LiVE R PooL 50 YEARS update v "woy on SUNday" & random notesits 50 years this saturday 21st April that Liverpool won promotion to the top Division of the Football league (now the "Premiereship")
Bill Shankly took charge at Anfield in December 1959 promotion was his number one goal. Champions of England just 12 years previous, Liverpool had fallen on severely hard times. A rapid return to the top-flight had been expected following relegation in 1954. Instead, the club and its followers were handed a sentence much longer than ever imagined. Shankly came to set them free but was well aware of just what a massive task he had on his hands. By drawing on the passion of the crowd he knew the potential was there for the club to reclaim its place back among the elite. All he had to do was provide them with a team to be proud of.
The new man immediately laid down his blueprint for the future by ridding the payroll of what he perceived to be ‘dead wood’. Within 12 months 24 players had been shown the door. Successive near misses in their quest for the ‘Promised Land’ though was the cue for much stronger action to be taken. ‘Always the bridesmaid, never the bride’ was becoming an all too familiar saying around Anfield at the time.
Tommy Leishman, Gordon Milne and Kevin Lewis had already been recruited to his ranks and together with the likes of Alan A’Court, Dick White and Jimmy Melia plus a promising crop of youngsters in Gerry Byrne, Ian Callaghan and Roger Hunt the foundations were in place for another attempt to breach the top two in the division.
It was clear for all to see, however, that in order to take that next vital step, more quality reinforcements were needed. Attempts to bring in players of such calibre as Jack Charlton and Dave Mackay had been thwarted by the club’s reluctance to spend big and Shankly was becoming increasingly agitated.
It had long been mooted on the terraces that the club’s directors were seriously lacking in ambition; the belief being that promotion would ultimately involve more expenditure on their part. And while there was no tangible evidence to support this claim the manager was slowly beginning to think along these lines too.
Fortunately, future hopes changed for the better when Eric Sawyer, a good friend of Everton Chairman and Liverpool shareholder John Moores, was co-opted onto the board. Crucially, he shared Shankly’s vision for the club and soon persuaded his fellow directors that the Anfield purse strings needed to be loosened in the pursuit of success.
Scotland forward Ian St John was immediately targeted and a club record £37,500 fee agreed with Motherwell in May 1961. St John became an instant crowd favourite, scoring a hat-trick on his first appearance in a Liverpool Senior Cup Final defeat to Everton. Yet he had to overcome Melwood’s ‘Scouse Mafia’ before being fully accepted by his new team-mates. Arriving with such a huge price tag around his neck meant he was initially treated with some suspicion by Liverpool’s local contingent who far outnumbered his fellow Scots. That was soon put right though, helped by a sweetly delivered left hook on the training pitch and the arrival of a partner in crime.
Having strengthened his forward line, solidity at the back was the next priority and Shankly set his sights on Dundee United defender Ron Yeats. Following protracted negotiations with the Tannadice club a further £22,000 was eventually splashed out. At one point of this drawn-out transfer saga it looked as though Liverpool may miss out their man and when finally given the green light to complete the deal Shankly dashed to Edinburgh in a director’s Rolls Royce to seal the transfer of the man who would become his ‘colossus’.
As usual around Anfield, hopes were high that the coming season would finally be the one. This, of course, was nothing new. But on the eve of the of the 61/62 campaign St John, writing in his new weekly Daily Post column spoke about the possibilities of a Super League sometime in the near future and the importance of Liverpool being part of that. While the Reds were once again fancied to be among the front-runners for promotion, however, they were not considered the favourites. The bookies and pundits declaring that Newcastle United and Sunderland would be the teams to beat – a claim Liverpool soon made a mockery of.
With six games to go just two more points were required to confirm the seemingly inevitable. Southampton were the visitors to Anfield on Saturday 21 April and Liverpudlians prepared to party. The weather was atrocious with heavy rain falling throughout the day and while it restricted the attendance to just over 40,000, when a full-house had been expected, it failed to dampen supporters’ spirits.
St John missed the game through suspension as a result of his sending off a few weeks. Football League rules of the time stipulated that he wasn’t even supposed to be in the ground but the man who had replaced Billy Liddell as the new idol of the Kop, was never going to miss this and sneaked in alongside the fans.
The Saint’s replacement was Ellesmere Port-born Lewis and he duly delivered, scoring twice before half-time to ease any nerves. Although there was no further scoring it was time for the parties to begin and wild celebrations greeted the final whistle. The jubilant crowd invaded the pitch and refused to go home until the victorious players came back out for a final curtain call. When they did many were thrown high into the air, with the previous year’s two pivotal signings Yeats and St John ending up on the Kop.
