LIVERPOOL F.C. OLD STARS THREAD

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Gordon Hodgson

Inside Right (1926-1936)

Date of Birth: 16-04-1904
Birthplace: Johannesburg .
Debut : 27th February 1926 v Manchester City (a) Football League Division One: Drew 1-1
1st team games: 378
1st team goals: 240
Other clubs: Transvaal FC (South Africa), Aston Villa, Leeds United, Port Vale (manager)
National Team: England (1930 - 1931) 3 caps/1 goal, South Africa (1924) 1 cap/0 goals

During an era when Liverpool often found themselves cast in the shadow of their near neighbours from across the park South African inside forward Gordon Hodgson was one of the few shining lights for the Reds.
Liverpool's answer to Everton legend Dixie Dean, Hodgson was a prolific marksman whose achievements in front of goal set new records at Anfield.

Born in South Africa to English parents Hodgson was spotted by Liverpool officials when visiting England with a touring South African side in the early 1920's.

He was signed up in December 1925, along with compatriots Arthur Riley and James Gray, and quickly set about re-writing the club's goalscoring records.

In 1930/31 he set a new Reds record of 36 league goals in a season and it was a feat not surpassed until the emergence of Roger Hunt in the sixties. His record of 17 Liverpool hat-tricks, however, is yet to be broken

A fine all-round sportsman, who won three caps for England, Hodgson also played first-class cricket for Lancashire while at Anfield and also excelled at baseball.

In January 1936 he was transferred to Aston Villa for £3,000 before finishing his career with Leeds United. In the aftermath of the Second World War Hodgson became manager of Port Vale but died prematurely, aged just 47, in June 1951.

Honours with Liverpool: None


Gordon Hodgson

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Fred Hopkin

Outside Left (1921-1931)

Date of Birth: 23-9-1895
Birthplace: Dewsbury, Yorkshire
Debut : 27th August 1921 v Sunderland (A) Football League Division One: Lost 0-3
1st team games: 359
1st team goals: 11
Other clubs: Darlington, Manchester United

Fred Hopkin's place in Anfield folklore was assured the day one of his goals was immediately followed by a fire in the Kemlyn Road stand.

Fortunately there were no spectators injured that day but it was a strange moment to say the least. The visitors to Anfield that day were Bolton Wanderers and the goal he scored was his first in Liverpool colours.

A balding winger, Hopkin was more a provider of goals rather than a finisher and was a good team player. Signed from Manchester United for a fee of £2,800, he missed only two games during the club's Championship wins in season 1921-22 and 1922-23.

He was also involved in a scandal during his time at Old Trafford when Manchester United were fined £350 for paying him more than the regulation maximum wage and promising an illegal percentage on his transfer fee.

Hopkin, the last surviving member of Liverpool's double championship winning side of the early 1920's, died in March 1970.

Honours with Liverpool: First Division Championship 1921/22 & 1922-23


Fred Hopkin

[Mighty T.A.L.]

James Jackson

Right Back/Centre Half (1925 - 1933)

Date of Birth: 04/12/00
Birthplace: Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Debut : 14th November 1925 v West Bromwich Albion (H) Football League Division One: Won 2-0
1st team games: 224
1st team goals: 2
Other clubs: Queens Park, Motherwell, Aberdeen

Known as "Parson" Jackson, Jimmy is believed to be the only player in Liverpool history to become a church minister after retiring from the game. Born in Newcastle to Scottish parents' sport was very much in his blood. His father played professional football for 20 years with various English and Scottish clubs while his cousin was the famous Australian Test cricket star Archie Jackson.
Jimmy played for Queen's Park, Motherwell and Aberdeen before joining Liverpool in May 1925. He became captain three years later and proved one of the most versatile players ever to wear the Anfield jersey, appearing in every outfield department.

He had some stirring Merseyside derby tussles as a centre half or full back playing in front of goalkeeping star Elisha Scott against Everton's celebrated centre forward Dixie Dean. Jackson completed a notable double by being selected for the Football League side after appearing for the Scottish League earlier in his career.

A great crowd favourite, flaxen-haired Jackson hung up his boots in 1933 after 224 Liverpool outings in League and FA Cup, which brought him two goals. He studied for the Presbyterian ministry during his Anfield career and read Philosophy and Greek. He went up to Cambridge before becoming ordained.

Honours with Liverpool: None


James Jackson

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Harry Chambers

Striker (1919-1928')

Date of Birth: 17-12-1896
Birthplace: Northumberland
Debut : 30th August 1919 v Bradford City (A) Football League Division One: Won 3-1
1st team games: 338
1st team goals: 151
Other clubs: North Shields Athletic, West Bromwich Albion, Hereford United.
National Team: England (1921 - 1923) 8 caps/5 goals

Harry 'Smiler' Chambers sent fear into the opposition with his ferocious left foot shot, and averaged a goal every two games.

