Legendary Reds

Jimmy Melia

D.o.B - 1/11/37
Position - midfielder
1st team games (goals) - 286 (79)

Jimmy Melia gave Liverpool just under a decade of unblemished service.

Liverpool born Melia signed for his hometown club on his 17th birthday and made his first team debut just twelve months later in 1955. His debut was a roaring success as he scored Liverpool's second goal in a comfortable 5-2 victory at Anfield. He made just three other appearances after that in his debut season as Liverpool fell short of promotion back to the top flight.

Liverpool's board then thought it was time for a change of manager and appointed former captain, Phil Taylor, to take the reigns. Melia started to established himself under his new manager making an impressive 27 appearances. He also netted six times during the year and in every game he scored, Liverpool won.

Melia continued to cement his place as a permenant fixture in Taylor's starting line up during the 57-58 year. He played a part in 36 of Liverpool's games scoring in ten times. This kept his good luck charm label up as Liverpool still hadn't lost a game in which Melia scored.

58-59 was a fantastic season for Melia as he played in 40 games and still managed more than a goal every other game as he finished the season with twenty-one, which was more than every other Liverpool player that year. The good luck charm of Melia scores, Liverpool don't lose was finally wiped away this year though as the Reds went down 4-3 to Stoke at Anfield in March 59 despite the Scouser netting twice.

He continued to perform at a high standard as he was one of only three players to reach double figures for goals during the 59-60 season, all of this was during another change of management as well as Bill Shankly arrived in December 59. The other two who scored 10 times or more were Roger Hunt who netted 23 times and Dave Hickson on 21 while Melia finished with a very handy fourteen goals in his 36 appearances.

During Shankly's first full season, Melia found himself in and out of the side. He played 27 times and scored just three times including two in a 4-1 win against Derby at the Baseball Ground. The following season however, he was an ever present in Shankly's side along with Byrne, A'Court and Milne. He also netted a further 13 goals to help Liverpool's side top the Division Two table and finally make the step up back to the top flight. During the title winning side Liverpool won three games 5-0 against Leeds, Swansea and Bury all at Anfield and Melia scored in all three games.

Back into the top flight Melia missed just three league games and helped himself to a further five league goals. He also broke his duck of scoring a goal outside of league football when he scored Liverpool's third in the third round of the FA Cup against Wrexham. He also scored the opener in a 2-1 win over Arsenal in the FA Cup as Liverpool progressed to the semi-finals of the Cup. Melia also got himself on the scoresheet at Old Trafford in a three all draw as well as braces against Wolves and Spurs.

Melia's final season for the Reds was the 63-64 season and again he'd been in and out of the side as Shankly tried Arrowsmith up front along side Hunt with St John in midfield on a few occasions. He still grabbed four goals before being released at the end of the season and joining Southampton.

Jimmy also managed on the south coast with Brighton and his finest moment came in 83 when he led the Seagulls to a historic 2-1 win over Liverpool in the FA Cup.

Jimmy Melia, another second division Liverpool legend.

Sam Raybould

D.o.B. - 1875 (exact date unknown)
Position - Striker
Appearances (goals) - 211 (119)

Sam Raybould gifted Liverpool with seven years of goals, goals and goals at the start of the 20th century.

Raybould was born in Staveley, Derbyshire and played for Poolsbrook United, Staveley Colliery and North Staveley before joining Chesterfield Town on trial. His trial wasn't successful and he moved to Ilkeston Town from where he joined Derby County in 1904.

Despite scoring twice in five games for Derby, Raybould returned to non-league football with Ilkeston Town, subsequently playing for Poolsbrook United, Ileston Town (for a third spell) and Bolsover Colliery before joining New Brighton Tower in 1899.

He scored ten times in just 13 league games for New Brighton and was signed by manager Tom Watson for Liverpool in January 1900. He made his debut on 13 January 1900 in a 2-0 win over W.B.A at Anfield and scored his first goal for the club a week later on 20 January in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park a game which saw Everton win 3-1.

Originally a outside-right, he switched to centre-forward at Liverpool, and became a highly successful goalscorer. In the 1902-03 season Raybould set a new record of 31 goals in a single league season. This record stood until 1931 when Gordon Hodgson broke it by scoring 36 goals. In 1903 he, along with right-back Archie Glover was given a seven-month ban from football for agreeing to 'financial inducements' to sign for Southern League Portsmouth. They were also given a lifetime ban on ever signing for Portsmouth.

Raybould regained his place in the Liverpool side and went on to score 128 goals in 225 appearances for Liverpool and remained their record goalscorer for 37 years. As of 2006, he stands as the tenth-highest goalscorer in Liverpool's history.

After leaving Liverpool in 1907, Raybould moved first to Sunderland and after a season there, he finished his career with Woolwich Arsenal. He made his Arsenal debut against Everton on September 2, 1908 and played 30 times for Arsenal that season, scoring seven goals.

He left league football in 1909, joining non-league Chesterfield and subsequently playing for Sutton Town and Barlborough United.

Raybould never gained international recognition but was selected 3 times to represent the Football League against the Scottish League.

