William Beveridge "Billy" Liddell (10 January 1922 – 3 July 2001) was a Scottish footballer who played his entire professional career with Liverpool FC. He signed with the club as a teenager in 1938 and retired in 1961, having scored 228 goals in 534 appearances (placing Liddell fourth and 11th in the respective club rankings as of October 2008). He became Liverpool's leading goalscorer in eight out of nine seasons from 1949 to 1958, and surpassed two league appearance records: Elisha Scott's club total in 1957 and Ted Sagar's league milestone of 463 matches in 1959.
With Liverpool, Liddell won a league championship in 1947 and featured in the club's 1950 FA Cup Final defeat to Arsenal. He represented Scotland at international level on 28 occasions. While serving as a Royal Air Force navigator during the Second World War, Liddell continued his career by appearing in unofficial games for Liverpool and guesting for various teams in the United Kingdom and Canada. After his retirement from football, Liddell occupied himself as a Justice of the Peace (from 1958), bursar of Liverpool University, and voluntary worker. He died in 2001.
Primarily a left winger, Liddell's versatility enabled him to play comfortably on the opposite flank, as a centre forward, and inside forward. Liddell became noted for his strong physique, acceleration, powerful shot,[2] professionalism, and good conduct on the pitch. Such was his influence and popularity that the club acquired the contemporary nickname "Liddellpool".[5] Posthumous recognition has included a plaque unveiled in 2004 at Anfield Stadium and sixth place in a poll of Liverpool fans conducted in 2006 under the title 100 Players Who Shook The Kop.
Birthdate: 10.01.1922
Birthplace: Townhill, Scotland
Other clubs: Kingseat Juvenlies, Lochgelly Violet; Chelsea, Linfield, Cambridge Town, Toronto Scottish and Dunfermline (wartime guest)
Bought from: Lochgelly Violet
Signed for LFC: £200 Professional 17.04.1939
International debut: 19.10.1946 vs. Wales
International caps: 29/8 (excluding wartime games) - 08.10.1955
Liverpool debut: 05.01.1946
Last appearance: 31.08.1960
Debut goal: 05.01.1946
Last goal: 05.03.1960
Contract expiry: 1961
Total LFC wartime games/goals: 152 / 82
LFC league games/goals: 492 / 215
Total LFC games/goals: 534 / 228
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