Albert Stubbins
Centre Forward (1946 - 1952)
Date of Birth: 17-07-1919
Birthplace: Wallsend
Debut : 14th September 1946 v Bolton Wanderers (A) Football League Division One: won 3-1
1st team games: 180
1st team goals: 83
Other clubs: Newcastle United, Ashington
A powerful centre forward and a leading figure in the Liverpool team that won the Championship in the first League season after the Second World War. During wartime he was a prolific marksman for his native Newcastle. He played for England in a victory international and his talents attracted a posse of clubs.
It was while he was sitting in a Tyneside cinema in September 1946 that a message was flashed onto the screen asking him to report to St James' Park. He arrived to find representatives of Liverpool and Everton keen to sign him. Stubbins tossed a coin, met Liverpool chairman Billy McConnell and manager George Kay first and decided to move to Anfield there and then for a club record of £12,500.
Stubbins scored on his debut against Bolton and formed a potent attacking partnership with Jack Balmer. They each scored 24 goals that season as Liverpool landed the title with a team that also included Billy Liddell and Bob Paisley. He was also on the losing side in the 1950 FA Cup Final against Arsenal.
Red head Stubbins, remembered for a spectacular diving headed goal in an FA Cup hat trick against Birmingham on a frozen Anfield pitch, was saluted by the respected "Sports Spectator" who said of him: "He has long legs and pulls the ball down with the sureness of an Alex James".
Albert worked in journalism after hanging up his boots and passed away, following a short illness, in his native north east aged 83 on 28 December 2002
Honours with Liverpool: First Division Championship 1946/47
Albert Stubbins