 DLS re Willie Stevenson ,I do not know if you are aware but if my memory is correct Willie Stevenson walked out on Rangers and actually went to Australia.When Rangers would not give him a release to sign for a Aussie club he came back to Rangers and signed for the REDS.He was a class half back who could pass the ball with precision.

DLS re Willie Stevenson ,I do not know if you are aware but if my memory is correct Willie Stevenson walked out on Rangers and actually went to Australia.When Rangers would not give him a release to sign for a Aussie club he came back to Rangers and signed for the REDS.He was a class half back who could pass the ball with precision.

Cheers for that mate, I always thought he was a centre mid but looks like I was wrong. And I didn't know about him moving to Australia, so again thanks for that. I've always enjoyed reading your memories from years gone by, gives us a more first hands feel about the players and club.

Thought this deserves a bump.

Andriy Voronin


 

Vegard Heggem

Heggem got his national team debut 25 February 1998 against France, scoring a goal. He was selected for the 1998 FIFA World Cup squad, but spent the entire tournament as a substitute. After the World Cup, Heggem transferred to Liverpool FC for £3.5m[2]. His two initial seasons at Anfield were splendid, but the pacy right back/midfielder was unfortunately plagued by hamstring injuries. He played in the 2000 UEFA European Football Championship, but he got injured during the second match. During the 2000-01 season he appeared in only a few matches, and during the next two seasons he didn't appear in the lineup at all. Heggem left Liverpool FC when his contract ended in the summer of 2003, and shortly thereafter retired from football.

He is currently the owner and manager of a salmon fishing business at the river Orkla in Sør-Trøndelag.[3] He is also an Official Patron of AFC Liverpool, an independent football club owned and run by Liverpool FC supporters. He is also a regular at Liverpool home matches, and was also at the 2005 Champions League Final in Istanbul

Anybody remember that solo goal he scored at boro haha? Took on 2 or 3 then chipped the keeper with his left foot if i remember rightly. What a F***ing legend. Sign him up Rafa bet hes still boss now.

Vegard Heggem

Heggem got his national team debut 25 February 1998 against France, scoring a goal. He was selected for the 1998 FIFA World Cup squad, but spent the entire tournament as a substitute. After the World Cup, Heggem transferred to Liverpool FC for £3.5m[2]. His two initial seasons at Anfield were splendid, but the pacy right back/midfielder was unfortunately plagued by hamstring injuries. He played in the 2000 UEFA European Football Championship, but he got injured during the second match. During the 2000-01 season he appeared in only a few matches, and during the next two seasons he didn't appear in the lineup at all. Heggem left Liverpool FC when his contract ended in the summer of 2003, and shortly thereafter retired from football.

He is currently the owner and manager of a salmon fishing business at the river Orkla in Sør-Trøndelag.[3] He is also an Official Patron of AFC Liverpool, an independent football club owned and run by Liverpool FC supporters. He is also a regular at Liverpool home matches, and was also at the 2005 Champions League Final in Istanbul

Anybody remember that solo goal he scored at boro haha? Took on 2 or 3 then chipped the keeper with his left foot if i remember rightly. What a F***ing legend. Sign him up Rafa bet hes still boss now.

Rob Jones was a better right-back!

Ask Ryan Giggs, Jones had him in his back pocket eveytime he played against him.

Dick Edmed

D.o.B - 14/2/04
Position - winger
1st team games (goals) - 170 (46)

Edmed was signed from his hometown club Gillingham by then manager, and former Liverpool great, Matt McQueen during the summer of 1926 and the manager placed faith in his new signing instantly. McQueen's faith in Edmed was justified though and he made that position his own, missing just a handful of games during the 26-27 season.

His debut came on the opening day of that season in a 4-2 win over fierce rivals Manchester United at Anfield. A Dick Forshaw hattrick and one from Gordon Hodgson ensured Edmed's debut was celebrated with a win. Edmed was waiting too long before he got off the mark either, scoring his first goal on just his third appearance for the Reds although it wasn't enough for us on the day as we lost to Derby County at their, old, ground - the Baseball Ground.

Edmed continued to score on a regular basis and netted seven times during his 42 games in that season including the final goal in a resounding 3-1 win over Southport in the FA Cup. And despite us finishing mid-table, Edmed had gone a long way to establishing himself within the hearts of the Liverpool faithful.

He further strengthened that bond with the fans the following year by playing in every single game as did Tommy Bromilow and in terms of goals only the legendary Gordon Hodgson netted more times than Edmed during the 27-28 campaign. As a club it was one of our more disappointing years so much so that we changed manager in March and brought in George Patterson but for Edmed personally it was a huge success.

But despite the Liverpool fans being unable to get enough of Dick Edmed, one club wasn't so happy to see him. After scoring his debut goal against them the year before, Edmed scored in both wins over Derby including two in two minutes at the Baseball Ground as we went on to win 3-2.

In Patterson's first full season as manager, Edmed and Liverpool's form continued to get better. For the third consecutive year Edmed featured in over 40 games for the Reds down the right wing cementing his place as one of the first names on the team sheet. He was again only outdone by the goal machine that was Gordon Hodgson as well in terms of goals.

