Liverpool FC: Friends in fateful Anfield reunion after 50 years

Colin McCabe (left) and James McCarthy became best buddies while sitting next to each other in class

Two estranged schoolfriends enjoyed a fateful reunion when they sat beside each other at a football match 51 years after they lost touch.

James McCarthy and Colin McCabe, both 67, became best friends when they were made to sit in alphabetical order in class at their school in Liverpool.

They lost contact in 1972 when 16-year-old Colin moved to London.

James said it was "unbelievable" they ended up next to each other Liverpool's game at Anfield on Thursday.

He told BBC Radio Merseyside that Colin had written a letter to him from his new London home in 1972 but did not include his address.

The teenager had also made a mistake in writing down his friend's postcode, meaning the letter arrived three months late, via Leeds and Leicester.

James later made several unsuccessful attempts to locate his friend.

However, fate would intervene at Liverpool's Europa League fixture at Anfield.

"I walked in and this guy is sitting there. We don't recognise each other because it's been 51 years and we were 16 last time [we saw each other]," he said.

"We were just chit-chatting in the first half and at half time, I said, 'Do you do any social media?'"

They then saw each other's names and profiles on X, formerly known as Twitter.

"He said, 'Did you go to Cardinal Allen Grammar School?' and I go, 'Yeah' and he says, 'It's me, Colin.'"

"It was just unbelievable. I looked at his face… and I thought yeah, I recognise him."

'Meant to be'

Colin, who eventually moved back to Merseyside, said he would normally sit in a different section at Anfield but had a chance to pick a seat near the halfway line for Thursday's match.

"I didn't recognise him. It was his name that I recognised when he showed me something on Twitter but even then I never thought it would actually be him," he said.

Such was the joy in catching up on past decades, James said they were absorbed in "talking away" throughout the second half.

They did not even pause to take a picture together, and only halted their catch-up to celebrate Liverpool's fourth goal in the 92nd minute.

They have since swapped phone numbers and arranged to meet up again soon.

James joked they were "still as stupid as ever ", adding that schoolfriends "know you inside out - it's the best thing".

"It'll just be lovely to have such a good catch-up.

"Honestly I've been so happy… it was meant to be."