LIVERPOOL F.C. OLD STARS THREAD

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Chris Lawler

Defender (1963 - 1976)

Date of Birth: 20/10/43
Birthplace: Liverpool
Debut : 20th March 1963 v West Bromwich Albion (H) Football League Division One: drew 2-2
1st team games: 549
1st team goals: 61
Other clubs: Portsmouth, Stockport County
International caps while with Liverpool: 4 (England)
National team: England (1971-1972) 4 caps/1 goal

A king of scoring full backs he amassed a remarkable 61 goals for Liverpool without the aid of penalties, believed to be an all-time record. Even before England's 1966 World Cup winner Martin Peters was winning plaudits for his blind-side runs and being acclaimed as "ahead of his time" Lawler was master of the art.

His stealth at gliding forward from a defensive position into a scoring situation was a potent weapon for the Liverpool side of the 1960's which deploying Lawler at right back partnered by Gerry Byrne on the left, marched to Championship and FA Cup glory.

Quiet and self-effacing off the field - qualities which earned him the nickname 'Silent Knight' - Lawler oozed class and composure on it. He was also a highly capable performer at centre half, a role in which he made his senior debut in March 1963.

Liverpool-born Lawler, who made 241 consecutive League appearances between October 1965 and April 1971, won England recognition at schoolboy, youth, under 23 and full international level. He left Anfield for Portsmouth in 1975.

Honours with Liverpool: First Division Championship 1965/66 & 1972/73, FA Cup 1965, UEFA Cup 1973, Charity Shield 1965 (shared) & 1966


Chris Lawler

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Avi Cohen

Defender (1979-1981)

Date of Birth: 14-11-1956
Birthplace: Tel Aviv
Debut : 15th September 1979 v Leeds United (A) Football League Division One: Drew 1-1
1st team games: 23
1st team goals: 1
Other clubs: Sheffield United, Huddersfield Town, Port Elizabeth (South Africa).
National Team: Israel 51 caps/3 goals

Israeli international Avi Cohen was signed by Bob Paisley from Maccabi Tel Aviv for £200,000 in May 1979.

Cohen made his Reds debut at left back in September 1979 at Elland Road in 1-1 draw with Leeds United but continued to be on the verge of the first team and was mainly used as a covering player for injuries.

In the final game of the 1978-80 season Cohen was part of the Liverpool team that clinched the Championship against Aston Villa at Anfield. He had earlier scored an own goal in front of the Kop to give Villa an equaliser but in the second half made amends when he scored at the same end to put the Reds 2-1 up, and eventually clinch the title in style with a 4-1 win.

However, he didn't win a championship medal as he had only played four games that season. The following season Cohen found himself still behind Alan Kennedy in the pecking order for the left back slot and also faced competition from Richard Money, who was equally capable of covering at in that position.

He left Anfield after his contract was cancelled in November 1981 and he returned to Israel. He later moved on to play for Rangers under Graeme Souness in May 1987.

Honours with Liverpool: None


Avi Cohen

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Alan Hansen

Date of Birth: 13-06-1955
Birthplace: Clackmannanshire
Debut : 24th September 1977 v Derby County (H) Football League Division One: Won 1-0
1st team games: 623
1st team goals: 13
Other clubs: Partick Thistle
National Team: Scotland (1979–87) 26 caps/0 goals

Rated by many to be the most skilful centre half in the history of British football his game oozed elegance. The graceful Scotland international was a gifted player tailor-made for Liverpool's mid 1970's tactical development of building more patiently from the back, which brought them such huge success in England and Europe.

His control and vision was as effective in creating Liverpool attacks as in stopping the opposition's and his aptitude was underlined by his multi-sport prowess which also embraced international recognition at basketball, volleyball, squash and golf, a game at which he still excels.

Hansen, who captained Liverpool to the League and FA Cup double in 1986 under the management of his close friend Kenny Dalglish, was one of Bob Paisley's most inspired signings. He cost £100,000 from Partick Thistle in May 1977 and within 18 months had made the No 6 shirt his own.