Hodgson put the ball into the back of net a fantastic 32 times that year and although Edmed only scored half as many, he was still the only other Liverpool player to get into double figures during the 28-29 season. Though none of his 16 came against Derby this time round, maybe he'd lost his touch - not a chance.

He did however lost his place in the side towards the back end of the following season after suffering a serious injury but before then he was as always a danger for the opposition. He wasn't as prolific for the Reds that year though, scoring only four times in 30 outtings but the injury was still a blow to the side.

The injury also signaled the beginning of the end of his Liverpool career. As the first full season of the 30s started, Edmed would feature just 12 times during the campaign yet he still managed four goals including a brace against his future employers - Bolton. His final game in a Liverpool shirt came in a 2-0 defeat to Man City.

Quite a Liverpool career that started and ended against a Manchester club. But with different fortunes in them with a 4-2 win at the start of his Liverpool career and a disappointing 2-0 defeat at the end of it. Ironic perhaps? Whatever you want to call it, Dick Edmed will always be fondly remembered by those with a Liverbird embedded on their heart.

Dick joined the Kop in the sky on Valentine's Day 1984.

Dick Edmed - one of our first legendary number 7s.

Billy Liddell

D.o.B - 10/1/22
Position - winger/forward
1st team games (goals) 534 (228)

How on earth do you put into words what Billy Liddell achieved during his time at Anfield? A man who played over 500 games and a further 152 during World War II. A man who the fans nicknamed the club after - Liddellpool. If ever a player was bigger than the club then it certainly was Billy Liddell, not that he'd allow anybody to believe it because of his modesty.

Scottish born Liddell was a mere 17 year old lad when he signed professionally for Liverpool, not only that but he was also working as an accountant when he signed professionally. And his parents ensured his contract said he would still be allowed to study while with Liverpool on the off chance his football career didn't take off. Worrying parents eh? Didn't they realise their son was going to become quite possibly the greatest player ever to wear the Red shirt?

Well they, and the club, would have to wait to see that great player because shortly after signing his professional contract in April 39, World War II broke out and like most footballers at the time Billy was enlisted into one of the armed forces. His destination was the air with the RAF.

With the war over, Billy finally took to the field in a Liverpool shirt for the first time (officially) in a FA Cup tie against Chester. He opened the scoring that day and Willie Fagan finished off the scoring in a comfortable 2-0 win. Though unfortunately the Reds went out in the next round to another north-west side in the shape f Bolton.

The following season saw Billy lift his only trophy with the club when we clinched the Division 1 title under the management of George Kay. Liddell certainly played his part in the title winning side scoring eight goals during his 40 run outs that year. Although the Scot did only net once during the second half of the season, that being in the FA Cup third round against Wallsall. Billy's goal that year came in the earlier months of the season.

His drought in 1947 ended during the opening month of the 47/48 year though where he scored the opening goal on the first day of the season against Preston and bagged himself a brace against Stoke near the end of August. And despite us failing to retain our title, or even come close to doing so, Billy improved on his goal tally from the previous season. He again scored in the third round of the FA Cup to beat his total of eight from 46/47 and with goals against Sheffield United and bitter rivals Everton, his total was in double figures.

With Liverpool again ending the season in mid table safety there was very few bright spots to be taken from the 48/49 campaign. But there was Jackie Balmer continuously scoring and of course Billy Liddell. Billy was now well established in the first team and missed just four games that season, a feat he would break the following year where he'd miss just one game as the Reds again disappointed in the League but made their first FA Cup final since defeat to Burnley in 1914.

Not only did Liddell top the appearance charts this year along with Ray Lambert, but also the goalscoring charts. A clear indication that he had become Liverpool's talisman. Liddell ended up one shy of twenty goals that season including a purple patch between October and November where he scored eight goals in just five games. Possibly his most important goal that season came in the FA Cup semi final against Everton where he clinched the game with the second goal in a 2-0 win after, the great, Bob Paisley had put us in front.

But despite Billy's best efforts in the final, they weren't enough to stop Arsenal beating us 2-0. This defeat seemed to signal the end of George Kay as manager and during the following season he was replaced less than a year on since reaching the Cup final. The new man in the hot seat was Don Welsh and he built his side around Liddell.

The Reds seemed to flurry at the backend of the season under their new boss, winning four of his opening seven games and drawing a further two. This gave hope to the Liverpool faithful going into the 51/52 season. Another 15 goals from Liddell including our first of the season against Man United at Anfield, also increased belief in the fans that next year could be our year, again.

However the Reds disappointed their loyal supporters and finished fourteen points behind the eventual champions. Again though, Liddell was the shining light of that bleak season with an impressive 19 goals in 43 games. The second time he'd reached that tally in three seasons. In the lead up to Christmas he banged in seven goals in four games including a hat trick at White Hart Lane against the reigning League champions and the runners up that season Tottenham.

