Billy Liddell memorial plaque

On the 4th of November 2004, Liverpool Football Club unveiled a plaque at Anfield in the memory of Billy Liddell. At the unveiling of the plaque, inside the Kop by the entrance to the Club's museum, was Billy's widow Phyllis, Tommy Smith and Ian Callaghan, the man who eventually replaced Liddell in the Liverpool side.

Phyllis said on this occasion: "This is such a great day for me and I'm sure Billy would have been very proud. The fact that so many fans still talk about Billy today, so long after he gave up playing, means he must have done something right for Liverpool. It's been a lovely day at Anfield and it was so nice to see people turn up to look at the plaque. I'm really touched."

The plaque reads: "The great Billy joined Liverpool from Scottish Junior football in 1938. After RAF wartime service he made his League debut in 1946, winning a title medal that season and an FA Cup runners-up medal in 1950. His loyalty, versatility and consistency illuminated Anfield's gloomy era in the old Second Division. His deeds were such that the club was dubbed "Liddellpool". He and Sir Stanley Matthews were the only players to appear in the two Great Britain teams to take the field. Exemplary sportsman, he was never booked throughout his career. He trained only twice a week due to his accountancy work. "Billy would be beyond price in any era", proclaimed his fellow legend Bob Paisley."

King Billy quote

"It was a struggle making ends meet and many were the sacrifices my parents made for their children. One of the earliest I recall was when I was about seven. I had asked for a pair of football boots for Christmas, being too young to realize what a hole that would make in the family exchequer. But the boots were in the pillow-case hanging at the foot of the bed when I woke up on Christmas morning. It was only in later years I appreciated the significance of that gift in relation to my father's earnings.

Football boots are little use without a football, and that my father could not afford. Luckily, a boy down the road received one. Never since have I broken in a pair of boots so speedily, I kept them on all day, playing morning and afternoon until darkness drove me home."

Billy Liddell on his upbringing in Scotland

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