NewsLiverpool's Greatest - No.75: Alan A'Court
Years: 1953-1964
Appearances: 381
Goals: 63
Trophies: Second Division (1961-62)
Such was Alan A’Court’s talent, he represented England at the 1958 World Cup despite being stuck in the Second Division with Liverpool.
A top-class winger with tremendous pace, A’Court was a loyal and consistent figure for the Reds but was unfortunate his Anfield career coincided with a lowly spell for the club.
Liverpool won the competition for his signature in 1952 after he had caught the eye at amateur level, and he debuted the following year.
A’Court became a regular from the 1954-55 campaign but the Reds had dropped out of the top flight and would languish in the second tier for eight years.
On a personal level, the lad from Rainhill certainly did his best to try to win Liverpool promotion – he produced double figures for goal contributions in each of those seasons – only for the target to remain out of reach.
The arrival of Bill Shankly as manager in 1959 changed everything, of course, and A’Court claimed a piece of history by scoring the first goal of the Scot’s reign.
When promotion was finally achieved in 1961-62, A’Court – a crack crosser of the ball – played every league match, scored eight goals and racked up 18 assists.
Injury cruelly prevented him from having any participation when Shankly’s team went on to win the First Division championship two seasons later, while the recruitment of Peter Thompson for the left-hand side displaced A’Court.
He returned to make his last appearance in the shirt when Liverpool hosted their first European fixture at Anfield in September 1964, setting up two goals on the night in a 6-1 defeat of KR Reykjavik.
A’Court – who is credited with more than 100 assists for the club alongside his 63 goals – departed the Reds a month later to join Tranmere Rovers.
Unlucky timing meant he missed out on the major successes under Shankly, but his legacy stands in helping put the club back in a position to win.
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