Things got considerablly worse for the club the following year as we finished just two points off relegation and Billy was the only man to hit double figures for goals. On the day the great man turned 30, the club were on the wrong end of a 1-0 scoreline against Gateshead in the FA Cup third round. But the worst was still to come.

The 1953/54 season saw the mighty Liverpool Football Club finish rock bottom the old 1st Division. George Kay never had a settled side during the season and only Billy made over thirty appearances but for the first time since we won the title in 46/47 he failed to make double figures in terms of goals. Fittingly enough though, our last goal that season was scored by Liddell, his last in the top flight of English football.

Our hopes of an instant return to the 1st Division were not long lived after losing five of our opening seven games, this despite winning our opener against Doncaster. And we eventually finished a disgraceful 11th in our first year back in the second tier of League football. The crowning highlight of the disappointing season was probably a 4-0 win over Everton at Goodison Park in the FA Cup. Billy's only goal of that year's FA Cup was the first in this game.

However, he would end up with 30 League goals to compensate any baron spell in the Cup. This was the first time Liddell had scored more than 19 in a single season for the club but surprisingly it wasn't enough for him to end as our top scorer, that prize went to his strike partner Johnny Evans who finished with 33. He scored four times in the Cup and 29 in the League - one less than Billy.

Though Evans wasn't as prolific as the previous year, Liddell certainly was. This time improving on his tally of 31 last year by netting one more in 55/56. Nobody else even got half as many for the club that year. The side also came closer to regaining it's top flight status this year but unfortunately coming third wasn't good enough for promotion. Nor was it good enough for the Liverpool board who parted ways with George Kay at the end of the season and appointed former captain and team mate of Billy Liddell, Phil Taylor as manager.

Taylor equalled that third position finish in his first year and also had a more settled side with five players playing 40 or more games that season, Billy being one of them with 41 only beaten by club legend Ronnie Moran who was an ever present. Liddell also flourished in front of goal again under his new manager with an impressive 21 strikes, topping the club charts once more.

In 57/58 Liverpool again failed to gain promotion to the 1st Division, this despite coming only three points behind the Champions West Ham. Our two meetings with the eventual winners of the title ended 1-1 with Liddell scoring our goal on both occasions. These were just two of his twenty-two League goals that year as he again finished top scorer.

The following year saw Billy celebrate twenty years with club. An achievement very few men will reach. But it was clear age was catching up with the legend and he was restricted to just 19 games, all in the League but amazingly he still scored 14 goals. Only Jimmy Melia with 21 scored more that year than Billy but again it wasn't enough and we came fourth for the second consecutive year in the League. Billy's hopes of returning to the top flight looked over.

In the 59/60 season, Billy Liddell played even fewer games than the year before. This time he took to the field just 17 times and still got himself on the scoresheet five times including the third in a 5-1 win over Stoke at Anfield. This would be his last goal for Liddellpool. During the season he also played under his fourth manager for Liverpool - his namesake and fellow Scot - Bill Shankly.

Fitting in a way that one great Scot named Bill would end his legendary career with the club as another great Scot named Bill was just starting his.

Shanks allowed his countryman one last run out the following year. And in 1-0 defeat to Southampton at Anfield, Billy Liddell said goodbye as a player to the club. While all those there at Anfield said goodbye to a man they'd idolised for years.

Billy ended with 534 games under his belt, a club record at the time. And had his first six years with the club not been hampered by the war, he may well still hold the record of most appearances, though Cally's 857 might be pushing it.

Billy left Liverpool in the knowledge that not only had he played more times than anybody else for his club, he was also only one of two men to be capped more than once by Great Britain in their matches against the rest of the world. The other being the late, great, Sir Stanley Matthews.

Unfortunately the great man is no longer with us having passed away in 2001 at the age of 79. Though not with us, he will always be remembered as one of the greatest this club has even be lucky enough to witness. And I am honoured just to share the same name as him.

Billy Liddell really did change us to Liddellpool Football Club

Can I do a manager???

Can I do a manager???

Why? can you not find a girl

Why? can you not find a girl

+ for that...Made me laugh

Mark Wright

D.o.B - 1/8/63
Position - defender
1st team games (goals) 210 (9)

After a successful 1990 World Cup with England and an impressive domestic year with Derby the following year, Mark Wright made his way to Anfield in the summer of 91 as Graeme Souness' first signing since taking charge a few months earlier. Wright was quickly joined by former Derby team mate Dean Saunders. Wright also became the first Liverpool defender to cost more than a million pound and remained Liverpool's most expensive defender until Neil Ruddock's arrival from Tottenham in 1993.

Wright's Liverpool career started with a victory at Anfield over Oldham before defeat to Man City at Maine Road, a game in which Wright suffered a serious injury and missed the next three months of football. He made his return in the UEFA Cup against Swarowski Tirol in which he helped keep a clean sheet, his first in a Liverpool shirt. He went on to finish the season with 35 appearances including a trip to Wembley.

So although the season started badly for the former Rams man, it ended in the best way possible for Wright. He had the honour to laed the Reds out at Wembley for the 1992 FA Cup final against Sunderland and was the man to pick up the trophy after a comfortable 2-0 win over the Mackems.

