<ul><li><h2><strong>Years: </strong>1905-1912</h2></li><li><h2><strong>Appearances: </strong>240</h2></li><li><h2><strong>Honours: </strong>League title (1905-06)</h2></li></ul>

Sam Hardy was one of the outstanding English goalkeepers of his time and won a league championship at the end of his first season with Liverpool, 1905-06.

<p>He made the spot his own having replaced Ned Doig, who had been the club's No.1 for the opening eight fixtures of that year.</p><p>Hardy remained first-choice between the posts at Anfield for another six years before moving on to Aston Villa, where he played until 1921 and won two FA Cups. The super-fit 'keeper later joined Nottingham Forest and played beyond the age of 40.</p><p>He featured for the full England team 21 times and made 551 league appearances for different clubs, 219 of which came during his spell with Liverpool.</p><p>Legendary player and co-founder of the Football Writers' Association, Charlie Buchan, said of Hardy's abilities: "Hardy, I consider the finest goalkeeper I played against. By uncanny anticipation and wonderful positional sense he seemed to act like a magnet to the ball.</p><p>"I never saw him dive full length to make a save. He advanced a yard or two and so narrowed the shooting angle that forwards usually sent the ball straight at him."</p>

Past playersSam Hardy

Years: 1905-1912

Appearances: 240

Honours: League title (1905-06)

Sam Hardy was one of the outstanding English goalkeepers of his time and won a league championship at the end of his first season with Liverpool, 1905-06.