first child. Like me, Rach is fiercely proud of being from Glasgow. We actually went to school together, which probably tells you how long she’s had to put up with me.
Looking back now, we probably underestimated how daunting it was — moving to a new city, away from family, about to become parents for the first time.
But Liverpool instantly made us feel comfortable. And the incredible people at Liverpool Women’s Hospital made us feel safe at a time in our lives where that meant everything.
Over the nine years, two became five. Liverpool is where our little team was built.
A lot of teammates — mainly James Milner to be fair — loved winding me up about being captain of Scotland while having three kids born in England. But I’m always quick to correct them. They’re not English. We’ve got three proper little Scottish Scousers.
And honestly, we couldn’t be prouder of that.
The kids probably sum us up best really — Glaswegians with a Liverpool passport.
My wider family feel exactly the same way about this city.
When @robbiewilliams is playing in the Barrowlands and this is the first time in mine and my bestie @KDev32 48yearw that we have missed a @robbiewilliams tour. We are totally depressed . 😢😢😢
@endclothing I have purchased a gift voucher for my brothers Birthday . This is the 3rd voucher I have purchased and they haven’t recieved it. I can’t get a human on live chat to get this sorted. It’s Bots only. Please get in touch. This is not acceptable
@Primark just stood 20 mins in a queue for a refund . Only 3 staff on the tills. Your manager is standing watching. Maybe instead of standing and watching the manager of the Stirling could jump on a till and help the staff .
I find it unpardonable that Ryanair has refused to refund Stephen Crean , 61, who couldn’t take a flight to Austria to watch his beloved Nottingham Forest due to his mutiple knife injuries incurred courageously saving the lives of passengers on that Huntington train.
Ryanair simply, and cruelly, told him that he should have taken out insurance cover.
Memo to Mr O’Leary; This is a time that you should tell your people to throw the commercial rule book out the window , embrace a hero, make the refund and offer to fly him around Europe for free all next year.
We need more Mr Creans and less jobsworths who don’t understand what courage looks like.
One day a Mr Crean might save one of your family or one of your colleagues.