The following season was not one to remember for Liverpool Football Club and especially not Mark Wright who by October had lost his place in the heart of the Reds' defence to new Danish signing Torben Piechnik however would regain his place back after Piechnik proved to be a joke of a player. Before losing his place though, Wright netted his first Liverpool goal in a one all draw with Southampton at Anfield.

He also scored in our defeat to bitter rivals Everton at Goodison in December as well as solitary goal in the League Cup (Chesterfield) and the UEFA Cup (Spartak Moscow) during the season. A season in which he played 41 times for Souness' side but the signs were clear that the manager was running on borrowed time after we finished a massive 25 points behind Man United who won the League.

93/94 finally saw the end of the Souness era as Roy Evans took the reigns in January 1994. Wright, a very much considered Souness man, looked as if he was also on the way out the door after missing the final few months of the season due to injury and then being publicly criticised by Evans for his unprofessional behaviour during pre-season for the 94/95 campaign.

Evans stuck to his guns as well and played Wright a mere six times during his first full season as manager with his preferred defence including his two new signings John Scales and, the then record transfer, Phil Babb. Both of whom arrived in September 94.

The following season however a reviltilised Mark Wright was at Anfield. And the former captain played more times than any of his centre half counterparts. As Evans searched for his best centre half combination in his 3-5-2 system, Wright played 42 times, Babb 40, Scales 38 and Ruddock just 28 times.

During the 42 games, Wright also played in the FA Cup for the first time since lifting the trophy as captain in 92 in a comfortable 7-0 win over Rochdale. The game saw Stan Collymore score a hat trick and Jason McAteer score his first goal for the club, it also saw Ian Rush score his 42nd FA Cup goal beating Denis Law's record of 41 in the competition.

Wright himself netted twice that season as well, both over London clubs in victories for the Reds. The first in a 2-1 win over QPR at Loftus Road with Robbie Fowler scoring the second and it was almost de ja vu a month later when Wright again opened the scoring in a 2-0 win over Chelsea before God again completed the scoring.

The season ended in disappointment however at both club and country level for Wright. He played in the FA Cup final side that lost to Man United, but after not being in the squad at all the year before when we won the Coca-Cola Cup this still would have been a huge day for Wright. And with the form shown by the new Mark Wright he'd been recalled to the England side during the season and looked set to be named in Terry Venables' Euro 96 squad but again injury struck the centre half and missed out.

Not that missing out on Euro 96 hampered his Liverpool career too much as he came back as steady as the year before. His steady form saw him again our main centre half with Matteo, Babb, Scales, Kvarme and Ruddock taking it in turns to partner our number 5. Wright played in 43 games during the campaign and scored twice including the second in a 2-0 win over PSG at Anfield in the Cup Winners Cup semi final second leg.

However it wasn't enough after we'd lost 3-0 in France but it was one of Anfield's famous European nights that almost had the happy ending like so many others have. This would turn out to be Wright's last goal in a Liverpool shirt.

Like all great things, Wright's career came to an end in 1997/98 with his long list of injuries finally taking their toll on him. He played the opening seven games of the season but after a 1-1 draw with one of his former clubs, Southampton, Wright would never play for Liverpool again. It was fitting it'd end against one of his former clubs in the shape of Southampton.

His contract expired at the end of the season and he retired from football before taking up management in the early 2000s with Southport.

Mark Wright, the best centre half for Liverpool in the 1990s.

Kevin Keegan.. I like the way he attacks.. As for his profile.. someone please do it for me.. Hahaaa.. Not fluent in writing..

Alan A'Court

D.o.B - 30/9/34
Position - Winger
1st team games (goals) - 382 (63)

Alan A'Court is the first player alphabetically in Liverpool's history.

He was a left winger who was signed from Prescot Cables under the management of Don Welsh in 1952, although didn't make his debut until February 53. In that debut season he managed 12 games and a further 16 the following season, which saw Liverpool relegated to the old Second Division.

A'Court started to establish himself for Liverpool in the second division, making 33 appearances in our first season back in England's second tier. He became even more important to the club the following season as Liverpool narrowly missed out on promotion back to the top flight. In this 55/56 season A'Court made more appearances than any other player besides Geoff Twentyman, the season also saw a new manager in charge towards the end. Phil Taylor, a former Liverpool captain, replaced Don Welsh in May 56.

In Taylor's first full season as manager, A'Court missed just a handful of games. He also scored 10 goals, the first time he'd scored double figures for the club. The same season he received a call up from England, which showed how good the left winger was. Receiving an international call up as a second division player is always a feat to be proud of. A'Court would go on to play five times for England, including a few games during the 58 world cup. Leading up to that World Cup in Sweden, A'Court made an impressive 44 games for Liverpool in 57/58 becoming the youngest player in the club's history to surpass 200 games. A record in itself.

A'Court made a further 40 appearances in the 58/59 season in which he saw his third different Liverpool manager arrive, this time it was, the to become legendary, Bill Shankly. In Shankly's first season A'Court was one of only two players to be ever present, the other being Ronnie Moran. A'Court continued to impress under Shankly the following season and then in 61/62 he was again ever present in the side. This time however, it led to Liverpool being crowned Second Division Champions and finally returning to where we belonged - England's top division.

