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English Football Legends Series

"Billy Liddell was some player...He had everything. He was fast, powerful, shot with either foot and his headers were like blasts from a gun. On top of all that he was as hard as granite. What a player!"
- Bill Shankly

Billy Liddell

Clubs: Liverpool

Position: Winger

Appearances*: 492

Goals*: 215

Honours: League Championship, 1

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* League appearances and goals only

One of their most talented wingers in the history of the game, Liddell had a powerful physique, acceleration, and a blistering shot.

He was also the consummate professional, noted for his good conduct both on and off the pitch.

He spent his entire career at Liverpool and was so influential that the club acquired the nickname 'Liddellpool'.

Signing for Liverpool

Liverpool manager George Kay signed the 16-year-old from Dunfermline in 1938 on the recommendation of Matt Busby, then a player with the Reds.

Originally taken on as an amateur, Liddell's performances in Liverpool's youth teams earned him a professional contract a year later.

However, the outbreak of World War Two, and the suspension of competitive football meant that he would not make his official Liverpool debut until 1946.

For the duration of the war Liddell served with the Royal Air Force as a navigator while playing in the regional leagues and guesting for various clubs.

League Champions

Liddell's belated Liverpool debut came in the FA Cup 3rd round against Chester City on 5 January 1946 - a match the Reds won 2-0, with Liddell getting one of the goals.

On 7 September, he made his first league appearance, scoring twice in the defeat of Chelsea. Billy Liddell would make 34 appearances that season, contributing 7 goals from left wing as Liverpool won their first title since 1923.

The following season was less successful as the defending champions languished in 11th place.

The club's performance improved in 1949/50, but despite a record-breaking 19 match unbeaten run, they could only finish 8th.

That same season they reached the FA Cup final, where they were beaten 2-0 by Arsenal.

Relegation

Thereafter the club fell into decline, and not even Billy Liddell's individual brilliance could stem the inevitable slide.

Liverpool only avoided relegation on the final day of the 1952/53 season but the following year there was no reprieve, and they dropped into the Second Division, having finished bottom with just 28 points.

Despite offers from elsewhere, Liddell elected to stay, a decision he almost came to regret, as the club flirted with relegation to the third tier.

Moved to centre-forward, he contributed 30 goals in 40 league appearances, as the Reds recovered to finish 11th, the lowest league finish in the club's history.

There was some joy amongst the gloom, Liverpool defeated their First Division neighbours Everton 4-0 in an FA Cup fourth round tie, at Goodison Park.

Liddell was made captain in the 1955/56 season, but the club's promotion push fell just short. And this was to become a pattern over the next five seasons, as they finished narrowly outside the two promotion berths.

During this time Liddell continued as a prolific scorer despite playing in a number of positions to cover for injuries. He would eventually play in all 10 outfield positions during his Liverpool career.

But the years were taking their toll, and from the 1958/59 season his appearances became more infrequent.

In March 1959, he made his 466th league appearance, to surpass Ted Sagar's Liverpool record.

Appointment of Bill Shankly

The 1959/60 season was to prove a watershed in the history of Liverpool FC. With the club languishing in mid-table, manager Phil Taylor resigned, and was replaced by Bill Shankly.

Shankly restored Liddell to the starting line-up and he responded with a brace in his comeback game. He kept his place in the side until injury disrupted his season.

After his recovery, Shankly continued to select Liddell, and he played in ten successive games, scoring his final Liverpool goal in a 5-1 defeat of Stoke City.

Liddell's last league appearance came in the 1960/61 season, in a 1-0 defeat to Southampton.

He had played a record 537 games for the club and scored 229 goals.

International Career

Liddell played 28 times for Scotland, scoring 6 goals. He was a member of the 1954 World Club squad and also played for the Great Britain XI in 1947 and 1955 - the only player, along with Stanley Matthews, to play in both games.

Life after football

After retirement, Billy Liddell remained in Liverpool where he served as a Justice of the Peace and contributed a column to the Liverpool Echo's football section.

He became involved in voluntary work and worked with local youth clubs, as well as teaching at a Sunday school.

He also served as assistant permanent secretary and bursar to the University of Liverpool until 1984.

Liddell had wanted to become a Liverpool director, but his applications to board elections were all unsuccessful. He did, however, become president of the Liverpool FC Supporters Club.

Death and Legacy

In the early 1990's Liddell was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, and he moved to a nursing home in Mossley Hill. He died on 3 July 2001, at the age of 79.

In 2004, a plaque was unveiled at Anfield Stadium to honour this Liverpool legend.

Billy Liddell was inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame in 2008.

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