“So ferry across the Mersey” – Gerry And The Pacemakers.
I wrote this article partly because I got fed up with seeing debates recently about the fact that there were no Northern Irishmen at Liverpool etc. etc. etc. As usual, things are reported wrongly or twisted for their own minds, while the real football fans were Jim Magilton loyal with a Davy Larmour thrown in.
“So what’s it all about? Do you really wanna know?” – Cast.
Of course, I know full well about Rachel Furness who has played countless matches for both Northern Ireland and Liverpool but this debate stems from the men’s game, so this post is about Northern Irishmen and Liverpool Football Club. I was there myself, though as an away fan for AFC Bournemouth rather than a player for the home team!
“Shock horror, I’ll shout myself hoarse for your supernatural force” – Space.
It was reported in many sources in September 2021 that Conor Bradley was the first ever Northern Irishman to ever visit Liverpool, never mind play for them! Sources even claimed the Titanic was never in Liverpool! As ever, they were all wrong. Many Ulstermen and women have flocked to Liverpool down the years. Many of them have even been at Liverpool FC.
“You’ll never walk alone” – The Kop End, Anfield Road.
This list of Northern Irishmen have been at Liverpool FC between 1880 and 2022. Whether before or after 1921 (Northern Ireland’s formation) or whether on a 6 a side court or the Anfield turf in a pre-season friendly isn’t relevant. I just don’t care about that excrement. I also don’t care how many caps they won or Liverpool appearances they had – they were all at the club in some way as playing staff. Management and coaching (Brendan Rodgers for example) are not included. These football lads were all at Liverpool Football Club as players and they were all from Northern Ireland’s mighty 6 (FATLAD/FATDAD) counties, or at least represented the magic 6.
“My baby’s driving on the one after 909” – The Beatles.
It is also rumoured (but not proven) that the founder of Liverpool Football Club was a Northern Irishman through his family tree. John Houlding (1833-1902) was a Liverpool Councillor, then he became Lord Mayor of Liverpool 1897-98. He was also chairman of Everton Conservative Association, he was on the board of Everton Football Club and when the board split in 1892, he founded Liverpool Football Club. John was born in Liverpool and died in France. The Northern Irish link still holds intrigue to many.
“It’s the Ulster boys making all the noise everywhere we go” – Green and White Army (GAWA).
Here are just a few of the Northern Irishmen who were at Liverpool down the years. You can read more about the Northern Ireland Liverpool connection on this link.
“There is a boy without a dream” – Rapid Eye Movement.
1.Elisha Scott
Born – Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Liverpool First Team Appearances – 468.
Time at Liverpool FC – 1912 – 1934 (with a war, other clubs and a break in between)
Northern Ireland Caps – 31
Other Clubs – Belfast Boys’ Brigade, Linfield, Belfast Celtic, Broadway United, Belfast United, Irish League XI.
Elisha’s Geek NI/LFC Claim to Fame – Elisha was the last player of the 20th century to win a Northern Ireland (IFA – Ireland) cap whilst officially AT Liverpool FC.
Is Elisha Scott Northern Irish? Yes. Was he at Liverpool FC? Yes. He is probably the most well known footballer on this list and is an absolute Liverpool legend, an adopted Scouser. He is the only man born in Northern Ireland to play for Liverpool in three different decades, he amassed a whopping 468 appearances for the Reds in all competitions. For sure he deserves to be the first Ulsterman mentioned on this list, a true legend for Liverpool, Belfast Celtic and for Northern Ireland (Ireland as we were mostly known as, football-wise during his career). He won the Irish League twice and the English League twice. True Legend.
Further Reading –
Elisha Scott on This Is Anfield
Elisha Scott on Liverpool FC
Elisha Scott on Wikipedia
2.Sammy Smyth
Born – Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Liverpool First Team Appearances – 44.
Liverpool Goals – 20.
Time at Liverpool FC – 1952 – 1954.
Northern Ireland Caps – 9.
Northern Ireland Goals – 5.
Other Clubs – Bangor, Distillery, Linfield, Dundela, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Stocke City.