His first great central defensive partnership was alongside Phil Thompson and in the 1980's Hansen formed a magnificent combination with Mark Lawrenson. When he retired through injury in 1991, a week after Dalglish's resignation as manager, he had collected three European Cup and eight title medals in his amazing harvest of honours. He is now a celebrated BBC football pundit.

Honours with Liverpool: First Division Championship 1978/79, 1979/80, 1981/82, 1982/83, 1983/84, 1985/86, 1987/88 & 1989/90, FA Cup 1986 & 1989, League Cup 1981, 1983 & 1984, European Cup 1978, 1981 & 1984, Charity Shield 1979, 1980, 1982, 1986 (shared) & 1989


Alan Hansen

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Laurie Hughes

Centre Half (1943-1958')

Date of Birth: 2-3-1924
Birthplace: Waterloo, Liverpool
Debut : 5th January 1946 v Chester City (A) FA Cup: Won 2-0
1st team games: 326
1st team goals: 1
Other clubs: Tranmere Rovers
National Team: England (1950) 3 caps/0 goals

A commanding centre half who could also play at wing half Laurie Hughes holds the distinction of being the first Liverpool player to play in the World Cup finals.

Strong an ox and an astute reader of the game he was a regular member of Liverpool's defence in the decade immediately following the end of the Second World War.

A former Tranmere trainee who joined the Reds in 1943, he made 30 appearances as the club won the first post-war championship and played in the 1950 FA Cup Final defeat by Arsenal.

Hughes won his three England caps during the 1950 World Cup in Brazil and played in the embarrassing defeat by USA. The following year his only goal for the club salvaged a draw two minutes from the end of the home fixture with Stoke.

The club's fortunes dwindled rapidly during the early fifties and after narrowly avoiding relegation in 1952-53, Liverpool did go down in bottom place a year later.

Hughes continued to play regularly and his last full season was a good one as he only missed one League match in 1956-57. Approaching his mid-30's by then, his last appearance for Liverpool came at Charlton on September 28 1957, although he didn't retire until May 1960 aged 36.

Honours with Liverpool: First Division Championship 1946/47


Laurie Hughes

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Tom Cooper

Defender (1934-1939)

Date of Birth: 09-04-1904
Birthplace: Stoke
Debut : 8th December 1934 v Chelsea (A) Football League Division One: Lost 1-4
1st team games: 160
1st team goals: 0
Other clubs: Trentham, Port Vale, Derby County and Wrexham (wartime guest)
National Team: England (1927 - 1934) 15 caps/0 goals

After playing in the Cheshire League for Trentham the Stoke-born right back moved to Port Vale before joining Derby for £2,000 in 1926. He became skipper at the Baseball Ground and an England regular, winning 15 caps and captaining his country as well as gaining Football League recognition.

Liverpool paid £7,500 to sign him in December 1934 and he became skipper, forming a solid full back pairing with his international colleague Ernie Blenkinsop, whom he partnered 10 times for England. A single handicap golfer, the balding Cooper's positional play, tackling and anticipation compensated for his noted weakness in the air and he was one of the stars of his era.

His talent shone during an undistinguished period for the club. He made 160 League and FA Cup appearances for Liverpool but failed to break his duck in the scoring stakes, having managed just one goal for Derby. When the Second World War began, Cooper became a sergeant in the military police and guested as a player with Wrexham and Liverpool.

His last appearance in a Liverpool jersey was, ironically, against his hometown club Stoke at Anfield on April 20 1940. Two months later on army despatch duty he was killed when his motor cycle collided with a bus. After an inquiry into his death all army despatch riders were ordered to wear crash helmets.

Honours with Liverpool: None


Tom Cooper

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Jack Balmer

Centre or Inside Forward (1935-1952)

Date of Birth: 06-02-1916 ( deceased 25.12.84)
Birthplace: West Derby, Liverpool
Debut : 21st September 1935 v Leeds United (A) Football League Division One: Lost 0-1
1st team games: 313
1st team goals: 111
Other clubs: Everton (amateur), Brighton & Hove Albion & Newcastle United (wartime guest)

A local boy from a family with a strong football pedigree, he formed the first of Liverpool's great post-Second World War attack partnerships alongside Albert Stubbins. Balmer's uncles Bill and Bob had played for Everton in the early 1900's and Jack had been on the Goodison books as an amateur. But he signed professional for Liverpool as a 19-year old in 1935 and later became captain.