Once in the top flight, A'Court's appearances became more limited, making only 23 appearances in our first year back. The following season, he failed to make one appearance as Liverpool went onto lift the league title for the first time under Shankly. Shankly did however give A'Court a starting place in the second leg of Liverpool's first ever European match against Reykjavik. It would though be A'Court's last appearance for Liverpool but he did help the Reds progress to second round 11-1 on aggregate.

After a brief spell at Tranmere and a player/coach role at Norwich, A'Court started coaching abroad in Africa among other places.

Alan A'Court was one of Liverpool's greatest players and was just unfortunate he never really got a chance to shine at the highest level.

Born in Rainhill, one of our old boys at Prescot Grammar.

Sadly passed away last December.

 I saw Alan ACourt play many times for the REDS and I can still picture him with a crewcut, he looked just like the all american boy.He was the same as the likes of Billy Liddell,Bob Paisley,Ian Callaghan in that he was a very modest and loyal man and fully deserves to have the status of legend whenever his name is mentioned.I recall him tearing Everton apart in the F.A. Cup at Goodison in 1955 when we won 4-0.We were in the old 2nd division and Everton in the first  in those days so that result lifted our spirits believe me.
                                                                   

Steve McMahon

DOB 2-/8/61

Appearances - 276 Goals - 50

Steve McMahon was one of a number of great Liverpool players to have grown up a blue. But the difference between him and say Robbie Fowler, Steve McManaman and Jamie Carragher was that McMahon actually pulled on the blue jersey in his career.

Steve McMahon made his debut for the blues in 1980. It did not take long for the fans at Goodison Park to take to the scouser and his aggressive style and before long he became the Everton captain. To become the Everton captain at a relatively young age showed what high regard McMahon was held in by Everton. His skill had not gone unseen across the park at Liverpool either.

For one reason or another McMahon moved on from Everton, but turned Liverpool down and joined Villa in 1983. After a difficult spell at Villa, were success did not materialise, Kenny Dalglish came calling in 1985 and it was an opportunity that Mcmahon could not turn down a 2nd time.

Brought into replace Graeme Souness, Mcmahon ironically scored his 1st Liverpool goal against Everton at Goodison Park in a 3-2 victory, a game were Liverpool were 3-0 up quite early on. McMahon more than held his own in his first season with the reds, helping to guide us to the League and Cup double in his first season. Although he was left out of the starting 11 at wembley, Mcmahon had more than put down a marker for what was to come.

In 1986/87 McMahon enjoyed a fruitful season with the reds scoring 14 goals from midfield. By now McMahon's lung busting runs from central midfield were taken for granted. At wembley one of these such runs set up Ian Rush for the opening goal in the league cup final. Liverpool, however would end this season empty handed and a shake up for the following season would be needed, especially after the added blow of losing Ian Rush.

The 1987/88 season signalled the start of a new Liverpool ( with an awful grey away kit ) but Steve McMahon was very much apart of the new team assembled by Dalglish. This side was without doubt the best Liverpool side I have ever seen. Mcmahon along with Ronnie Whelan destroyed teams in the middle of the park helping Liverpool, match the then record of 29 games unbeaten at the start of the league season. People always talk about the 30 yard cracker against Manchester United. But one of the things that stands out for me from that season was Steve McMahon against Arsenal at Anfield. With the game poised at 0-0 just before half time and Arsenal under pressure, a hurried clearence was chased towards the touchline by McMahon. Instead of letting the ball go out for a Liverpool throw, he sprinted to just stop the ball on the touchline, rebounded off the advertising boards, came back onto the pitch taking the ball around a shocked arsenal player, charging towards goal and slipping in Peter beradsley whose shot was saved only for Aldridge to score. Just typical of the man. No cause was lost with Steve McMahon. That season he was ultimately one of the reds standout performers in a great team. After clinching the league title with games to spare, the reds just came up short in their quest for another League and Cup double, losing at Wembley in the FA Cup final.

The 1988/89 season is one that will forever be remembered for only one reason after 96 of our family were lost at Hillsborough. Steve McMahon, a local lad was hit hard by the disaster and attended a number of funerals. Throughout the season he was again at his commanding best in the centre of the field. His sheer determination almost took Liverpool to another league and cup double, cruelly being denied by Arsenal. However, McMahon made a matchwinning contribution at Wembley in the FA Cup final with a typical all round display, setting up the opening goal for John aldridge in a 3-2 victory.

McMahon's consistancy continued as Liverpool won back the league championship from Arsenal in 1990. His 30yard thunderbolt free-kick during the Semi Final of the FA Cup at Villa park against Crystal Palace was sadly not enough to carry Liverpool through to Wembley.

Steve McMahon was sold to Manchester City in 1991 as part of Souness' destruction of Liverpool Football Club.

