Billy Liddell

1938/61 Liverpool (Ang) 534 games, 228 goals

(England championship: 300 games, 96 goals)

(D2 England Championship: 192 games, 119 goals)

(England Cup: 42 games, 13 goals)

(*match during the war (unofficial): 152 games, 82 goals)

With the National Team :

29 caps, 8 goals

(Friendly matches: 11 caps, 5 goals)

(World Cup qualifier: 3 caps)

(British Home Championship: 18 caps, 3 goals)

1st cap: May 15, 1946 against Switzerland (3-1)

Last cap: October 8, 1955 against Northern Ireland (1-2)

Unofficial: 8 caps, 3 goals

Great Britain: 2 caps

English League XI: 2 caps, 1 goal

Football association XI: 1 cap, 1 goal

Royal Air Force XI: 2 caps, 5 goals

Scottish Services XI: 2 caps

William Beverridge Liddell

Born January 10, 1922 in Townhill (Eco)

Died July 3, 2001 in Liverpool (Ang)

Scottish, left winger

Nicknames: "Liddellpool", "King Billy of Anfield"

Billy Liddell was born on January 10, 1922 in Townhill in Scotland. Very studious, he was a young person concerned about his future, and had asked the most important people for him what he was best for him, the answer was unanimous, obtaining a university scholarship (which he would have with his very good results) and study accounting.

But part of him still believed in one of his greatest dreams, becoming a professional footballer. Also rugby player, he played for his school regularly, but enjoyed playing football, school or for local Kingseat Juveniles and Lochgelly Violet teams.

Billy Liddell was approached by the Hamilton club, but he had refused the offer. He is an important man who will change his life: Matt Busby. The latter who had played for Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool had spotted the young Scottish winger and knew that he was about to be recruited by a Scottish club.

Matt Busby called the Reds manager of the George Kay time to recommend it to the English club. Crazy thing, Billy Liddell who will become friends with Busby will only learn this fact by a book and not from the mouth of his friend.

The same evening, his mother received the call of Johnny Dougarry, Scottish recruiter of Liverpool who wanted the young Scottish winger in his ranks. A visit to club managers and the manager followed. The club will have found him an accountant work in Chapel Street. Despite the advice telling him to refuse from his school director, the young winger decided to go to England and play football, in Liverpool, in a city described for his high crime rate.

The Scottish winger was then only 16 years old when he joined the Merseyside accompanied by Willie Fagan on July 27, 1938. First with an apprentice contract at 1 £ per week, he received a professional contract 9 months later at £ 5 per week. A very good salary for the time and for his age.

Yet this contract ... he could never have had it, the fault of whom? A concrete post, in fact, in a match against Blackburn, the player crashed against this post near a corner flag. The young player will remain hospitality for several weeks due to a knee injury.

Unfortunately for him, the beginnings of his career are suddenly broken by the trigger of the Second World War. The Association Football had asked professional players to show the example of the population by committing voluntarily. Billy Liddell was volunteer to fight for his nation. He became a navigator and a good driver, disappointed not having participated directly in the conflict, he returned to Liverpool at the end of the conflict.

But during the conflict, he continued to play football, in the form of representative matches, he even left his military base in a match between Liverpool and Manchester City. He will have succeeded in playing in the match without pointing out his absence to his war officials.

Billy Liddell was a player very close to the supporters, he was surprised by the determination of Liverpool supporters to attend their team matches despite sometimes big storms. Very modern in his vision of seeing things, he will have thought about ways to increase the capacity of stages, but also to see the appearance of a European -scale competition see the light of day.

The Scottish player resumed his official career on January 5, 1946 in the third round of the FA Cup against Chester. With him, Bob Paisley made his debut with the club. Liddell will have scored his first goal with the club that day. With Liverpool, he won the English championship in 1947. The only trophy in his career.

The player was selected for the first time in the national team of Scotland in 1946, on May 15 against Switzerland, 3-1 victory of the Ecossais and the start of a long international career for the 24-year-old. In selection, he will have played a total of 29 games for his country, for 8 goals, and a place of holder for 9 years.

But where Liddell is a real legend, it is in Liverpool, the only club in his career, he plays 534 official games, a record! His career was marked by reaching a decade before officially making his professional debut with Liverpool. The left winger will have scored 228 official goals for Liverpool. And in total, if we count the unofficial matches during the Second World War, the player is 686 games and 310 goals for Liverpool, completely crazy statistics for a winger of the time!

His qualities of dribbling and especially a scorer made him one of the favorite players in the history of the club. The one affectionately called "Liddellpool" or "King Billy of Anfield" is undoubtedly one of the best players in the history of the club and the English championship despite a poor trophy wardrobe that leaves some regrets.

- Included among the 100 League football legends

- Inducted at the Hall of Fame of Scottish Football in 2008

- Inducted at the Hall of Fame of English football in 2016

Inducted at the Hall of Fame of Liverpool

Homepage