Past playersEddie Spicer

He had, though, actually played in an FA Cup tie against Bolton Wanderers the previous January, when regional leagues were still in operation.

Many of his early appearances for the Reds came in the half-back line, but he was better known as a left-back.

Only 22 years old when the Second World War ended, it took a while for him to become a regular first-team player at Anfield and he had to wait until the 1949-50 season for his big breakthrough, a year when he missed just five league fixtures and was also part of the team that contested the club's first Wembley cup final.

Spicer suffered a dreadful leg fracture that caused him to miss the complete 1951-52 season and after bravely recovering from that, he fractured his leg in 19 places in a league match at Old Trafford on December 19, 1953.

He never played professional football again and was indeed lucky to walk properly.

Spicer was granted a testimonial match on September 19, 1955, where a combined Liverpool/Everton team played a Lancashire XI in front of 41,266 spectators, testament to the high esteem in which he was held by colleagues and supporters alike.