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May 22 2007 Andy Kelly in Athens, Liverpool Daily Post

ANCIENT Greece took on a distinctive Merseyside vibe last night as Athens welcomed thousands of Liverpool FC fans for tomorrow night’s European Cup Final against AC Milan.

In its 3,000-plus years of history, Athens has witnessed many an invasion – but one suspects few will have been as raucous and colourful as the travelling Kop steadily gathering strength in the shadows of the Acropolis last night.

Many supporters have been in the city since Sunday, taking advantage of cheaper flights, and arriving through connections such as Frankfurt and Crete.

Two main squares, particularly Syntagma, have been set up as fan zones with five-a-side football, DJs, memorabilia stalls, all of course rapidly decorated with the famous home-grown banners of the army of Liverpool FC fans.

Anthems The Fields of Anfield Road and new favourite Campione rang out in the pleasant evening temperatures which had replaced the threatening clouds and occasional rain earlier in the day.

“Unrivalled History, Glorious Future” proclaimed one flag proudly as fans appeared confident of a sixth European Cup victory tomorrow night.

There was evidence everywhere of the problems with the ticketing allocation from Uefa, with the majority of fans already here not lucky enough to be holding any of the 17,000 allocated to Liverpool FC.

Les Black, 57, a builder from Walton, arrived in Athens on Sunday via Frankfurt, but without a ticket. He said: “On our plane, there were three people with tickets and 25 without.

‘‘We’ve seen plenty of touts, many of them from Liverpool, which is just out of order. They way they did things didn’t help matters. The touts are asking anything from 800 euros to 2,000 euros for a ticket, but I’m not interested any more, I’m just glad to be here. There are also loads of forgeries around.

“The people of Athens have been great and they all say they want Liverpool to win – at least that’s what they’re telling us! I’ve only seen about six Italians.”

Tom O’Dwyer, 42, was another fan without a ticket and has travelled from Ireland for his first European Cup final. He The 42-year-old plasterer said: “Most people I’ve spoken to don’t have tickets but the whole place is stunning. You can go around six of the sites on a 12-euro ticket and it’s absolutely beautiful. I was born in the same hospital as Steve Finnan in Limerick before he moved to London at a young age, so he’s my main man.

“I’m sure we’ll do it.”

BACK in Syntagma Square, fans enjoyed some liquid refreshment while treating the locals to an early taste of the Kop choir.

Healthcare assistant Ritchie Lunt, 24, from Fazakerley, arrived in Athens with no ticket and nowhere to stay but had been helped out by fellow supporters.

“It’s been great. Everyone has been sound. Beers are around 1.5 euros to four euros depending where you are. I’ve met just three people with tickets. We met one Olympiakos fan and he said lots of Greek fans bought up the Uefa tickets and sold them on to travel agents for 1,000 euros a piece.

“I’d say Athens is more of a normal city than Istanbul. I never really felt like I knew where I was there but there is a different feel here. I’ve seen some sites and I’ll be going up the Acropolis before I leave.”

Mike Charleson, 25, from Litherland, has been herein Athens since last Friday, having travelled alone but met up with a group of 50 fellow fans at an airport in Germany.

“It’s been fantastic and I know we’re going to do it.”

Earlier, the Liverpool FC team had left John Lennon Airport at 10am with good wishes ringing in their ears on a plane decorated with five stars.

Even as the flight taxied to its take-off point, the pilot pointed out a group of firefighters at the side of the runway holding a good luck banner reading: “Good luck you Mighty Reds in Athens.”

The whole squad, along with manager Rafael Benitez, chief executive Rick Parry and former chairman David Moores, appeared relaxed and in good spirits in their casual tracksuits ahead of their date with destiny in the Olympic stadium.

Peter Crouch sat by the door – no doubt because of his longer frame – while Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard sat together farther back, listening to iPods and playing with PSPs.

Flag in the name of Shankly made by a firm fit for Churchill >>>