[lfc-news] Reds to officially honour King Billy - Official Site

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Official LFC WEbsite, 22 Oct 2004
REDS TO OFFICIALLY HONOUR KING BILLY
By Mark Platt

Liverpool legend Billy Liddell is to be honoured by the club with the
unveiling of a commemorative plaque at the Kop end of Anfield.
The news will be warmly welcomed by his legions of fans who have long
campaigned for his illustrious achievements in the Red shirt to be
officially recognised.

The memorial, which is the first of its kind in the club's 112-year
history, will be unveiled at 11.30am on Thursday 4 November by Billy's
widow Phyllis and the man who succeed him in the Liverpool team, Ian Callaghan.

The idea for the Liddell memorial was suggested to Liverpool chairman David
Moores and chief executive Rick Parry by local writer and broadcaster John
Keith, the author of Billy's official biography - 'The Legend Who Carried
The Kop'.

The result is a red zinc and silver plaque which will be situated in the
Kop stand, adjacent to the Anfield Museum and Visitors Centre.

"We live in an era of heritage memorials being erected to pay tribute
people from all walks of life and I felt nobody deserved one more than the
late and great Billy Liddell," says John Keith.

"I had the privilege of seeing him play and of getting to know him later in
his life. I consider it another privilege to have written his biography
with the much-appreciated assistance of Phyllis and her family.

"Billy was an inspirational man as well as being a great player. His
loyalty and dedication to his club was remarkable, so much so that during
Liverpool's wilderness years in the old Second Division the club was dubbed
'Liddellpool'.

"Although mainly a winger and then centre forward he played in every
outfield department of the team, he captained the side and in nine
consecutive seasons he was leading scorer eight times. In all, he scored
228 goals in 534 Liverpool appearances and is widely rated on a par with
his compatriot Kenny Dalglish as the club?s greatest ever player.

"He was also one of just two players - Sir Stanley Matthews was the other -
to appear in both of the only two GreatBritain teams to take to the field -
in 1947 in Glasgow and in 1955 in Belfast, both against the Rest of Europe.

"But perhaps the most amazing fact about Liddell is that throughout his
career his work as an accountant meant he was a part-time professional,
training only twice a week!"

Stephen Done, curator of the Liverpool FC Museum and Visitor Centre, adds:
"We are delighted Billy is going to be remembered in this way. The plaque
will be in a position which has a large flow through of visitors and it
will be the first at Anfield in memory of someone who was solely a player.
Our memorials to Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley mark their management feats."

Ian Callaghan, who made a record 856 Liverpool appearances and who will
jointly unveil the memorial plaque, is equally delighted with this news.

"Billy was my hero, so you can imagine what I felt like when I was selected
by Bill Shankly to take his place on my Liverpool debut in April 1960.

"It was a wonderful honour then and it's another one now to be asked to
unveil the plaque with Phyllis. Billy could play in any position and do it
brilliantly. If any one player deserves a permanent memorial it?s Billy
Liddell."

# The Billy Liddell memorial plaque has been designed in consultation with
the club by Fred O'Brien of Northern Design Unit, Colquitt Street, Liverpool.


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