NewsLiverpool's Greatest - No.70: Albert Stubbins
Years: 1946-1953
Appearances: 178
Goals: 84
Trophies: First Division (1946-47)
Albert Stubbins was one of Liverpool’s great goalscorers in history, having delivered at a rate of one-in-two across seven years at Anfield.
The Reds won the competition for the prolific striker’s signature after the Second World War, investing £13,000 to recruit him from Newcastle United in 1946.
That club-record fee proved to be a very smart piece of business.
Liverpool were rewarded quickly and handsomely as Stubbins scored on his debut and went on to rack up 24 strikes in the league (and 28 overall) that helped clinch the 1946-47 championship.
Loved by Kopites, the Geordie was skilful, a talented dribbler, strong and unselfish too. Above all, he was so often simply clinical when presented with a chance to deposit the ball into the net.
“Even if I had a bad game, the crowd would never crucify me like they would some players,” recalled Stubbins years later of his relationship with supporters.
In 1947-48, he increased his haul of goals in the First Division to 25, but a subsequent contractual dispute with the club meant he featured in only 18 matches during the next season.
Stubbins eventually returned to the fold and was involved in just shy of 60 games from 1949 to 1951 but was not able to quite reproduce the outstanding scoring figures previously within his powers.
Neither could the Reds add further silverware, with Stubbins part of the XI denied FA Cup glory when beaten by Arsenal in the 1950 final at Wembley.
He departed the club in 1953 with his reputation cemented, and clearly The Beatles had been fans too – Stubbins was the only footballer included in the collage on the famous cover of their album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
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