Shankly Signings XI

A team constructed purely of men Bill Shankly brought to Liverpool Football Club from elsewhere rather than those brought through the ranks.


1 Ray Clemence

Even with Liverpool's firmament of goalkeeping talent Ray Clemence achieved legendary status not just in his playing days but far beyond them by becoming one of the most respected custodians of Liverpool's proud goalkeeping history. He kept an amazing 335 clean sheets from the 656 career games for the Reds and the fact that his name is just as fondly remembered as those of Kenny Dalglish, Steve Heighway, John Toshack, Terry McDermott or even Kevin Keegan to name but a few is testament to that.

One of the country's best ever last lines of defence is said to have become a goalkeeper by accident. Like most stoppers he fancied himself as a forward and was by his own admission a prolific scorer in training ground five-a-sides but as a youngster he was told to play in goal or not to play at all. Strange to think that but for that the £18,000 recruit from Scunthorpe United in 1967 may never have made the professional grade.

His talent between the sticks was plain for all to see. So much so that Bill Shankly signed him after just 48 appearances. Despite the high regard Clem was held in he had to push Tommy Lawrence out of the picture first. A debut came the best part of a year after his arrival on Merseyside in a 3rd round FA Cup tie with Swansea City. It was a further year and a half before he could call the number one jersey his own. Upon becoming the first choice he missed a mere handful of games in his 11 seasons at the club. During his time at Anfield he collected five league championships, three European and two UEFA Cup winners medals. He also won each of the domestic cups - the FA Cup in 1974 and League Cup in 1981.

Throughout the entire 1978-79 campaign conceded a miserly 16 goals. A record in a 42 league game season.

In the summer of 1981 he took up a new challenge with Tottenham Hotspur. The £300,000 fee was a hefty one at the time. He finished his playing career at White Hart Lane collecting a couple more FA Cup medals. He was also in the Spurs team which lost 3-1 to Liverpool in the 1982 League Cup final.

His international career began in 1972 with a cap against Wales in Cardiff. He went on to make 56 appearances for England as a Liverpool player. Adding five more with Tottenham. Since retiring in 1988 he joined the coaching staff at Spurs and the manager of Barnet. He has or some years served as England's goalkeeping coach.


2 Geoff Strong

Despite having a decent career with Arsenal and playing quite regularly Geoff Strong decided to look for fresh pastures and berth in his preferred striking position. Bill Shankly made no promises about his role when brokering a £40,000 deal in November 1964 which was a quick fix to cover for Alf Arrowsmith who would be sidelined for some time but Shanks knew his proven utility could only benefit his squad. In fact the manager often asked him to perform duties all over the field yet the qualms that had seen him leave Highbury never seemed to bother the player on Merseyside. At the end of his first season he was an FA Cup winner coming into the side at the expense of Gordon Milne who had missed out through a injury and earned Strong the distinction of winning the trophy in his first FA Cup game for the club.

A year later he had a championship medal after 21 games in six different positions and one outing from the newly introduced substitute's bench. It was in that game at West Ham United that he became the first Liverpool player outside the starting XI to register on the scoresheet. His goal 14 minutes from time earned a share of the points and also marked the first time Liverpool had introduced a player from the bench. Shanks was a believer in not unsettling the side he put on the pitch for the first minute unless absolutely necessary. His five league goals that term included one in the first game shown on BBC Television's Match of the Day highlights show.

In Europe and the Cup Winners Cup Strong managed to find the scoresheet in the opening round against Juventus. His strike in the 2-0 win over the Italian giants wrapped up the scoring and saw the Reds turn around a 1-0 deficit from the first leg in Turin. His next in the semi-final battle with Celtic saw a repeat of that feat and was remarkable in that it was a headed goal which saw the Northumbrian rise high despite a knee injury that would have seen many players head off the field. Injuries and tactical decisions were the only bar to his participation in the side though these lay offs were fortunately rare until his eventual departure for Coventry City in August 1970. He had played close on to 200 games for the Reds scoring 32 goals after sterling service and great displays in virtually every outfield position - right back included. Who knows. Had Liverpool not had some of the fittest goalkeepers of the era and enjoyed luck with injuries during games he may well have donned the gloves and added that to his expanding CV.



3 Alex Lindsay

Widely regarded as one of the best left backs Liverpool have ever had Alec Lindsay was recruited from Bury in March 1969 for a sizeable £67,000 fee. However, as far as Bill Shankly was concerned it was a snip for such a naturally gifted player who played at wing half and inside forward at Gigg Lane. 126 appearances for his hometown team prouduced a ceditable 14 goals.

