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

Liddell's two goal comeback

The 1959-60 season proved to be Billy's swansong for the Reds. Liddell started the season with a bang by scoring two goals in the second game of the season on 26th of August 1959. Here is Liverpool Daily Post's report from the game:

Billy Liddell, the Indian rubber man, who makes a habit of bouncing back to stardom from the recurring threat of a quiet termination in the reserve team to a wonderful career, scored two goals in Liverpool's 4-2 victory over Bristol City at Anfield, and was the unluckiest man on the field not to be credited with a hat-trick.

On two other occasions he had the ball in the net to be deprived of goals by infringements split seconds earlier.

When Liverpool were awarded a penalty the crowd roared for Liddell, the "penalty king" to take the shot. Instead Melia converted it into a goal.

Liddell hit the post, fired wide of each upright, had a shot kicked off the line and several times put the ball over the bar. And for all the frustration brought about by the third goal which perversely refused to come, the spectators revelled in the high speed target practice that made Liverpool look a very good side.

Copyright - Liverpool Daily Post

King Billy quote
"The trouble was not cleared and Liverpool advanced again. Payne had gone flying down the wing and only Liddell had kept up with the pace of this speedy winger. As the ball came across, Liddell had switched inside to the centre forward position and his diving header crashed against the bar, only to be picked up close to the half way line by Paisley. This time Baron made a cute pass to Smith who, with outstretched leg, directed the ball against the upright. The ball came out and LIDDELL soon had it in the net at the 10th minute. I swear one day when Liddell fires the ball in from this range it will either burst the net or will seriously injure a goalkeeper." From Liverpool Echo's match report on Tottenham – Liverpool on 1st December 1951

King Billy quote

"The trouble was not cleared and Liverpool advanced again. Payne had gone flying down the wing and only Liddell had kept up with the pace of this speedy winger. As the ball came across, Liddell had switched inside to the centre forward position and his diving header crashed against the bar, only to be picked up close to the half way line by Paisley. This time Baron made a cute pass to Smith who, with outstretched leg, directed the ball against the upright. The ball came out and LIDDELL soon had it in the net at the 10th minute. I swear one day when Liddell fires the ball in from this range it will either burst the net or will seriously injure a goalkeeper."

From Liverpool Echo's match report on Tottenham – Liverpool on 1st December 1951

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.