As the news sunk in that Liverpool were finally back in the Promised Land, congratulatory telegrams poured in from all corners of the country, some from the most unlikely of sources. Matt Busby, a popular Liverpool captain of the pre-War era and now manager of Liverpool’s soon-to-be intense rivals Manchester United, said: ‘A club like Liverpool deserve to be playing in the highest class.’
Even those in the blue half of Merseyside seemed to welcome their return: larger-than-life local MP, and staunch Evertonian, Bessie Braddock, admitted it would be good for the city to have two clubs competing against each other in the top flight again.
Victory over Southampton not only secured promotion but also the title and following the final home game of the season against Charlton Athletic there were more celebrations as the team proudly displayed the first piece of silverware won by the club for 15 years.
It had been a long barren spell but this was to be the start of a glorious new chapter in Liverpool history. Speaking at the time, Bill Shankly described leading Liverpool to promotion as his proudest moment in football and while there was much greater glory to come it must never be forgotten that it all began with the Second Division title-winning season of 61/62. If Liverpool hadn’t have gone up then, maybe the rest wouldn’t have followed.
I have lived abroad half my life and in some ways makes me more appreciative of what is UNIQUE about us,,,and it certainly not only what happens on the field..
Although "come backs" are great to witness, anywhere, The "Champions League" is another of what Rafa calls "the Lie of Football" (or that Footy is a LIe!) how many CHAMPIONS play in that competition.. I think no club should qualify UNLESS they HAVE at least in their history been champions..
anyway, many a time fellow supporters have come back from an "away" (or even a return weekend trip to our home town ; Liverpool) and said " great weekend , or great trip, shame about the game" ..
i recently brought over 3 young "Balkan REdS" to a game v ar*e-nal (I in edited that because your system is "sensitive" ;) ...we lost the game (robbed) and the lads stuff bought at the LFc shop got nicked, BUT we were all agreed that we had a great time and they experienced their dream... these 3 understand what Shanks meant...
very few of the sky-washed "fannies" who only watch on Tv or understand footy from video games etc ..REALLY understand what is SO special Wonderful and Unique...
Soon after I started Supporting the Liverpool team (with Shanks as manager) we went though a period of 6 seasons with no trophies, during that time WE won a "best behaved supporters" trophy from the league..
"Cup Team" ? i dont believe it and dont believe we are anything other than a consistently succesful club thanks to Supporters & (certain) managers & players mentality that has kept us within the TOP EIGHT teams in the League since 50 Years!why dont you tell the "fannies" that!!
ChriS ;)
Montenegro 12418
So Its bye bye Blues(h*te) last weekend and the cockney rent-boy version in the final, would have prefered to get revenge against the spurs, but although I HATE chelski, their mercenary squad & plastic fans..it was nice to see someone deflate the over-exagerated "super-barca" the other night... sick of read the gushing "barca - groupies" ..they only look "special" because NO other Team IS since the REdS of 09...
added random comments...
http://thekop.liverpoolfc.tv/_WE-know-what-SUPPORTING-means/blog/5983789/173471.html
Our TRUE REdS Supporters Know more about Rafa & Kenny and "Shanks" ' Liverpool way" ..than the people "LfcTV & the official website "mods & journos" !
I have only disgreed (publicly) with KING Kenny twice in the last 18months.. a) Acquliani should have been kept (especially because of Stevies long injury problems this last year or so..) and b) KD reckons hodgson will get a "warm reception" @ Anfield Sunday...er ..only if "bonfire night" comes early this year? ha ha ..
but Kenny's right about this..http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/latest-news/kenny-praise-for-rafa-academy-work ..there MUST be a place - whilst retaining Kenny as Manager for Rafa at the club he loves , this man being out of footy is a waste of genius & a loss to OUR club!
and (for Frank c? & Marie B's attention...Universal REdS Internet group) ;)
did u hear that J. Henry got on a flight to Lp this week?,& went to academy yesterday, anything to do with y-our comments maybe,(facebook) ,on Lfctv last night matt made a discrete comment ; "that shows his commitment to Lfc" ? ha! ...we got them rattled...title it "PR rescue by John W" ? LMAO !!! ...what BS!