When I think of Steve McMahon it makes me smile as it takes me back to an era that seems to have gone for good. Although he had the tag of 'hardman', he was so much more than that. There were no 'defensive' midfielders, 'holding' midfielders or even 'attacking' midfielders. Steve McMahon was a MIDFIELD player for Liverpool Football Club. He was quite simply one of the best all round midfield players we have ever had. he could defend, attack, pass 5 yards or 60 yards, shoot, tackle and was a great all round leader. He was box to box for 90 minutes, week in week out! His battles with Peter Reid in the derby games were stuff of legend. One of the things I remember with McMahon was his runs from midfield, another thing missing in todays game. I remember his scoring at the Anfield road end against Everton after having been put through by a great throughball by John Barnes. At Stamford bridge he scored after a lung busting run past the forwards. At wembley in 89 he set up Aldo to score after being put through by Steve Nicol. Of course there were plenty of 25+ yard thunderbolts.

Steve McMahon had the ability to captain the club during any era. His sheer will to win was there for all to see. He was just a fine all round midfield player. The fact that we never found a good enough replacement for him until Steven Gerrard arrived on the scene says it all really. People often talk about, Case, McDermott, Souness etc, but for me Steve McMahon can more than hold his own compared to any of those players.

Without doubt Steve McMahon = Liverpool Fc Legend !!!

Kevin Keegan..

Kevin Keegan..

Care to elaborate?

Geoff Strong

D.o.B - 19/9/37
Position - anywhere and everywhere
1st team games (goals) - 201 (33)

A prolific goalscoring forward for Arsenal was signed by the great Bill Shankly at the back end of 1964 and Geoff Strong would go on to be one of Liverpool's genuine versatile men.

Geoff Strong had already made a name for himself at Anfield before becoming a member of Liverpool Football Club by scoring against the Reds on the opening day of the 64-65 season for his former club Arsenal. A game that also has significance for being the first ever game shown on Match Of The Day.

That goal in late August helped convince Shanks that Strong had a place in his Liverpool side. And only a few months later, Shanks spent £40,000 on the Arsenal forward to try and galvanise his defending champions' poor start to the season. But with Hunt and St John at the club, it was always going to be hard for Strong to break into the side though he did make his debut in the first available game after him joining the club. Strong's debut came as a central midfielder alongside Gordon Milne at Craven Cottage in a one all draw with Fulham. Hunt and St John were, as usual, the pairing up top.

The draw in West London started a run of 21 games without defeat in all competitions for the Reds and although Strong only played in a further four of them, including a goalless draw with his former side Arsenal at Higbury, he did grab his first goal for the club against Burnley in a thumping 5-1 win at Turf Moor. The game against Arsenal was Strong's last for Liverpool in 1964 and didn't feature again until the run came to an end in March 65 against Sheffield United - we lost 3-0.

As the season came to a head, Strong found himself playing in the last 7 games due mainly to an injury Gordon Milne and Strong's versatile soon became invaluable to Shankly and Liverpool. He would wear Milne's number 4 shirt for six of the seven games he played and ironically it was the game against Wolves, in which he wore number 6, that he scored his third and final goal of the season.

That run at the back end of the season saw Strong play in some of the most historic and important fixtures this club has ever been a part of. On the 1st May 1965, Geoff Strong became one of the eleven players to win the FA Cup for the first time in Liverpool's history. It was also the first time that Strong had played in the Cup for Liverpool. Our season wasn't ended there though as we still had the possibility of a European Cup final on the cards.

A 3-1 win at Anfield just three days after our triumph at Wembley saw Strong and the boys have one foot in the final. And as they headed to the San Siro, it was expected that we'd be there again shortly for the final as that's where it was being played. But as the tale has been told so many times, we were cheated in the second leg and the defending champions, Inter Milan, went on to the final in their own ground with a 3-0 victory over us. (Inter went on to defend their crown with a 1-0 win over Benfica). It'll always be a game that haunts all Liverpool fans, young and old.

From the highs of Wembley to the lows of Milan, it was a rollercoaster end to the debut season of Geoff Strong.

The following season he began in fine form. He again took to the field at Wembley for the Charity Shield against United before scoring on the opening day in a 3-1 win over Leicester. Strong continued to try and cement his place in the side and after scoring against West Ham when he became Liverpool's first ever goalscoring substitute was rewarded with a start against Spurs the following week, in which he also scored.

He then found himself getting a run in the team and started each of the next 11 games in all competitions including the two legs with Juventus in the Cup Winner's Cup. Returning to Italy so soon after the disgrace that was Milan got everybody buzzing but the result was again defeat for the Reds as we went 1-0 down to the Old Lady. A win against Villa and defeat to United was our preparation for the second leg but within 25 minutes we'd turn the tie around and gone 2-1 up on aggregate. Chris Lawler got the first and five minutes later Geoff had his first European goal as a Liverpool player.

He grabbed a goal against his former club, Arsenal, in a 4-2 victory at Anfield in December 65 but games started to dry up for him during the New Year and didn't play in 66 until March. Sheffield Wednesday were the visitors to Anfield that day and we took away the points with a 1-0 win and Strong again became a fixture in the side by playing in five of the next six games, only missing the first leg of the Cup Winner's Cup Semi Final against Celtic at Park Head.

