Billy Liddell - This website is a part of LFCHistory.net

Press articles

(Click on the articles for a bigger image)

"Liddell is war's best find" - from 1940.

Liddell praised in 1940 (Liddell scored actually his hat-trick in his 2nd game for the Regional league side, not his first as it says here).

An interview with Billy after his first wartime international in 1942.

A football pantomime of Liverpool's and Everton's players and officials from 22nd December 1945.

A chat with Billy on his performance for Scotland - from 1950.

Liverpool's FA Cup triumph on 4th March 1950 as seen by cartoonist George Green.

14th April 1950 - Five Scotland internationals called William preparing for England at Hampden - Scotland lost 1-0.

Liddell on tour with the Liverpool team most likely in May 1952 when it played in Germany, Austria and Spain.

Billy remembers his favourite Liverpool goal which was against Everton in a 4-0 cup win on 29th January 1955.

Liddell a spectator? Actually he landed on the concrete surround at the Kop during a cup-tie with Huddersfield on 19th February 1955.

"The match-winner who became king". From Sunday Express on 30th January 1956.

When Billy became the player with the highest number of appearances in the League for Liverpool in November 1957, he got a typewriter from the club for his efforts!

Billy on the cover of Charlie Buchan's weekly in August 1959.

Billy kicks off unity match in March 1968.

18th of September 1977 ahead of Ian Callaghan's testimonial.

All-star reunion of Liverpool's 1950's FA Cup final team at Jimmy Payne's Lake District hotel in 1979.

The text accompanying this picture taken in 1984 says: Yesterday Billy (62) cleared his desk in the Guild of Undergraduates office and made home for the last time. Billy gets a soccer pitch cake from colleagues, left to right: Barrie Alexander, Dominic Myers and John Parry.

Soccer idol Billy hangs up... his calculator in 1984.

Billy retires as a justice of the peace in 1992.

"Soccer great is a local hero" from 1995.

"A key role for Billy" from 1997.

A campaign launched in 2008 by Billy Liddell Memorial group to ensure a lasting memorial to him in Dunfermilne and that he would be inducted into SFA's Hall of Fame.

King Billy quote
"Billy Liddell has dominated the post-war stage of the Liverpool Football Club. At times he has seemed to be Liverpool. Already he is becoming more than a name - he's on his way to being a legend. A legend of electrifying runs, full-blooded shooting plus superlative sportsmanship. In all the years I've watched, I've never seen him intentionally foul an opponent, pettishly kick the ball away or do anything that was even the slightest questionable. He was the complete footballer, but he was something more; he is a man of great integrity who has endeared himself to us all. If I were as good a sportsman as Billy Liddell, I'd be proud. You're a better man than I am - Billy Liddell!" John Moores, chairman of Everton FC, on 21st of September 1960 on the eve of Liddell's testimonial

King Billy quote

"Billy Liddell has dominated the post-war stage of the Liverpool Football Club. At times he has seemed to be Liverpool. Already he is becoming more than a name - he's on his way to being a legend. A legend of electrifying runs, full-blooded shooting plus superlative sportsmanship. In all the years I've watched, I've never seen him intentionally foul an opponent, pettishly kick the ball away or do anything that was even the slightest questionable. He was the complete footballer, but he was something more; he is a man of great integrity who has endeared himself to us all. If I were as good a sportsman as Billy Liddell, I'd be proud. You're a better man than I am - Billy Liddell!"

John Moores, chairman of Everton FC, on 21st of September 1960 on the eve of Liddell's testimonial

Site News (Archive)
A new tribute to Billy from Maccakhan on RAWK forum 05.07.2011 An absolutley lovely fella. I was fortunate enough to meet him on several occasions, he lived not far from me, but to be honest I didn't know who he was for a long time. I wasn't old enough to have seen him playing but knew him as Mr William Liddell. Being a bit stupid I didn't shorten the William to Billy, only when I was told who he was! Anyway I remember speaking to him and his wife, who introduced him to me as a retired accountant! I looked at her in amazement! This was Billy Liddell, not some accountant!!!! I remember Billy looking at me and he gave me a wink and a smile, he could see my amazement at him being described as a retired accountant and my reaction to it. A really lovely fella and a true gentlemen. PS his wife was a lovely lady too. Very modest and respectful couple.
10 years ago - RIP Billy! 05.07.2011 Undoubtedly one of the greatest players ever to wear the Liverpool shirt, Billy Liddell, passed away on 3rd July 2001. Read this fantastic tribute to him by Tony Barrett. RIP Billy!
A nice story about Billy - the gentleman 01.09.2010 During the season 1953/54 I was living in the tenements of Glasgow (The Gorbals) and my father who was a merchant seaman and ran the Atlantic Convoys during the war 1939/43 and would often sail into Liverpool before coming up to Glasgow for R&R during those war-time years where he met my mother, and my earliest recollections of meeting the great Billy Liddell was when my father met and struck up a friendship with Billy and he came to our house in that room and kitchen in Glasgow. At the time there was 7 of plus my mother and father and I can remember this very smartly dressed person and my curiosity over all those years and especially lately when I discovered that 1953/54 was a particularly difficult season for Liverpool Football Club. I was often full of wonderment that that man could be so humble as to come and visit what was very grim accommodation at the time. I can, therefore, understand that people could say so many good things about him both on and off the pitch. - Reg Isaacson
Billy in color 19.08.2010 JK Williams sent us a few classic pictures of Billy Liddell which he has colorized. Click here to view his efforts.