NewsLiverpool's Greatest - No.58: Bob Paisley
Years: 1946-1954
Appearances: 277
Goals: 13
Trophies: First Division (1946-47)
Long before his huge success as Liverpool’s manager, Bob Paisley represented the club as a player with distinction too.
Born in the north east, the half-back with buckets of potential joined the Reds in 1939 from amateur outfit Bishop Auckland.
Local side Sunderland had originally rejected him for being too small, and by the time they changed their mind, Paisley had promised himself to Anfield.
But the Second World War meant a delay in making his competitive debut.
Paisley served his country during the hostilities and then returned to his football career with the Reds when the war was over, a maiden appearance belatedly coming in an FA Cup tie at Chester in January 1946.
Paisley was a regular in the team when a full league schedule resumed in the next campaign, playing 33 games as Liverpool won the 1946-47 championship.
A quiet man but a tough player, he held down a fixed place for much of the six seasons that followed, though the club’s fortunes were on a downward turn.
Nevertheless, the Reds did reach the FA Cup final for a second time in 1950, with Paisley’s lobbed finish versus Everton in the semi-finals helping to secure a trip to Wembley.
There would be disappointment all round, however. Paisley was not selected for the showpiece after an injury and George Kay’s side were beaten 2-0 by Arsenal.
Paisley’s anguish at that missed opportunity was such that he actually considered leaving Anfield. But, thankfully, he remained.
There were more than 100 further appearances for the midfielder before he retired from playing in 1954 and embarked on what would become an historic coaching career at Liverpool.
“I’ve been particularly lucky in my profession,” said Paisley. “I certainly wouldn’t be big-headed, that’s why I try to be modest about the whole thing.
“There’s lots of people who earned more than me at this game, but there’s nobody who enjoyed it as much.
“I’ve come to love the Liverpool people. Had I had to do it all over again, I’d do just the same.”
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