Chambers topped the Liverpool goal charts in the first five post-World War One seasons, and played a pivotal role in the Reds winning two consecutive championships in 1922 and 1923.

He scored a memorable hat-trick in a 5-1 win over Everton at Anfield in October 1922 and also won eight caps for England during his time at Liverpool, scoring four goals.

Harry continued to score with great regularity and was the club's only ever-present during the 1925-26 & 1926-27 League seasons. He left Liverpool for West Brom in 1928, having averaged almost a goal every two games, but was used as a centre half by the Baggies.

After retiring from the game he continued to play the game he loved for Shropshire team Oakengates until he was 52. He died in 1949.

Honours with Liverpool: First Division Championship 1921-22, 1922-23


Harry Chambers

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Ephraim Longworth

Full Back (1910 - 1928')

Date of Birth: 02/10/87
Birthplace: Halliwell, Bolton
Debut : 19th September 1910 v Sheffield Untied (A) Football League Division One: lost 0-2
1st team games: 371
1st team goals: 0
Other clubs: Bolton Wanderers, Leyton
National Team: England (1920 - 1923) 5 caps/0 goals (Ephraim also captained his country, the first Liverpool player to do so)

Bolton-born right or left back Longworth, one of the dominant and influential figures of Liverpool history, was the first Anfield player to captain England. He was given that honour against Belgium in Brussels in 1921, the second of five unbeaten outings for his country. He had made his debut in the memorable duel with Scotland at Hillsborough the previous year, when England fought back from 4-2 down to win 5-4.

After progressing from junior football he played for Bolton Wanderers in the Lancashire Combination and Leyton in the Southern League before joining Liverpool in 1910 and becoming captain.

Longworth made 370 senior appearances - without a goal to this name - in a marathon Anfield career that saw him play until he was 40 and also brought him Football League recognition. His superb full back partnership with Don McKinlay was a feature of Liverpool's team that captured the League championship in consecutive seasons in 1922 and 1923. Those two medals added to Longworth's FA Cup runners-up medal in 1914.

He was immediately recognisable for a lock of hair hanging over his forehead. Standing a shade below 5ft 9ins his intelligence and positional sense was without peer. After retiring in 1928 he joined Liverpool's coaching staff and died in 1968.

Honours with Liverpool: First Division Championship 1921/22 & 1922/23


Ephraim Longworth

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Tom Bromilow

Left Half (1919-1930)

Date of Birth: 7-10-1894
Birthplace: Liverpool
Debut : 25th October 1919 v Burnley (A) Football League Division One: Won 2-1
1st team games: 375
1st team goals: 11
Other clubs: : Burnley (manager), Crystal Palace (manager), Newport (manager), Leicester City (manager)
National Team: England (1921 - 1925) 5 caps/0 goals

Locally born, Tom Bromilow asked Liverpool for a trial and two years later was an England international.

The First World War was nearing its end when Bromilow tentatively enquired about the possibility of a trial. His request was granted and the rest, as they say his history.

The youngster was pitched into the first team at left half and impressed immediately. A fine tackler whose distribution was also one of his major assets Bromilow established himself as a regular member of the team and missed just two games in each of the club's successive title-winning season's in the early twenties.

International recognition deservedly came his way and he won the first of five caps against Wales in 1921. Although the remainder of the decade brought little in terms of success at Anfield Bromilow continued to serve the club with loyalty and distinction and was an ever-present in the 1927/28 season.

After hanging up his boots he went to coach in Amsterdam before returning to England and embarking on a managerial career with Burnley, Crystal Palace and Leicester City.

He died suddenly on a train on March 4 1959, while scouting for Leicester City, on his way home from a cup-tie between Wrexham and Merthyr Tydfil.

Honours with Liverpool: First Division Championship 1921/22 & 1922/23


Tom Bromilow

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Bill Lacey

Versatile (1912-24)

Date of Birth: 24/09/89
Birthplace: Wexford (Ireland)
Debut : 2nd March 1912 v Middlesbrough (h) Football League Division One: drew 1-1
1st team games: 258
1st team goals: 29
Other clubs: Shelbourne, Everton, New Brighton
National Team: Ireland 26 caps/3 goals

One of the great characters of Merseyside football who could fill any outfield position, Wexford-born Lacey began his career with Dublin club Shelbourne before joining Everton in 1908.