His debut came half a year later in a European Fairs Cup 1st round tie with Dundalk when he scored the sixth in a 10-0 win over the Irish minnows. Although he was tried out in his more accustomed positions Shanks decided that he would be best employed in a deeper role from which he could use his phenomenal pace to overlap attacks. It proved to be a master stroke and a tactical switch which hallmarked the manager's place in the pantheon of true greats.

However, Lindsay still had to wait just over a season before he could be considered a regular in the side. When he was the Lancastrian formed a solid partnership with right back Chris Lawler. A league championship, UEFA and FA Cup winners medals were all garnered before his eventual departure to Stoke City in the summer of 1977 though he did add a European Cup Winner‘s medal albeit as a non-playing substitute months before he left for The Victoria Ground.

The arrival of Joey Jones, Phil Neal and the rejuvenation of Tommy Smith's career had limited his first team chances for a couple of years prior to that.



4 Emlyn Hughes

Liverpool paid £65,000 to Blackpool for the defender's services in March 1967. Although he had played a fairly small number of games for the Seasiders Shanks had no doubt about his worth and pitched the youngster into the cut and thrust of top flight football within a month of signing.

Hughes became an instant hit with the fans due to his infectious enthusiasm. They would eventually call him Crazy Horse in tribute to his running style and surges up front plus a rugby tackle he performed on Newcastle forward Albert Bennet early in his Anfield career.

His journeys up field brought their fair share of goals. As captain for the 1976-77 campaign it was his honour to lift the club's first European Cup aloft. The win in Rome was one of his two successive European Cup winners medals. These prizes sit neatly with four league championships, two UEFA Cups, an FA Cup winners medal and the 1976 PFA Player of the Year Award. He also earned 62 England caps 59 as a Liverpool player which included 40 as captain.

In the summer of 1979 he left for Wolverhampton Wanderers where he added a League Cup to his trophy cabinet. A two season spell at Molynuex ended with his decision to accept the player/manager position at Rotherham United. His record as a boss could never live up to his playing days. Even after leaving the South Yorkshire club he turned out for Hull City, Mansfield Town and Swansea City. His distinguished sporting career earned him an OBE. Apart from captaining teams on a Question of Sport and ITV's Sporting Triangles he had no further involvement with the game. He ran a promotions company but in 2003 was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Despite surgery he failed to beat the disease passing away in November 2004 at the age of 57.


5 Willie Stevenson

A left half with a cultured style brought in to replace the more fundamental Tommy Leishman. Bill Shankly's move for the former Glasgow Rangers man halted immediate plans to emigrate to Australia where he had been playing after finding himself surplus to requirements at Ibrox. £7,000 was a small price to pay for a player with flair and creativity. Shanks wanted to develop in the side following promotion to the top flight. A number of players had struggled to come to terms with the higher level they were now expected to perform. Stevenson himself found it hard to acclimatise at first but maybe that was to be expected from someone who had not played first class football for a number of months. Eventually he found his feet and looked good alongside Ron Yeats and Gordon Milne. Able to tackle well plus move forward easily with the ball Liverpool found there were new dimensions to their play.

If there was a criticism of Willie it had to be that he was often too keen to set up chances for others rather than seize initiatives for himself. An observation supported by a return of 17 goals from 237 career games at Anfield. That being so he was at the heart of league championship and FA Cup winning sides of the 1960s. He set up the move for the first Liverpool goal of the afternoon in the 1965 FA Cup final which Roger Hunt snapped up.

It was just as well the Reds enjoyed success as he proved to be a man who hated losing, especially at the last hurdle, as demonstrated by his discarding of his runners-up medal after the 1966 European Cup Winners Cup final. Angry at the manner of his side's last minute defeat and the fact that Liverpool had chances to seize the game he threw it out of the toilet window. To this day nobody has gone on record as finding it.

After five seasons as the regular choice in the number six shirt including four campaigns as a virtual ever present he fell victim to a team rebuilding exercise and the recruitment of Emlyn Hughes from Blackpool. The newcomer had arrived during the previous term but had operated mostly at left back. However, Bill Shankly's long term aim was to introduce him to the half back line as soon as possible. With Ron Yeats and Tommy Smith to contend with Stevenson decided to look elsewhere for regular first team action and joined Stoke City.


6 Ron Yeats

Upon signing Ron Yeats Bill Shankly described his new centre half as a colossus. As if to prove his point he invited journalists covering the story to come and take a walk around him. Considering he stood 6'2" tall and weighed around 14 stones Shank's description was a fair one but he was a giant in much more than stature.

Yeats provided the cornerstone of a defence which would play a large part in not only Liverpool's assault on the First Division but in the Reds' battle for supremacy in Europe.