Sammy’s Geek NI/LFC Claim to Fame – Sammy has scored more goals after World War II for Liverpool FC than any other Northern Irishman.
Sammy Smyth made a name for himself at Wolves and Stoke before enjoying two very successful seasons at Liverpool. While at Wolves, he scored two goals against Manchester United in the FA Cup semi final to take them to the final. While at Liverpool, he scored 20 goals in 44 top flight games before moving back to Northern Ireland to finish his career at Bangor. Sammy also netted 5 goals in just 9 games for Northern Ireland. Sammy died in the Cayman Islands.
“He Smyth. He Smyth. He Sammy Sammy Smyth. He gets the ball, he scores the goal. He Sammy Sammy Smyth” – possible GAWA chant from the 1940s – 1950s.
Further Reading –
Sammy Smyth on Wikipedia
Sammy Smyth on LFC History
3.Jim Platt
Born – Ballymoney, Northern Ireland.
Liverpool First Team Appearances – 0.
Other Liverpool Appearances – 1 (trial only).
Time at Liverpool FC – 1969 – 1970.
Northern Ireland Caps – 23 (1 at a World Cup).
Other Clubs – Ballymena United, Coleraine, Hartlepool United, Cardiff City, Middlesbrough.
Jim’s Geek NI/LFC Claim to Fame – Jim appears to be the only Northern Ireland international to have played in a major tournament for Northern Ireland (Espana 82) and been at Liverpool (1969).
Legendary goalkeeper Jim Platt, who went to two World Cups (1982, 1986), appearing in the Panini sticker album at both, as understudy to Pat Jennings managed to play one match at those finals – a 2-2 draw with Austria in the second group stage of Espana 82. Two decades before that even happened, he played for Liverpool – in a trial match, a friendly though. He wasn’t signed full time as competition was tough but he went on to play over 500 times for Middlesbrough and carved out an epic career. Jim is from a sporting family, his niece Angela represented Northern Ireland in hockey and football and continues to work for the IFA, while his nephew David Platt was also a footballer.
Further Reading –
Jim Platt on Wikipedia
Jim Platt on Play Up Liverpool
4.Jim Magilton
Born – Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Liverpool First Team Appearances – 11 (1 goal) * none were classed as competitive.
Other Liverpool Appearances – Youth, Reserves (captain), Subs bench of First Team at Wembley, Soccer Six.
Time at Liverpool FC – 1986 – 1990
Other Clubs – Distillery, Oxford United, Sheffield Wednesday, Southampton, Ipswich Town.
Northern Ireland Caps – 52.
Northern Ireland Goals – 5.
Jim’s Geek NI/LFC Claim to Fame – Jim is the last Northern Ireland international to be on a bench for Liverpool FC in a first team match at Wembley.
Jim Magilton is one of the more famous names on this list and despite playing for the Liverpool first team 11 times, scoring once, none of them are listed as “competitive”. The strong trophy winning Liverpool team in the late 80s to early 90s was hard to break into, preventing Jim from making the step up to the first team regularly. Add that to the fact that in those days, subs were not often used. Jim Magilton even made the substitutes bench for Liverpool at Wembley! He played countless times for the reserves, in the Soccer Six tournament and for the youth teams. He was a fantastic all rounder for Northern Ireland, where he played midfield, weighed in with a few goals, including a confident penalty on his debut as well as captaining the side. Ipswich Town fans will remember his hat-trick in a play-off semi final, while he also lived the dream with United, Southampton and Wednesday.
Further Reading –
Jim Magilton on Wikipedia
Jim Magilton on Northern Ireland’s Footballing Greats
Jim Magilton on LFC
5.Davy Larmour
Born – Dundonald, Northern Ireland.
Liverpool First Team Appearances – 0.
Other Liverpool Appearances – Youth, reserves.
Time at Liverpool FC – 1994 – 1996.
Northern Ireland Caps – 0
Other clubs – Glenavon, Linfield, Doncaster Rovers, Crusaders, Carrick Rangers, Larne, Lisburn Distillery, Harland and Wolff Welders FC.
