A red scarf saves day for Blue leader

A red scarf saved the day for Mrs. Margaret Thatcher, the Conservative leader, when she made Liverpool F.C's Anfield headquarters her first port of call during a hectic 24-hour visit to Merseyside.

Mrs. Thatcher was wearing a powder blue and white costume when she met team captain Emlyn Hughes, wearing blue slacks, in the trophy room.

Emlyn suggested the leader of the Blues was wearing the wrong colours.

Quick as a flash, Mrs. Thatcher whipped out a bright red neckerchief and put it round her neck. “I've come prepared,” she joked.

There was another slight problem when Mrs. Thatcher admired the U.E.F.A. and Football League championship cups.

Emlyn warned: “Don't try to lift that. I couldn't and the boss couldn't, and we both dropped it.”

When Mrs. Thatcher lifted the large trophy, the base fell off.

After being presented with a gold necklace, with a Liverbird on it, by the chairman of the club, Mr. John Smith, Mrs. Thatcher went to see the famous Kop.

She heard that it was fifty years old and that the reconstruction work on the stands was to cost £420,000.

When manager Bob Paisley invited the Tory leader to visit them and watch a match, Mrs. Thatcher said she would love to.