A £30,000 fee for the former slaughterhouse man was a major amount of money in July 1961 but these days Big Ronnie could fetch many millions of pounds on the transfer market. He was appointed club captain almost as soon as the ink on his contract was dry. It was a role which he kept for nine seasons during which time he lead Liverpool to the Second Division Championship, two League Championships and a first ever FA Cup win. To date he is Liverpool's longest-serving post-war captain. When Liverpool came out of Division Two Ron led a side which set about dominating the English game winning championships, made their first incursions into Europe and Yeats became the first Liverpool skipper to hold the FA Cup aloft in 1965 by virtue of the 2-1 win over Leeds United at Wembley.

First team opportunities dried up at the turn of the 1970's. A new breed of defenders were chomping at the bit and when the opportunity came their way they proved more than equal to it. After a decade at Anfield and over 450 appearances he made a short journey across the Mersey to take up a player/manager role at Prenton Park. After leaving Tranmere then making some appearances in the North American Soccer League and turning out as an amateur with various sides in the North West he remained out of the game until appointed as Anfield's Chief Scout in 1986. A post he held for over 20 years.

Somewhat bizarrely he won just two caps with Scotland. However, the Tartan Army's loss was certainly Liverpool's gain and maybe the rest he earned while international fixtures were played helped him chalk up ten seasons at Anfield.


7 Kevin Keegan

When Bill Shankly brought this unassuming youngster to Merseyside there were many who wondered whether he could recreate the promise he had shown in the 4th Division at the highest level. A host of top flight clubs had him watched but Joe Fagan and Bob Paisley decided they had seen enough after 20 minutes of their scouting trip. With a recommendation like that there was little other option than to sign him.

The initial plan was that he should take over from Ian Callaghan on the right hand side of midfield. A cartilage operation had left the veteran struggling for fitness. As it happened Cally not only made a full recovery his career enjoyed something of a boost. Consequently Keegan was placed up front where he formed a devastating partnership with John Toshack.

There is a picture of Keegan upon his arrival at Anfield sat on a dustbin while he waits to go through the formalities of joining the club. However, his performances were anything but rubbish. Despite his lack of height he could out jump most defenders and possessed deceptive strength. His boundless energy meant he could run opposition back lines ragged. He also had great skill and balance plus a spectacular ability to finish.
He scored two goals in the 1974 FA Cup final and the first leg of the 1973 UEFA Cup Final. He also notched efforts in both legs of the 1976 competition.

Precisely 100 goals from 323 games for Liverpool emphasises his attraction to other clubs. Continental teams were rumoured to be taking a keen interest in his services. Many were linked but SV Hamburg were the club who actually managed to land him. He returned to these shores a few years later when he joined Southampton. Two years after his arrival at The Dell he began a love affair with Newcastle United. Terry McDermott was tempted back to the club and in their first full season together the Magpies were promoted to Division One. He retired from the game at the end of the 1983-84 season. A 4-0 FA cup defeat by Liverpool in a 3rd round tie at Anfield convinced him that this season would be his last.


8 Ian St John

When this centre forward arrived from Motherwell in May 1961 he was the club's record buy. He had been set to sign for Newcastle and even admitted he didn't know an awful lot about Liverpool but after meeting Bill Shankly decided to pick the Reds ahead of his other suitors even though the North Eastern outfit were a well established first division club and Liverpool were mid-table and a division lower.

Many on the Liverpool board questioned whether £37,500 could be afforded despite the impression St John had made with Motherwell. Bill Shankly a long term admirer of the player preferred to ask whether the Reds could afford not to go through with the deal. It was an astute observation by the manager who secured his services prior to the 1961-62 term beginning.

He proved an instant hit scoring a hat-trick in his first game. The opposition were Everton in a Liverpool Senior Cup tie. Although a striker all his career he was moved to inside forward by Shanks. He took to his new role well and it didn't dull The Saint's scoring prowess either as he not only grabbed goals himself but made them for others. He struck up an instant and devastating union with Roger Hunt playing the perfect foil to the out and out forward who he helped notch 41 goals from as many games as the Second Division championship and that long awaited promotion back to the top flight was secured at the end of the 1961-62 campaign. 18 strikes was a good return for St John who proved he could also cut it at the highest level

It was his extra-time goal - a stooping header to turn home Ian Callaghan cross - seven minutes from the end of extra-time which won a first FA Cup in the club‘s history. As with most of Bill Shankly's signings the new decade marked the end of his Anfield career. Before playing out his last games in South Africa Ian St John joined the exodus to Tranmere Rovers. He returned to Britain and took the managerial reigns at his old club Motherwell and then Portsmouth. A brief stint at Fratton Park preceding a coaching role with Sheffield Wednesday.


9 Steve Heighway

The Dublin born winger graduated from Warwick University with a degree in Economics. He had a spell with Manchester City as an amateur but it was his performances for non-league Skelmersdale United that peaked Liverpool's interest. Bob Paisley went to watch him on the recommendation of his sons. The Geordie wasn't one to heap false praise on people so when he described Heighway as the best amateur footballer he had ever seen Bill Shankly snapped him up.