get FSG out of OUR club...they wont bring back Rafa, and they only chose Kenny when 10,000 of us didnt show @Anfield. moneyBallS = 200 million (+credit at bank against Anfield/melwood) for a customer base of several million and a global entity with a billion...Lfc directors cheated Supporters out of ownership. its OUR club, if EVER supporters deserved to own their club it is LFC because WE are LIVERPOOL..
p.s. it was Purslow/Hodgson who got rid of youngsters last season (Dalla Valle) so for once be a journo that tells it loke it WAS/IS! ??
http://christophertobin.wordpress.com/2012/04/16/kenny-dalglish-painter-decorator-or-silversmith/#comment-214
I am constantly amazed at the naive "fannies" who swallow the BS of the inept & mis-guided media & the "agenda" of our enemies, any one who doubts there is BIAS against the people of Liverpool must be blind to the history of the last 40 years .... but there are seemingly many blind /deaf and particularly DUMB sky-washed "fannies" out there!
Disgrace FU the FA!! http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2012/04/20/kenny-dalglish-blasts-authorities-for-fa-cup-final-scheduling-100252-30799403/
@LivEchoLFC UK govt and the FA are prime examples of english anti-social political discrimination since the first days of Thatcher until now
http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/latest-news/suarez-andy-makes-it-easy
Suarez: Andy makes it easy
www.liverpoolfc.tv
Luis Suarez claims Andy Carroll makes life easy for smaller forwards like
random notes... I have only disgreed (publicly) with KING Kenny twice in the last 18months..
Kenny Dalglish has paid tribute to former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez for his Academy legacy.
REdNeT shared links :http://montv-chrislog.blogspot.com/2012/04/featuring-banned-chrismith-alien.html
MonTV: featuring the "banned" ChriSmith" ..Alien "apartheid" ????
montv-chrislog.blogspot.com
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2012/04/18/luis-suarez-says-liverpool-fc-will-emerge-stronger-after-their-poor-recent-league-run-100252-30782948/
Luis Suarez says Liverpool FC will emerge stronger after their poor recent league run - Liverpool FC
LUIS SUAREZ believes Liverpool’s recent Premier League struggles will help galvanise the club in the long-run, and says cup triumphs will ensure the Reds’ season is remembered as a success.
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2012/04/18/liverpool-council-plans-to-demolish-derelict-homes-in-anfield-owned-by-liverpool-fc-100252-30782014/
Liverpool council plans to demolish derelict homes in Anfield owned by Liverpool FC -
LIVERPOOL city bosses plan to demolish houses left derelict by Liverpool Football Club in order to speed up the regeneration of the Anfield area.
Kenny: Let's not lose our focus
Kenny Dalglish has told his team to put aside all thoughts of the FA Cup final at Wembley and focus on picking up as many points as possible in the Barclays Premier League between now and the end of the season.
training pics
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| Glen & Kelly back from Injury |
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| Pepe REturns!!! the best Goalie there iS! |
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| Young Talent! |
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| PLAYER of the Season : Martin SKRTEL! |
Head to head (league only):
At Anfield: Liverpool 33 wins, 17 draws, West Brom 9 wins.
Overall: Liverpool 57 wins, 33 draws, West Brom 29 wins.
Earlier this season Liverpool won 2-0 at the Hawthorns thanks to a ninth-minute penalty from Charlie Adam and an Andy Carroll strike in first-half injury time.
In last season's Anfield meeting the Reds won 1-0 with Fernando Torres scoring the only goal of the game.
Liverpool's biggest ever league win over the Baggies came in April 2003 when they won 6-0 at the Hawthorns.
The Reds' biggest win over Albion at Anfield came in September 1900 and again in September 1935 - both by a 5-0 margin.
In the Premier League the clubs have met 11 times with Liverpool winning 10 and losing one.
Liverpool have scored 28 goals in the 11 Premier League meetings with Michael Owen (4) having scored the most. Steven Gerrard is on three along with Milan Baros and John Arne Riise.
At Anfield the Reds have won all five Premier League clashes scoring 10 without conceding.
Michael Owen's four-goal haul in April 2003 is the last hat-trick scored by a Liverpool player against the Baggies.
The last hat-trick in league meetings at Anfield was scored by Roger Hunt in a 4-1 win in January 1968.
There has been only one goalless draw between the teams on this ground since 1953 - that came in October 1984.
The Reds are looking for a fifth league double over Albion in six Premier League seasons.
Liverpool have failed to score in only one of the last 21 home league games against West Brom.
Should Luis Suarez score he will be the first Liverpool player since Fernando Torres in April 2010 to find the net in four successive home games.