But when Everton wanted to sign Liverpool's outside left Harold Uren in 1912 a deal was struck that took Lacey and forward Tom Gracie in the opposite direction from Goodison to Anfield. Liverpool never regretted the 'swap'. Lacey went on to make 257 League and FA Cup appearances for the Anfield club over nine seasons in a variety of positions but starring as a winger on either flank.

Lacey played for Ireland with both Everton and Liverpool and won the last of his 26 caps at the age of 41. He gained an FA Cup runners-up medal in 1914 when he scored five times in seven games as an inside forward to help Liverpool reach the Final, which they lost 1-0 to Burnley at Crystal Palace.

Yet he was more a provider than a scorer, netting 29 times overall for Liverpool and after World War One, won championship medals in 1922 and 1923, wearing the No 7 jersey both seasons. A jovial character with a prominent chin that was a target for cartoonists, Lacey joined New Brighton in 1924, later returning to Shelbourne. He died in 1969 aged 79.

Honours with Liverpool: First Division Championship 1921/22 & 1922/23


Bill Lacey

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Dick Forshaw

Inside Right or Centre Forward (1919-1927)

Date of Birth: 20-08-1895
Birthplace: Preston
Debut : 8th September 1919 v Arsenal (A) Football League Division One: Lost 0-1
1st team games: 288
1st team goals: 124
Other clubs: Everton, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Hednesford, Rhyl

Inside right or centre forward Forshaw is the only man to win League championship medals with both Liverpool and Everton. The Preston-born player developed his talents in Gateshead junior football and after guesting for Nottingham Forest and Middlesbrough during World War One joined Liverpool in 1919.

Standing a slim 5ft 10ins he formed a potent attacking alliance partnership with Harry Chambers and was an ever-present in Liverpool's consecutive championship seasons of 1921-22 and 1922-23, scoring 36 goals in the 84 games of those two campaigns.

But his highest scoring season was 1925-26 when he hit 29 goals in 35 League and FA Cup games, including a hat trick against Manchester United, a feat he repeated in the opening fixture of the following season.

After totaling 124 goals in 287 senior appearances Forshaw joined Everton in 1927 where he appeared in the same forward line as Dixie Dean and won another championship medal in the first season. He moved on to Wolves in 1929 and later played for Hednesford Town and Rhyl Athletic.

Honours with Liverpool: First Division Championship 1921/22 & 1922/23


Dick Forshaw

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Donald McKinlay

Utility Player

Date of Birth: 25-07-1891
Birthplace: Glasgow
Height : 5'9"
Debut : 20th April 1910 v Nottingham Forest (H) Football League Division One: won 7-3
1st team games: 433
1st team goals: 34
Other clubs: Prescot Cables
National Team: Scotland (1922) 2 caps/0 goals

One of the many great Scots in Liverpool history, McKinlay made 433 appearances over a span of almost 20 years after arriving at Anfield in January 1910 from junior football in his native Glasgow. He became one of the club's finest left backs, although his remarkable versatility also saw him operate at wing half, centre half and right across the forward line.

McKinlay, who won two Scotland caps, stood only 5ft 9ins but was an uncompromising, hard-tackling defender who was a full back partner of both Tom Lucas and Ephraim Longworth. Long before the term "overlapping" had become part of football parlance he was a great exponent of the art, his speed carrying him menacingly into the opposition penalty area.

Consequently, McKinlay amassed the impressive total for a mainly defensive player of 34 goals, one of them struck spectacularly from 10 yards inside his own half at West Ham in January 1926!

A great dead-ball kicker, he collected an FA Cup runners-up medal in Liverpool's 1914 Final defeat by Burnley and captained the club to consecutive championship triumphs in 1922 and 1923, being a 42-match ever present in the second title season. Injury ended his Liverpool career in 1929. After a spell at Prescot Cables he became a Liverpool publican and died in 1959, aged 68.

Honours with Liverpool: 2 Football League Championships (1922 and 1923)


Donald McKinlay

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Teddy Doig

Goalkeeper (1904-1908')

Date of Birth: 29-10-1866
Birthplace: Letham
Debut : 1st September 1904 v Burton United (H) Football League Division Two: Won 2-0
1st team games: 53
1st team goals: 0
Other clubs: Arbroath, Blackburn Rovers, Sunderland
National Team: Scotland 6 caps

John Edward (Teddy) Doig was one of the finest goalkeepers of his generation. A Scotland international, he had been at Sunderland for 14 seasons before making the move to Liverpool in 1904.
After starting at Arbroath, Doig joined the Rokerites from Blackburn Rovers in 1890, but his move got off on a sour note when Sunderland were fined £50 and had two points deducted for playing Doig before he had completed his qualifying period.