Davy’s Geek NI/LFC Claim to Fame – Davy is the only Northern Irishman to have been AT Liverpool FC in one century but not called up to a Northern Ireland squad until the next century.
Davy Larmour was part of Liverpool’s 1996 FA Youth Cup team, where he weighed in with two goals in the two legged final. He played alongside the likes of Robbie Fowler, Michael Owen, Stevie Gerrard and Jamie Carragher. A century later, in the year 2000, Davy was called into the full Norn Iron international squad by Sammy McIlroy while with Linfield, though he was never actually capped beyond Youth level. He carved out a decent goalscoring career in the Irish league at Linfield, Crusaders and Larne amongst others.
Further Reading –
Davy Larmour on Wikipedia
Davy Larmour on Northern Ireland’s Footballing Greats
6.Ryan McLaughlin
Born – Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Liverpool First Team Appearances – 2 (both in a pre-season USA tour).
Other Liverpool Appearances – Youth, reserves.
Time at Liverpool FC – 2014 – 2016
Northern Ireland Caps – 5
Other clubs – Glenavon, Barnsley, Aberdeen, Oldham Athletic, Blackpool, Rochdale, Morecambe.
Ryan’s Geek NI/LFC Claim to Fame – Ryan was the first Northern Irishman to win a cap in the 21st century whilst officially at Liverpool FC.
Ryan McLaughlin met James Bond and marked Francesco Totti during his time at Liverpool FC. He was also the first player to win a Northern Ireland cap in the 21st century whilst contracted at Liverpool FC.
Further Reading –
Ryan McLaughlin on Wikipedia
Ryan McLaughlin on Northern Ireland’s Footballing Greats
Ryan McLaughlin on Liverpool FC
Ryan McLaughlin on Twitter
7.Conor Bradley
Born – Castlederg, Northern Ireland.
Liverpool First Team Appearances – 3.
Other Liverpool Appearances – Youth.
Time at Liverpool FC – 2019 – date.
Northern Ireland Caps – 3.
Other clubs – St. Patrick’s FC, Dungannon Swifts.
Conor’s Geek NI/LFC Claim to Fame – Conor is the reason for this article’s existence.
Conor is one of the few current (as of 2021) footballers on this list, so he still has the chance to gain more Liverpool appearances, and further Northern Ireland caps. Conor made his Northern Ireland full debut in 2021 against Malta in a 3-0 away win. He made his competitive Liverpool debut also in a 3-0 away win, at Norwich City in September 2021.
Further Reading –
Conor Bradley on Wikipedia
8.Rodney McAree
Born – Dungannon, Northern Ireland.
Liverpool First Team Appearances – 0.
Other Liverpool Appearances – Youth.
Time at Liverpool FC – 1991 – 1994.
Northern Ireland Caps – 0.
Rodney’s Geek NI/LFC Claim to Fame – He scored the late winner at Carlisle, which was vital in Fulham’s promotion back to the top flight in 1999.
When I owned Championship Manager in the 1990s, one legend was Rodney McAree. Not only did he score dozens of goals for Liverpool in European competition and in England, but he won a load of Northern Ireland caps. Sadly, Championship Manager is just Fantasy Football. Rod did carve out a career at Bristol City, Fulham, Glenavon and Dungannon Swifts, but despite being Northern Irish and at Liverpool, he never actually played a proper match for either. He played with Robbie Fowler though and scored a vital last minute winner to help Fulham back to the top division in 1999.
Further Reading –
Rodney McAree on Wikipedia
Rodney McAree reflects on his Liverpool days
9.William Lacey
Born – Enniscorthy, Republic of Ireland.
Liverpool First Team Appearances – 230 (18 goals)
Time at Liverpool FC – 1912 – 1924.
Northern Ireland / Ireland (IFA) Caps – 23.
Northern Ireland Goals – 3.
Republic of Ireland / Irish Free State (FAI) Caps – 3.
Republic of Ireland / Irish Free State (FAI) Caps – 1.
