 The LFC Official Hall of Fame Billy Liddell Liddell is a true legend and the saddest part in my mind is that the club have never honoured such a great servant to us. Billy Beveridge Liddell was born in Dunfermline in January 1922. The Flying Scot as he was known started his career at Kingseat Juveniles in 1936 before having a number of trials over the next two years. He trained with Blairhill Colliery, Hearts of Beath, Lochgelly Violet (signed up) and then a trial at Partick Thistle in 1938 before becoming an amateur with Liverpool in July 1938. There is a rumour that there may have been a cost of some £200 at this point. He turned professional in 1939 and played on until May 1961. Through his career he made such an impact that the club became known as Liddellpool. A player of huge stature the man was a footballing genius and the sad part from the honours side is that his career coincided with some of the poorer Reds sides. Great Britain had two games against the Rest of the Europe. One was in 1947 and one in 1956. Liddell with the great Stanley Matthews are the only two players to appear in both games. Liddell wasn't a one position man either. He could work down either wing or go down the centre of the pitch. He bagged a huge 229 goals in his career with the Reds and made well over 500 appearances for the club and that is not including friendlies/testimonials and war games. Liddell won the championship with the Reds in 1947 but failed to win a cup winners medal in 190 as he was harshly marked out of the game. His commitment to the Reds was so much that he even turned down £2,000 to play in Columbia. The amount seems small but was a fortune back then. Liddell nearly had one more goal to his name in 1956 but the goal was not allowed to stand as the referee blew for time as the ball was in flight towards the net. Not that the gent complained. When Liddell finally hung up his boots in 1961 he was already a Justice of the Peace in the City so there was no reason to leave. He remained in the City until his death in July 2001. Billy Liddell - A true Red legend! |