Jay Spearing could make his 50th appearance for Liverpool in all competitions. His debut came in December 2008 in a Champions League game in Eindhoven.
When Andy Carroll, Luis Suarez and Steven Gerrard are on the pitch together one of them scores a goal on average every 57 minutes.
Andy Carroll is looking to score in a third successive game for Liverpool for the first time.
In Pepe Reina's absence the Reds won two and drew one.
Steven Gerrard is one goal away from recording 150 for the club in all competitions.
Liverpool have scored exactly three goals in each of their last four league victories this season.
The Reds have won 11 out of 12 cup games this season - one victory fewer than their 12 in this league campaign.
West Brom have won six league games away from home this season - more than any other team outside of the top eight.
However, they have picked up one point from the last four games on the road since winning 5-1 at Wolverhampton, a game that saw the end of Mick McCarthy's reign as Wolves boss.
Their other away wins have come at Norwich (1-0), Aston Villa (2-1), Blackburn (2-1), Newcastle (3-2) and Stoke (2-1).
They have won two of their last seven league games home and away - but both have come in the last three matches.
They have scored one goal in the last four away games - Paul Scharner finding the net at Wigan.
The Baggies' only Premier League win over Liverpool came in April 2011 when Chris Brunt scored twice in their 2-1 victory. They have lost the other 10.
They are the only goals that Albion have scored against the Reds in 11 Premier League meetings.
Albion have not won in the last 21 games at Anfield scoring just seven times in a sequence spanning 45 years.
Roy Hodgson was in charge of Liverpool for 191 days - a reign which took in 31 games of which the Reds won 13. In the Premier League he presided over seven wins in his 20 games.
His first league victory as Reds boss came against Albion at Anfield in August 2010.
He has been in charge of Albion for 46 league games winning 17 and drawing 11. He has won twice against Liverpool in nine meetings as a manager.
The Baggies finished last season with their best Premier League finish (11th) - this after being 17th when Roy Hodgson took over in February.
Last season Chris Brunt became only the third player to score two penalties in a Premier League game against the Reds. The others were Matt Le Tissier (Southampton) in February 1994 and Ruud Van Nistelrooy at Old Trafford in April 2003.
Albion's biggest win at Anfield came in October 1951 when they won 5-2 with Frank Griffin scoring twice.
The Baggies' last win at Anfield was 45 years ago on Sunday when they won 1-0 with the goal coming from Jeff Astle.
The only West Brom hat-tricks against Liverpool were scored by Billy Richardson in 1936 and 1938.
Should Albion score twice they will record 50 in league games at Anfield.
Somen Tchoyi made his Baggies debut in this fixture last season.
Ben Foster is Albion's sole league ever-present this season. He has saved two penalties - from Tottenham's Emmanuel Adebayor (though he did score the rebound) and Jon Walters of Stoke.
During the 2010-11 league campaign West Brom were the only team to leave Old Trafford undefeated after securing a 2-2 draw.
They have drawn one and lost 13 of the last 14 visits and have suffered defeat in each of the last six Anfield meetings.
They have managed just one goal in the last 11 visits - Garth Crooks finding the net in a 4-1 defeat in 1985. England World Cup winner Nobby Stiles was Albion manager that day.
Referee Neil Swarbrick takes charge of Liverpool for the first time ever in the Premier League. His other game in charge of the Reds was their 5-1 FA Cup win over Oldham back in January.
Scorers this season (league in brackets):
Liverpool: Suarez 14 (8), Bellamy 9 (6), Gerrard 9 (5), Carroll 8 (4), Maxi 6 (4), Kuyt 5 (2), Skrtel 4 (2), Adam 2 (2), Downing 2 (0), Agger 1 (0), Coates 1 (1), Henderson 1 (1), Johnson 1 (1), Kelly 1 (0), Shelvey 1 (0), own goals 6 (4).
West Brom: Odemwingie 10 (9), Long 7 (7), Fortune 5 (2), Cox 4 (0), Morrison 4 (4), Scharner 3 (3), Andrews 2 (2), Brunt 2 (1), Dorrans 2 (2), McAuley 2 (2), Olsson 2 (2), Thomas 2 (1), Mulumbu 1 (1), Reid 1 (1), Ridgewell 1 (1), Tchoyi 1 (1), own goals 1 (1).
Author: Ged Rea
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some "previous" ..... http://rednet-alien.blogspot.com/2012/04/long-good-friday-true-reds-v-fannies.html
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