Why Was Michael Shields In Bulgaria?

Having watched Liverpool FC come back from three nil down at half time to beat AC Milan on penalties in a pulsating European Cup final, Melissa Shields and her family could hardly contain their excitement whilst awaiting the homecoming of her brother, Michael, who had been lucky enough to travel to Istanbul to witness one of the greatest footballing performances of all time.

Michael, a 19-year-old student, had crossed the Turkish border to Bulgaria after the historic match for a celebratory holiday at the Crystal hotel in the Golden Sands resort of Varna with friends. The day after the match he rang home to say that he had seen the victorious Liverpool team returning to a hero's welcome on Merseyside via Bulgarian television.

"He said he had the best time of his life and couldn't wait to come home," Melissa, his sister, said. "He had a cover from his seat in the stadium to bring home for my dad as a souvenir."