He was equally at home at centre or inside forward and during the war years won England recognition in what were classed as unofficial internationals. But the resumption of organised League football in 1946-47 brought Balmer the only major winners medal of his career as Liverpool lifted the first post-war championship.

Liverpool's then club record £12,500 signing of Stubbins from Newcastle produced a bountiful 48-goal attacking partnership with Balmer - each man scoring 24 - in a side that also included the legendary Billy Liddell and subsequent Anfield managers Phil Taylor and Bob Paisley.

During November of that season Balmer earned a niche in the record books by hitting three consecutive League hat tricks: three against Portsmouth, four at Derby and three against Arsenal. He also scored five in the next four games to give him 15 goals in seven matches! He retired in 1952 after scoring 111 goals in 313 League and FA Cup appearances.

He died on Christmas Day 1984.

Honours with Liverpool: First Division Championship 1946/47


Jack Balmer

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Ray Lambert

Left Back (1945-1956)

Date of Birth: 18-7-1922
Birthplace: Bagillt, Flintshire
Debut : 5th January 1946 v Chester City (A) FA Cup: won 2-0
1st team games: 341
1st team goals: 2
Other clubs: None.
National Team: Wales 5 caps/0 goals

Welsh international Ray Lambert signed for Liverpool as an amateur when just 13-year-old in January 1936 but it wasn't until 1946 that he made his Reds debut.

He was probably the youngest player to join a football league club before the war and went on to become an accomplished and reliable full back.

A Kop favourite, Lambert played a pivotal role in the Reds Division One Championship success in the 1946-47 season, playing alongside the likes of Billy Liddell and Albert Stubbins. He played in the 1950 FA Cup Final defeat by Arsenal but then the club's fortunes gradually worsened until relegation to the Second Division was confirmed at the end of the 1953-54 season. He then remained on Liverpool's books for a further two seasons before announcing his retirement a few weeks short of his 34th birthday in 1956.

Honours with Liverpool: First Division Championship 1946/47


Ray Lambert

[Mighty T.A.L.]

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

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Cyril Sidlow

Goalkeeper (1946-1951)

Date of Birth: 26-11-1915
Birthplace: Colwyn Bay
Debut : 31st August 1946 v Sheffield United (A) Football League Division One: won 1-0
1st team games: 165
1st team goals: 0
Other clubs: Wolverhampton Wanderers, New Brighton
National Team: Wales 7 caps

After serving in the Second World War, Cyril Sidlow arrived late in the game but was a safe goalkeeper with fine distribution, who would often opt to throw the ball rather than kick it.

His professional career began with Wolves but when the Midlander's signed future England keeper Bert Williams Sidlow sought a move. Liverpool stepped in and paid £4,000 for his services in February 1946 for £4,000.

He quickly established himself as Liverpool's number one and capped his first full season at Anfield by winning a League Championship medal

Ironically, the Reds pipped Sidlow's former club to the title and it was on his return to Molineux in a crucial end-of-season clash that he enjoyed perhaps his finest performance in a Liverpool shirt.

Wolves required a win to take the title, while Liverpool needed the points to keep their hopes alive. Sidlow gave an inspired performance to deny his old club and the Reds won 2-1.

Sidlow kept his place for most of the next three years and helped the club reach its first Wembley FA Cup final but it ended in disappointment with a 2-0 defeat to Arsenal in 1950.

He played in the opening 10 League fixtures of 1950-51 before missing the next four (his place being taken by Charlie Ashcroft and Russell Crossley for two games each) before making what was to be his last Liverpool appearance in a home First Division game against Newcastle United on 4th November 1950, when he conceded four goals in 10 minutes.

