Ian St. John
Forward (1961-1971)
Date of Birth: 07-06-1938
Birthplace: Motherwell
Debut : 19th August 1961 v Bristol Rovers (A) Football League Division Two: won 2-0
1st team games: 426
1st team goals: 118
Other clubs: Motherwell, Coventry City, Tranmere Rovers Management: Motherwell, Portsmouth
National team: Scotland (1959 - 1965) 21 caps/9 goals
One of two landmark Scottish captures by Bill Shankly in the summer of 1961, the other being Ron Yeats, who figured massively in Liverpool's climb from the Second Division. St John cost a then club record £37,500 from Motherwell and this ebullient, crew-cut raider became an instant hero of Liverpool fans by scoring a debut hat trick against Everton in the Liverpool Senior Cup Final.
A wonderful competitor, whose timing in the air overcame his lack of height at 5ft 7½ins he was a majestic header of the ball and with compatriots Yeats and goalkeeper Tommy Lawrence, formed the team's 'spine' that Shankly rated so crucial and which took them to League championship glory and onto the European stage.
St John swiftly became a folk hero and inspired the Kop to adopt "When The Saints Go Marching In" as their sixties song. His darting, all-action style perfectly complemented his attack partner Roger Hunt in what was a bludgeon and rapier combination.
St John's most famous Liverpool goal was his header from Ian Callaghan's cross at Wembley in 1965 to bring the FA Cup to Anfield for the first time. He joined Coventry in 1971, later moving into coaching, management and the media.
Honours with Liverpool: First Division Championship 1963/64 & 1965/66, Second Division Championship 1961/62, FA Cup 1965, Charity Shield 1965 (shared) & 1966
Ian St. John