Other clubs he was at – Shelbpourne, Everton, Belfast United, Linfield, New Brighton, Cork Bohemians.
Billy’s Geek NI/LFC Claim to Fame – Billy is the only player to play international football for an “Ireland” team in 4 decades (1909 – 1930). He did the 1900s and 1910s with Ireland, the 1920s with Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland and the 1930s with Republic of Ireland. (and I don’t care what you call them – you can use Ireland for both, the Irish Free State, whatever you want the fact remains he still did that!).
Although William Lacey was born in the Republic of Ireland, he represented Northern Ireland (after 1921) as well as turning out for the Ireland team (before 1921, but still the IFA team). He has the epic distinction of playing for an Ireland international team in 4 different decades (1900s, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s). Aaron Hughes almost equalled his record recently, but missing the 2020s. As well as this, Billy played over 200 times for Liverpool FC. He is one of the most interesting characters on this list – a bit of a legend in days when there was much less publicity about football never mind videos or photos.
Further Reading –
Billy Lacey on Wikipedia
Billy Lacey on Northern Ireland’s Footballing Greats
10.David McMullan
Born – Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Liverpool First Team Appearances – 35.
Time at Liverpool FC – 1925 – 1928.
Northern Ireland Caps – 3.
Other Clubs – Forth River, Distillery, New York Giants, Belfast Celtic, Exeter City.
Billy’s Geek NI/LFC Claim to Fame – David made his debut for Liverpool alongside Elisha Scott, making him one of the rare players to have played over 10 matches for a Liverpool side that included 2 Northern Ireland internationals on the pitch.
David McMullan made his Liverpool debut on 17 October 1925 at Anfield in a 2-1 win against Manchester City alongside fellow Northern Irishman Elisha Scott doing nets that day. Despite that, he didn’t get another match until the end of November however he did get a run of 11 matches from then until the end of January 1926.
In the following season David McMullan only made two appearances. In the 1927/28 season, McMullan’s last with Liverpool, he made 20 appearances.
Further Reading –
David McMullan on Wikipedia
David McMullan on Northern Ireland’s Footballing Greats
David McMullan on Soccer Ireland
11.Sam English
Born – Crevolea, Aghadowey, Northern Ireland.
Liverpool First Team Appearances – 47.
Liverpool goals – 24.
Time at Liverpool FC -1933 – 1935.
Northern Ireland Caps – 2.
Northern Ireland Goals -1.
Other Clubs – Yorker Athletic, Glasgow Rangers, Queen of the South, Hartlepool United.
Sam’s Geek NI/LFC Claim to Fame – Sadly, due to the fact that a kick of Sam’s boot resulted in the death of a Glasgow Celtic goalkeeper, Sam’s life was difficult after that – he was taunted and made to feel remorse. His legacy lives on in the form of a book about him.
Sam English from Aghadowey is a tainted hero. Sadly, in 1931 during an old firm game between Glasgow Rangers and Glasgow Celtic, his boot collided with the Celtic keeper John Thomson, who died as a result of that. On the pitch, Sam was an exceptional talent. He scored in every other game for Northern Ireland, he banged in 54 in 60 for Rangers, 24 in 47 for Liverpool and 27 in 69 for Hartlepool. A book about Sam is available.
Further Reading –
Sam English on Wikipedia
Sam English on Northern Ireland’s Footballing Greats
Tortured – The Sam English Story
12.Billy Millar
Born – Ballymena, Northern Ireland.
Liverpool First Team Appearances – 3.
Liverpool Goals – 2.
Time at Liverpool FC – 1928 – 1929.
Northern Ireland Caps – 2.
Northern Ireland Goals – 1.
Other Clubs – Drumcondra, South End Rangers, Linfield, Barrow, Newport County, Carlisle United, Dalbeattie Star, Ballymen United, Sligo Rovers, Cork Celtic, Drumcondra, Lochgelly United.
Billy’s Geek NI/LFC Claim to Fame – Billy has the highest goals per game ratio for any Northern Irishman who has scored for Liverpool, 2 goals every 3 matches.