Cyril Sidlow passed away aged 89 in April 2005.

Honours with Liverpool: First Division Championship1946-47.


Cyril Sidlow

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Eddie Spicer

Defender (1945-1954)

Date of Birth: 20-09-1922
Birthplace: Liverpool
Debut : 30th January 1946 v Bolton Wanderers (H) FA Cup: won 2-0
1st team games: 168
1st team goals: 2
Other clubs: Wolverhampton Wanderers, New Brighton

Eddie Spicer was decorated for bravery whilst serving in the Royal Marine in World War Two and displayed just as much courage on the field in the Red of Liverpool.

A former England schoolboys international, Eddie, who could kick with either foot, made his league debut for Liverpool on the opening day of the first post-war season 1946-47, although he had actually played in an FA Cup tie against Bolton Wanderers the previous January. Many of his early appearances for the club came in the half-back line but his preferred position was at left back.

He played in the 1950 FA Cup Final defeat by Arsenal but disaster struck a year later when he was ruled out for the whole of the 1951-52 season with a broken leg, sustained in a pre-season tour of Sweden.

He battled back to play 28 games in the 1952-53 season, but the following season another leg break, in a league game at Old Trafford forced his retirement from the game.

A popular figure, he was granted a testimonial by Liverpool and a crowd of over 40,000 turned up which showed how high in esteem he was held.

Eddie died, aged 82, on Christmas Day 2004 after a long illness.

Honours with Liverpool: First Division Championship 1946-47


Eddie Spicer

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Berry Nieuwenhuys

Outside Right (1933 - 1947)

Date of Birth: 05/11/11
Birthplace: Boksburg, Transvaal, South Africa
Debut : 23rd September 1933 v Tottenham Hotspur (A) Football League Division One: won 3-0
1st team games: 260
1st team goals: 79
Other clubs: Boksburg FC, Germiston Calies (wartime guest for Arsenal and West Ham)

A fast, lean right winger Nieuwenhuys, nicknamed 'Nivvy', was one of a batch of South African players to be signed by Liverpool over a 30-year period. Born in the Transvaal, he was signed by Liverpool in 1933 where he linked up in attack with his fellow Springbok, Gordon Hodgson.

As well as his pacy raiding down the right flank, Nieuwenhuys supplied an impressive quota of goals by cutting in and unleashing fierce shots. He reached double figures in all of his six full seasons at Liverpool before the Second World War, scoring 10, 11, 10, 13, 13, 16 up to 1938-39. His benefit match against Everton in February 1939 earned him £658 and during the war, in which he served in the RAF, he guested for West Ham and Arsenal.

When League football resumed in 1946-47, Nieuwenhuys collected a championship medal by making 15 appearances and scoring five goals in the team starring Billy Liddell, Jack Balmer, Albert Stubbins, Bob Paisley and company that landed the first post war title.

After scoring 79 goals in 260 League and FA Cup appearances for Liverpool he returned to South Africa in 1949 as assistant golf professional to the famous Bobby Locke at the Transvaal Country Club. Nieuwenhuys died in 1984, aged 73.

Honours with Liverpool: First Division Championship 1946/47


Berry Nieuwenhuys

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Ernest Blenkinsop

Defender

Date of Birth: 20-4-1902
Birthplace: Cudworth, Yorks.
Debut : 17th March 1934 v Birmingham City (H) Football League Division One: Won 1 - 0
1st team games: 71
1st team goals: 0
Other clubs: Cudworth United Methodists, Hull City, Sheffield Wednesday, Cardiff City, Buxton, Halifax Town, Bradford, Hurst
National Team: England (1928-33) 26 caps/0 goals

Ernie Blenkinsop was one of the finest full backs England has ever produced and mastered the art of hard but fair tackling.

His international caps were won while with Sheffield Wednesday

At Anfield he complemented his England partner Tommy Cooper, but it was at Sheffield Wednesday where he gained success, and won two Division One championship medals.

Honours with Liverpool: None


Ernest Blenkinsop

[Mighty T.A.L.]

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