Willie Fagan
Inside Left, Centre Forward (1937-1952)
Date of Birth: 20-02-1917
Birthplace: Mussleburgh, Midlothian
Debut : 23rd October 1937 v Leicester City (H) Football League Division One: Drew 1-1
1st team games: 185
1st team goals: 57
Other clubs: : Celtic, Preston North End, Belfast Distillery, Weymouth (player/manager)
Fagan, a former Anfield captain, had the unfortunate distinction of being in losing FA Cup Final teams for two different clubs either side of the Second World War, appearing with Bill Shankly for Preston in their 3-1 defeat by Sunderland in 1937 and for Liverpool when they lost 2-0 to Arsenal in 1950.
Red-haired Musselburgh-born Fagan - no relation for former Liverpool manager Joe - played mainly at inside left but also switched to centre forward. He won wartime recognition with Scotland, a period in which he guested for a batch of clubs. Fagan began his career as a teenager with Celtic and after moving to Preston signed for Liverpool in 1937, finishing that season with nine goals in 36 League and Cup appearances.
He was the club's joint top League scorer with 14 the following year and in the first season after the war he collected a championship medal. Fagan made 18 appearances in the title-winning side and scored seven goals, including two in a remarkable 7-4 home defeat of a Chelsea side that included Tommy Lawton.
His 15 senior goals in 1949-50 made him second highest scorer behind Billy Liddell and he totalled 57 goals in 185 League and FA Cup appearances for Liverpool before joining Belfast club Distillery in 1952 prior to becoming player manager of Weymouth. After hanging up his boots he worked as a Borstal officer and died at the age of 75 in 1992.
Honours with Liverpool: First Division Championship 1946/47
Willie Fagan