After losing the first leg, without Strong, 1-0 at Park Head the Glasgow club came to Merseyside knowing anything but defeat would see them through. But Liverpool had different ideas. After being recalled to the side against Stoke, in between the semi final legs, Strong found himself on the score sheet and his goal against the Potteries helped him keep his place for the return leg of the semi final.

With an hour gone the Bhoys were still one up in the tie until Iron Man Tommy Smith put the Reds one up on the tight, tying the overall score. Shortly after, an injured Geoff Strong would score possibly his most important goal for the club. He rose to get his head to an Ian Callaghan cross and sent the crowd wild as we now led two nil on the night, 2-1 on aggragate.

After the heartache of a European semi final the year before, it made it all the more sweeter to get to our first European final the following year. That goal and game would be the last for Strong for the season though as he missed out on the final against Dortmund, which we eventually lost 2-1 at Hampden Park.

It wasn't a total disaster for the club or Strong though as we won back our League title and were once again the team to beat in England. For the second time in three years, we were League champions. And had an FA Cup in the middle. Not bad eh?

The 66-67 season brought about new optimism because of the previous year's successes. And for Geoff, it was his best season individually he'd expeirenced at Anfield. He started the season very much like the previous one, opening it in the Charity Shield, this time against Everton, and scoring on the opening day - again against Leicester.

Goals came easy at the start of the year for Strong as he netted five times in our opening seven fixtures and though the goals dried up a little, the games didn't for Strong. He looked like he'd finally cemented his place within Shankly's starting XI.

Just like the Cup final in 65, Strong experienced a first against Leeds in the League 66. Eighteen months on from playing in his first FA Cup game for Liverpool, he scored his first ever brace for the club against the same opponents in Don Revie's Leeds United. He also experienced more European heartbreak during the 66-67 campaign when Liverpool travelled to Amsterdam to take on the Dutch champions - Ajax. A side that ripped Liverpool apart that night, without cheating unlike Inter eighteen months earlier.

He remained in the side for the majority of the season and ended up playing in 45 games that year, his best to date and an impressive 12 goals most of which came from a midfield position. Something that we don't see a lot of from today's central midfielders.

Despite this, and the sale of Gordon Milne, Strong found himself out of the side more often than not in 67-68 with Shanks opting for Emlyn Hughes in the middle with Ian St John just sort of floating behind Hunt and new record transfer signing Tony Hateley. Strong had to be patient and found himself playing in all of the FA Cup games. 9 in total after we were taken to replays in the 3rd round by Bournemouth, 4th round by Walsall, 5th round Spurs and in the 6th round we needed two replays and still lost in the end to West Brom.

Strong scored his one and only FA Cup goal for the club that year in the 4th round replay against Walsall.

It looked as if Strong's time had come but his versatility was once again needed when Gerry Byrne fell injured and Peter Wall's form dipped during the 68-69 campaign. Strong would fill in at left back and prove his worth once again to the side. And he did so the following year as well, a year in what would become his last.

After his performances at left back, he looked like maybe he'd found his place back into the Liverpool side. However after a disappointing season on all fronts, including a 5th place finish in the League, it became apparent that Shanks had new ideas for the new decade and Geoff Strong, along with others, wasn't part of those plans.

His farewell game was at left back in a 2-0 defeat at home to our nearest rivals, Everton and though he was never really a sustained regular in the side, he still notched up over 200 appearances for the club.

He was moved onto Coventry in the summer of 1970 and is still fondly remembered by the Liverpool fans as a player and as a man.

Geoff Strong - Mr Versatility.

 Billy just thought I would mention that Geoff Strong only played in the Cup Final because Milne was injured.Now you do not wish injury on any player but it was the best thing as far as it gave Strong his chance to establish himself in the first team.I mentioned in another thread that when Milne got injured it was a toss up between Strong and Chisnall who would play in the final,I guess Shanks got it right again when he selected Strong.

The injury was unfortunate on Milne. But good for Strong.

Didn't Milne and Gerry Byrne parade the Cup before the first leg with Inter mate?

And Shanks always got it right didn't he. As did his parents for naming him after me  

The injury was unfortunate on Milne. But good for Strong.

Didn't Milne and Gerry Byrne parade the Cup before the first leg with Inter mate?

And Shanks always got it right didn't he. As did his parents for naming him after me   

The answer is yes,yes and yes.
              I  know I rant on about that Inter Milan match but in all honesty I have never known atmosphere like it especially when Gerry Byrne and Gordon Milne carried the cup right round the ground.From memory I think the gates were locked about an hour before kickoff.I get very nostalgic when I think about games like that.
 On the subject of Milne  I think it was in 1967 when we bought Emlyn Hughes and he replaced Milne in the first team,I am sure we played Everton at Goodison in the 5th round of the cup and Emlyn was cup tied and Milne was recalled to the first team,from memory again I think they beat us 1=0 scored by that little get Ball.I think that was the end of the road for Milne and we sold him shortly after.