Billy Millar lived the dream, playing club football in six different countries. Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland, England, Republic of Ireland and USA. He only played 3 times for Liverpool, yet scored twice, both against Bury. He only won two Northern Ireland caps, yet scored once. Quality rather than quantity. Born in Ballymena, he died in San Diego.
Further Reading –
Billy Millar on Wikipedia
Billy Millar on Northern Ireland’s Footballing Greats
13.David Hannah
Born – Killyleagh, Northern Ireland.
Liverpool First Team Appearances – 31.
Liverpool Goals – 11.
Time at Liverpool FC – 1894 – 1897.
Northern Ireland Caps – 0.
Other clubs – Arsenal, Sunderland, Dundee, Renton, Renton Union, Renton Thistle.
David’s Geek NI/LFC Claim to Fame – David is from Killyleagh, yes the same town that boasts David Healy, Northern Ireland’s record breaking goalscorer.
These days, it’s inconceiveable that a player who plays 31 times for Liverpool and scores 11 goals would not be capped for Northern Ireland. But of course, back in the 1880s and 1890s, there were only about 3 or 4 international matches per year, there were no real friendlies, there were no areoplanes for away trips to the Caribbean and there was no World Cup until 1930, and no Euros until 1960. So David Hannah is for sure the most unfortunate player on this list. The fact that he scored 18 goals for Sunderland, 11 for Liverpool and 17 for Arsenal yet is uncapped defies belief. Wikipedia cites the following reason – “Despite his success at club level with Sunderland, Hannah was never capped as an international – being Northern Irish-born he was ineligible for Scotland under rules of the time, and Ireland were possibly unaware that he could play for them, assuming that he was simply one of the many ‘Anglo-Scots’ who were overlooked by the Scottish Football Association for selection until 1896.
“It’s crazy what you could have had” – Michael Stipe.
Further Reading –
David Hannah on Wikipedia
David Hannah on Liverpool FC
14.William John Hood
Born – Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Liverpool First Team Appearances – 3.
Time at Liverpool FC -1937 – 1938.
Northern Ireland Caps – 0.
Other Clubs – Cliftonville, Derry City, Crusaders, Ballycarry.
William’s Geek NI/LFC Claim to Fame – William appears to be the only Northern Ireland amateur international to have played for Liverpool.
It was hard to source information about William John Hood but I found out that he played one Amateur match for Northern Ireland.
Further Reading –
William John Hood on Wikipedia
William John Hood on Northern Ireland’s Footballing Greats
15.Billy McDevitt
Born – Northern Ireland.
Liverpool First Team Appearances – 4.
Time at Liverpool FC – 1923 – 1924.
Northern Ireland Caps – 0.
Other Clubs – Belfast United, Swansea Town, North Belfast United, Exeter City, Belfast Celtic.
Billy’s Geek NI/LFC Claim to Fame – Billy took part in a cup upset run with Exeter City in 1931, when the Grecians reached the quarter finals.
Billy McDevitt played 4 times for Liverpool in the 1923 – 1924 season, yet was uncapped. His glory moment was at Exeter City, where they surprising knocked out Leeds United and reached the FA Cup quarter finals in 1931, losing 4-2 to Sunderland.
Further Reading –
Billy McDevitt on Exeter City FC
Billy McDevitt on LFC History
Billy McDevitt on Wikipedia
16.Sean Friars
Born – Derry, Northern Ireland.
Liverpool First Team Appearances – 0.
Other Liverpool Appearances – Youth.
Time at Liverpool FC – 1997 – 1998.
Northern Ireland Full Caps – 0.
Northern Ireland Other Caps – Under 21 (21, 2 goals), Under 18 (2), under 17 (1), under 16 (2), under 15 (4, 1 goal).
Other Clubs – Foyle Harps, Ipswich Town, Portadown, Newry Town, Carlisle United, Derry City, Finn Harps, Cliftonville, Limavady United, Newry City, Institute, Dungannon Swifts, Carrick Rangers.
