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American met a group of Scousers in New York - what happened next sums up our city

Jacob Zelinski spoke to the ECHO in an interview from his home in New York about the response to his viral video, preserving his late brother's memory and meeting Jurgen Klopp

[Jacob Zelinski spoke to the ECHO from his home in New York about a Scouser's incredible act of kindness ]

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Jacob Zelinski spoke to the ECHO from his home in New York about a Scouser's incredible act of kindness (Image: Jacob Zelinski)

Jacob Zelinski found out this week that there's nothing quite like being embraced by the Scouse spirit of community. The American writer posted on Thursday (August 13) about his encounter with a group of Liverpudlians in New York and the story has since gone viral, as he shared an act of kindness that reflects the best of this city's warm and welcoming identity.

The 29-year-old was having a solo drink in Manhattan after a shift in work when he was drawn to the infectious energy of a group on a nearby table. Speaking to the ECHO from his home in the Big Apple, he said: "They were so boisterous, talking to the bartender, and to eachother. They were laughing in a way that made me think, 'Damn what is so funny?' I haven't laughed like that in a long time. I think they noticed me noticing them so one of them just looked over and invited me into their conversation.

"Of course I noticed their accents and I asked, 'Where are you guys from?' and they said, 'Liverpool.'" Jacob doesn't believe in coincidence and the development was particularly poignant because Liverpool has taken on an important significance to the family since the tragic death of his brother, Joey.

Although the family hail from Detroit, his late brother developed an obsession for the Reds in college and Jacob recalled how he would arrange his life to follow the team. He laughed: "This boy missed exams, missed flights, couldn't remember to tie his shoes in the morning. But God forbid he would miss an 8am match. One day it was over a Christmas vacation. We stayed up so late and then he was up at 7.30 the next day watching Liverpool. I was like, 'Don't you want to sleep?' He said, 'I will sleep after the match'."

Joey died aged 23 in a car accident in 2019 and Jacob has since adopted his brother's love for the Reds as a way to stay close to him and preserve his memory. Bumping into a group of Scousers felt like a sign from the universe to share his story and Jacob stayed with his new friends for the rest of the night as they went on a pub crawl around New York.

[Joey Zelinski at a Liverpool game in Toronto in 2012. He became a devoted Reds supporter before his tragic death in 2019]

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Joey Zelinski at a Liverpool game in Toronto in 2012. He became a devoted Reds supporter before his tragic death in 2019(Image: Jacob Zelinski)

He said: "I tell these guys in the bar [about Joey] and they loved it. They said, 'Liverpool is the best and you have to visit.' We had a great time and we exchanged Instagrams. They said, 'When you do visit, which you will, hit us up and we'll show you Liverpool.'

"Of all the bars in New York City, and all the places I could have sat, we ended up next to eachother with this connection. It's such a big, small world."

Jacob's story struck a chord and one member of the group, named Thomas Robinson, reached out a couple of months back to ask for his address as he wanted to send him a gift. The package arrived this week and contained a whole host of Liverpool memorabilia, including a shirt with Joey's name on the back and the year he was born.

Jacob said it's difficult to put into words just how much the special gesture meant to him, but it reassures him that his brother's spirit is still with him. He said: "It's this feeling of divinity of something so out of your control but so meaningful to your life.

"When someone does something so thoughtful and kind for you, you're pretty much brought to your knees in gratitude. It was surprising. I didn't cry, I laughed. It was joy, delight and not sadness."

[ Jacob Zelinski with his Liverpool jersey, emblazoned with Joey's name and the year he was born]

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Jacob Zelinski with his Liverpool jersey, emblazoned with Joey's name and the year he was born(Image: Jacob Zelinski)

He added: "I've lived with my grief for longer. It's been almost eight years. It maybe would have made me cry five years ago, but it feels like my brother is with me in a moment like that. And it reminds me that he's with me, which I think is why it makes me laugh instead of cry. Oftentimes I find that when my brother sends me signs or reaches out to me, I am laughing not crying.

"He's pulling pranks on me and trying to make me laugh. Putting funny people in my life like Thomas and those Liverpool gentlemen. So I pull out that jersey, I see his name and I'm like, 'Joey, you m**********r.' You really did it on this one."

The clip of Jacob opening the hamper has been viewed over 200,000 times on Instagram. In the video, Jacob said the gesture "took his breath away" and many people have taken to the comments to tell the poet he has now been embraced as a Scouser. Jacob told the ECHO the sense of belonging he feels from the city since the post has been particularly special as it perfectly encapsulates the true meaning of You'll Never Walk Alone.

He said: "What's more emotionally profound than singing that song with your arms around your friends. It's so powerful. Life can be such a b***h. But life can also be something like this where I woke up yesterday to 500 new friends in the UK telling me I belong, which is really all anyone wants.

"All these people who are strangers, but not really strangers, want the absolute best for me. I want to make them proud and make my brother proud and go into the world knowing that I belong to these Scousers."

It's not the first time Jacob has been on the receiving end of the Liverpudlian community spirit. Joey lived in Boston and the family were invited to Fenway Park in 2019 after his death, when they got to meet the players and former manager Jurgen Klopp.

[Jacob and Thomas Zelinski with Jurgen Klopp at Fenway Park]

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Jacob and Thomas Zelinski with Jurgen Klopp at Fenway Park(Image: Jacob Zelinski)

He said: "I remember Klopp was last and he lingered with us for a moment to actually talk to us. He asked how he passed and how he was a fan. He thanked us for being there and gave us a hug." He has also been welcomed into the community of the sports bar in Detroit where Joey used to watch the games, named Thomas Magee's.

It's this sense of community that drawn Joey to Liverpool all those years ago and Jacob is grateful for the heartening humanity he has experienced in the wake of such a devastating loss. He said the unity derives from the best of the Liverpool community spirit, adding: "Scousers go out of their way to show compassion. They pull up seats at their table for everyone. And if there's not a seat, they'll give you their's and stand.

"What I've always said about big moments like these and cruel moments like losing your brother is neither of them are deserved. You have to take them both as they come, but specifically pay attention to these good moments, and say thank you for them and not take them for granted."

[Jacob Zelinski with his mum and Joey's friends outside Thomas Magee's sports bar in Detroit]

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Jacob Zelinski with his mum and Joey's friends outside Thomas Magee's sports bar in Detroit(Image: Jacob Zelinski)

Jacob is determined to pay the generosity he has experienced forward in his day-to-day life as he knows experiences like this mean his brother will never be forgotten. He said: "It's eight years after the accident and I'm here talking about him. I oftentimes think he died when he was 23, that's not a lot of life to live. I often think that I am his legacy. As are my brother and now my nephews. You get to know my brother through knowing me

"I might live with my heart on my sleeve but I wouldn't have it any other way because it leads to stuff like this. It's become my life's work and continues to be. My brother's story is only getting bigger. It's just getting started."

Next up for Jacob is putting plans in place to visit Merseyside to pay tribute to Joey, whose photo features on a memorial wall at Anfield. Jacob's older brother Thomas visited L4 a few seasons ago to scatter some of Joey's ashes at the stadium that means so much to the family.

But acts of kindness like this week tell Jacob the universe is now calling for him to make his own pilgrimage as he hopes to visit his new spiritual home next year. He said: "It's so special and it makes me feel like I need to get a flight to Liverpool. I don't have plans, but in the past few days it has become quite evident I should make plans."

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