However, he bounced back from that to be a Scotland international and one of the real characters in the game.

Doig played a pivotal role in Liverpool winning promotion in the 1904-05 season and was an ever present. He was in outstanding form that campaign as the Reds boasted the best defensive record in the Second Division and went on to play 53 games before giving way to Sam Hardy and retiring in 1908.

Ted Doig died in November 1919.

Honours with Liverpool: Second Division Championship 1904/05


Teddy Doig

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Jack Parkinson

Forward (1902 - 1914)

Date of Birth: 09/1883
Birthplace: Bootle
Debut : 03.10.1903
1st team games: 222
1st team goals: 128
Other clubs: Bury
National Team: England 2 caps/0 goals

He was only the second Liverpool player and the last before Roger Hunt more than half a century later, to head the top-flight League scoring chart, with 30 goals in 31 appearances in 1909-10 when the Anfield club finished runners-up. Bootle-born Parkinson arrived at Liverpool from local junior football as a teenage amateur, making a daunting debut as such in a derby game against Everton in September 1899.

But it was to be another four years, by which time he had turned professional, that Parkinson tasted first team football again. He scored six goals in 18 outings in 1903-04 before the return from injury of Sam Raybould forced him out of the team as Liverpool suffered relegation. Raybould had been Liverpool's only previous leading First Division marksman with 31 goals in 1902-03.

But Parkinson, a fast fearless forward, formed a lethal attacking trio with Raybould and Robert Robinson to take Liverpool straight back to the top flight as Second Division champions in 1904-05, all three of them scoring 20 goals or more.

Injury cost Parkinson a League title medal the next year but he later won two England caps and Football League recognition. He scored 128 goals in 222 Liverpool appearances before retiring during World War One after a brief spell at Bury. He became a newsagent on Merseyside and died in 1942.

Honours with Liverpool: Second Division Championship 1904/05


Jack Parkinson

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Arthur Goddard

Outside Right Winger (1902-1914)

Date of Birth: 1876
Birthplace: Heaton Norris, Stockport
Debut : 8th March 1902 v Wolverhampton Wanderers (A) Football League Division One: Lost 1-3
1st team games: 415
1st team goals: 80
Other clubs: Stockport County, Glossop North End, Cardiff City

A reliable, consistent performer Goddard was a fast, long-serving right winger in the opening years of the 20th Century. Born at Heaton Norris near Stockport he played junior football before joining his local club Stockport County and then Glossop North End prior to signing for Liverpool in 1901-02.

He was a regular for 12 seasons and captained Liverpool, a responsibility which was uncommon for a winger. Such was Goddard's dependability that in his first nine seasons at Anfield he missed only 25 of Liverpool's 330 League games, a period in which he made 23 successive FA Cup appearances.

His pace and skill on the flank earned him three representative appearances for the Football League and his smooth, flowing style prompted supporters to dub him "Graceful Arthur". Goddard won Second and First Division championship medals in consecutive seasons in 1904-05 and 1905-06 and made a total of 415 League and Cup appearances for Liverpool, scoring 80 goals.

His tremendous service to the club was recognised with a testimonial match in 1914 which raised the then substantial sum of £250, helping to set him up in business on Merseyside when he retired from the game following a period with Cardiff City.

Honours with Liverpool: First Division Championship 1905/06, Second Division Championship 1904/05


Arthur Goddard

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Sam Raybould

Forward (1900-1907)

Date of Birth: 1875
Birthplace: Chesterfield
Debut : 13th January 1900 v West Bromwich Albion (H) Football League Division One: won 2-0
1st team games: 224
1st team goals: 127
Other clubs: Ilkeston Town, Chesterfield, Derby County, New Brighton Tower, Sunderland, Woolwich Arsenal

Chesterfield-born centre or inside forward Raybould joined Liverpool from New Brighton Tower in the opening days of the 20th century having previously played for Ilkeston Town, Chesterfield Town and Derby County. In only his second League outing for Liverpool he notched one of the earliest goals in Mersey derby history, scoring after 30 seconds in a 3-1 defeat by Everton at Goodison in January 1900.

He was also the first Liverpool player to score a hat trick against Manchester United, his treble coming in a 4-0 home triumph in April 1905 as the Anfield club stormed to promotion as champions of the old Second Division. The following year Raybould collected his second League title medal, having won his first in Liverpool's championship side of 1901 when he was top scorer with 16 goals.

A similar total the following year again put him top of Liverpool's scoring chart but in 1902-03 he almost doubled that haul when his 31 goals in 33 appearances set a League record. As a c