Sean’s Geek NI/LFC Claim to Fame – At all levels, Sean Friars won 30 Northern Ireland caps, yet has no full caps and no first team appearances for Liverpool.
Many Northern Ireland fans thought it was a no-brainer in the late 1990s that Sean Friars would eventually be capped at full level. The baffler is that it never happened. Sean played in the same Liverpool team as Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard. Despite being at Liverpool and Ipswich Town, Sean continued to be capped only in the under 21 setup. There, he amassed a whopping 21 caps, scoring twice. He was part of the famous 1997 Milk Cup winning team, where he played alongside David Healy. Sean carved out a career in the Irish League instead, later writing about a gambling and alcohol addiction from his troubled past.
Further Reading –
Sean Friars on Wikipedia
Sean Friars on Twitter
Sean Friars BBC feature from Liverpool to addictions
Sean Friars on Northern Ireland’s Footballing Greats
17.Paul Willis
Born – Northern Ireland.
Liverpool First Team Appearances – 0.
Other Liverpool Appearances – Youth.
Time at Liverpool FC – 2005 – 2006.
Northern Ireland Full Caps – 0.
Northern Ireland Other Caps – Under 21, Under 19.
Other clubs – AFC Liverpool, Ballyclare Comrades, Stockport County, Alsager Town.
Paul’s Geek NI/LFC Claim to Fame – Despite being a goalkeeper Paul scored a penalty in a shoot-out for Liverpool FC v Everton FC; later in life, he scored from a goal kick for AFC Liverpool!
Paul Willis was a promising young Northern Irish goalkeeper at Anfield. He appears to be the first Northern Irish goalkeeper at Anfield since Elisha Scott. He even weighed in with a goal – a penalty in a youth team shoot-out match v. rivals Everton. Paul was capped at Under-21 level while at Liverpool, but never made the first team, nor did he ever win a full Northern Ireland cap. He ended up playing for a club called AFC Liverpool in the North West Counties League, where he scored from a goal kick.
Further Reading –
Paul Willis on Liverpool Way
Paul Willis on Northern Ireland’s Footballing Greats
18.Gary McCartney
Born – Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Liverpool First Team Appearances – 0.
Other Liverpool Appearances – Youth.
Time at Liverpool FC – 1977 – 1980.
Northern Ireland Full Caps – 0.
Other Northern Ireland Caps – Youth Level.
Other clubs – Linfield, Bangor, Crusaders.
Gary’s Geek NI/LFC Claim to Fame – Gary roomed with, and was friends with Alan Hansen during his time at Anfield.
Gary McCartney (not the ex-Glentoran one, but the one that was at Linfield, Bangor and Crusaders) had a short spell at Liverpool in the late 1970s. He was capped for Northern Ireland at Youth level while a Liverpool player though he never made the first team at Anfield and returned to the Irish League, without winning any further caps at any level.
Further Reading –
Gary McCartney on Wikipedia
Gary McCartney on Play Up Liverpool
Gary McCartney on his Liverpool days – Belfast Telegraph
19.Willie Donnelly
Born – Magharafelt, Northern Ireland.
Liverpool First Team Appearances – 8.
Time at Liverpool FC – 1896 – 1898.
Northern Ireland Caps – 0.
Other Clubs – Vale of Clyde, Hibernian, Clyde, Glasgow Celtic, Belfast Celtic.
Willie’s Geek NI/LFC Claim to Fame – Willie was the first Northern Irish goalkeeper to be at Liverpool FC.
Long before Elisha Scott, Paul Willis and Liam Hughes, there was another Northern Irish goalkeeper on the books at Anfield – Willie Donnelly. Magherafelt born Donnelly kept 2 clean sheets in his 8 appearances for the Reds.
Further Reading –
Willie Donnelly on Wikipedia
Willie Donnelly on LFC History
20.Ernie McCappin
Born – Lurgan, Northern Ireland.
Liverpool First Team Appearances – 0.
Other Liverpool Appearances – Youth, Reserves.
Time at Liverpool FC – 1937 – 1938.