In October 1970 after one introduction as a substitute he came in for a start and a goal on his home debut. A 2-0 win over Burnley was a great beginning. He remained a virtual ever present member of the team capping his season with a superb goal in the FA Cup final which he made himself after cutting in from the wing and shooting low past Arsenal keeper Bob Wilson. It was a strike which deserved to win any game especially this one but which ultimately proved nothing more than a personal accolade to look back on as the Gunners managed to edge the game. Three years later he was on the mark again at Wembley as Liverpool swept Newcastle United to one side.

Between those two games he made in excess of 150 appearances for the club, won a league championship and played in both legs of the UEFA Cup victory against Borussia Munchengladbach even though he was substituted in each game.

An ability to play off either foot made him one of the most exciting and feared wingers in the country.

Although a relative late comer to the professional ranks he claimed almost every prize it had to offer as well as Republic of Ireland caps. His contribution in terms of providing chances and scoring goals cannot be underestimated. He laid on countless chances which more often than not his colleagues would tuck away. The 1977 European Cup final being a prime example. After nine seasons he began to find that first team opportunities were limited at the turn of the 1980's when he was mostly used as a substitute.

Heighway left the club in April 1981 to try his luck in the North American Soccer League with Minnesota Kicks. He returned to Anfield in 1989 to become the Red’s Youth Development officer remaining in post until April 2007 deciding to call it a day after his young charges won the FA Youth Cup for a second successive year. In this capacity he has nurtured the talents of players like Steve McManaman, Robbie Fowler, Michael Owen, Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard amongst others.


10 John Toshack

The Welsh forward fetched a club record £110,000 when he signed from Cardiff City in November 1970. He scored 77 goals in 159 appearances for the South Wales Club. His tall and muscular frame made him deadly in the air and the perfect foil for his striking partner during much of his time at Anfield - Kevin Keegan.

Their partnership yielded 137 league goals in six seasons. Tosh scored 95 from his 245 run outs for the Reds. His Anfield career saw him win three championship medals, two UEFA Cups, a European Champions Cup and one FA Cup winners' medal. He played 40 internationals for Wales including 26 as a Liverpool player. He was a fairly creative person off the pitch and penned many odes about his fellow professionals and the games he had played.

He left Merseyside during the 1977-78 season to take up the player/manager's position at Swansea City although he could have joined Leicester City three seasons earlier - he failed a medical after agreeing personal terms. Tosh guided the Swans all the way to Division One  within just five seasons recruiting many of his former teammates along the way. He returned to Anfield in the opposition dugout when his team took on Liverpool in October 1981. His charges did him proud earning a creditable 2-2 draw. They finished sixth in that first top flight season.

Although they were relegated the following term Toshack's managerial skills were being watched and admired by many clubs further a field than these shores. That took him to the continent most prominently in Spain although he endured a brief stint in Turkey. Whilst still managing in Spain he was handed the reigns of the Welsh national side. Although a part-time appointment he was forced to resign after just one game following criticism of his ability to carry out his duties effectively though is is the principality's current national boss.

Kenny Dalglish's decision to relinquish the Anfield hotseat in February 1991 saw speculation about him taking over at his former club. Similar rumours surrounded the departure of both Graeme Souness and Roy Evans but nothing ever came of the talk.


11 Peter Thompson

There have been few better practitioners of the real art of wing play in the club's history and certainly Peter Thompson was one of the greatest of his era. Fast, skilled, excellent control and strength which made him tricky to knock off the ball he tied defenders in knots. There was also an ability to deliver a great cross.

A £35,000 buy from Bill Shankly's old club Preston North End he may have attracted a record fee but this 21 year old was no gamble. Shanks had done his research and ensured the new man arrived at Anfield in a blaze of publicity and the type of fan attention usually reserved for pop stars. According to the player it was possibly a ploy of the manager who had tipped off as many journalists as he could think of and rounded up fans to loiter in the car park in a move designed to encourage him to sign. After all how could he fail to be impressed by such a reception merely to see him discuss terms.

Whatever the truth of that claim he accepted the offer and spent nine seasons with the club more often than not tearing down either the left or right flank.

In the last few seasons of his stay he wasn't a regular choice due to the emergence of Steve Heighway. He was no slouch when presented with a chance himself and struck over 50 times in a Liverpool shirt. He came to the attention of the England selectors soon after joining the Reds with full England caps adding to his youth honours. It was a progression seen as a matter of course and so it proved. Only Alf Ramsey deciding the use of wingers was an unnecessary luxury curtailed his international career. He left the club in 1972 for Bolton Wanderers and stayed at Burden Park until his retirement in 1978.