I hate to digress but I'd love to hear tales of Billy Liddell - care to share
@BoysPen ?
Happy to oblige...
I saw him from 1957 onward when he was at the end of his career, but still easily the best player on the club's books at that time - what a gent (never booked) and what loyalty (a one-club player who stayed with the club after relegation). My abiding memory is when he took a shot which was blocked by a
(?Derby?) defender and hit it so hard that the ball burst! He scored some amazing goals, played left wing, right wing and centre forward (not all at the same time - although it sometimes seemed that way) and was the penalty and free kick taker - our very own Roy of the Rovers!!
As a kid, I recall the awe and respect in the way that all grown ups - Red and Blue alike - talked of him - he was everybody's hero, and not for nothing did journos use the headline "Liddellpool"
He was a JP and scallies boasted that they had Billy Liddell's autograph on their probation order! Amazingly, he was only ever a part-time player - his other job was an accountant.
He never refused an autograph before a game, but didn't sign any after - he used that time to talk to the older fans about the game.
He was devoutly religious, a teetotaller and used to spend much of his time talking to church groups and meeting with disadvantaged youngsters.
The term 'role model' could have been coined for him, and he carried the team and the supporters hopes single-handedly for years.
He regularly went to Anfield in the years following his retirement as a fan at home games.
My only regret is that I had his autobiography - personally signed to me (Ralph) and with loads of other autographs in it - which I foolishly lent to someone and it then went "missing" - hey ho, that's life I suppose.