Northern Ireland Full Caps – 0.
Other Northern Ireland Caps – Amateur Level.
Other Clubs – Cliftonville, 4th Old Boys, Lisburn, Linfield.
Ernie’s Geek NI/LFC Claim to Fame – On 13 February 1937 he was part of an Ireland Amateur team that beat England 5 – 1.
Ernie played for Ireland only at Amateur level, but one of those caps was a 5-1 smashation of England. He also won a cap representing the Irish league against the Scottish League, which we bate them 1-0 in.
Further Reading –
Ernie McCappin on Soccer Ireland
Ernie McCappin on Northern Ireland’s Footballing Greats
21.Liam Hughes
Born – Lurgan, Northern Ireland.
Liverpool First Team Appearances – 0.
Other Liverpool Appearances – Youth.
Time at Liverpool FC – 2021 – date.
Northern Ireland Caps – 0.
Other Clubs – Lisburn Youth, Portadown, Dungannon Swifts, Glasgow Celtic
Liam’s Geek NI/LFC Claim to Fame – Liam was named on the bench for Liverpool in a Premier League match against Sheffield United in 2021, becoming the first Northern Irish goalkeeper to be in a Premier League matchday squad for Liverpool since the tournament’s name change in 1992.
Further Reading –
Liam Hughes on Wikipedia
Liam Hughes on Northern Ireland’s Footballing Greats
Liam Hughes on Liverpool FC
22.Billy Scott
Born – Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Liverpool First Team Appearances – 10+ (unknown).
Time at Liverpool FC – 1914 – 1918.
Northern Ireland Caps – 25.
Other Clubs – Cliftonville, Linfield, Everton, Leeds City.
Billy’s Geek NI/LFC Claim to Fame – Billy’s brother is Elisha Scott. They are the only Northern Irish brothers who were both at Liverpool FC.
Billy Scott is the brother of the legendary Elisha Scott, and he was also a goalkeeper! Billy did nets for Northern Ireland in our first ever victory over England, a 2-1 win in 1913! It was also Billy who recommended his younger brother Elisha to the staff at Anfield and the rest as they say is history…
Billy Scott on Wikipedia
Billy Scott on Northern Ireland’s Footballing Greats
The Nearly Men
These guys could have been players at Liverpool, and were mighty close but it wasn’t to be.
23.Len Graham
Len Graham, who was a member of the Northern Ireland 1958 World Cup squad was all set to sign for Liverpool in the late 1940s but he got injured and the deal was called off. He won 14 Northern Ireland caps and played for Doncaster Rovers, Brantwood, Linfield Swifts, Torquay United and Ards. He’s the closest “nearly man” on this list.
24.Ian Nolan
Ian Nolan was born in Liverpool but plied his trade with nearby clubs Marine, Northwich Victoria and Tranmere Rovers. He won 17 Northern Ireland caps under 3 different managers.
25.Iain Jenkins
Iain Jenkins was born in Merseyside, in Whiston but instead of joining Liverpool, he joined Everton. Iain won 1 Northern Ireland B cap and 6 Northern Ireland full caps.
26.Brian Quinn
Northern Irishman Brian Quinn was in Liverpool in two different decades (1970s, 1980s) but he did that at Everton, having signed from Larne. However, he didn’t make any appearances for Everton’s first team despite playing over 40 times for the reserves. Even more peculiar is that Northern Ireland never called him up for a full cap. Brian saw his future elsewhere and headed to the USA. As well as playing for a few clubs in the USA leagues, Brian won a whopping 48 caps for the USA, scoring 1 goal for them. He was seriously unlucky not to be included in either their 1990 World Cup Squad nor their 1994 World Cup Squad. He’s tall, he’s thin, he looks like Jimmy Quinn, he’s Brian Quinn.
If you know of any other Northern Irishmen who were at Liverpool FC from 1880 to 2022, and who are not included on the list, get in touch and let me know.
Please get in touch with any discrepancies, questions, alterations, changes or suggestions!
Ta Ra for now!
