NewsLiverpool's Greatest - No.78: Tommy Lawrence
Years: 1962-1971
Appearances: 390
Trophies: First Division (1963-64, 1965-66), FA Cup (1965)
Tommy Lawrence was a goalkeeper far ahead of his time and the last line of defence in Bill Shankly’s first great Liverpool team.
Having turned professional with the Reds in 1957, the Scottish stopper had to wait five years to make his first appearance, but would never look back from there.
In the six seasons from 1963 to 1969, Lawrence played in 248 of a possible 252 league fixtures, a spell in which the club won the top-flight championship twice – conceding just 34 goals en route to the 1965-66 title.
In between, the ‘Flying Pig’ – supporters’ affectionate nickname referenced Lawrence’s body frame being no barrier to acrobatic saves – was part of the first Liverpool side ever to lift the FA Cup, in 1965.
While lacking the traditional height of a goalkeeper, he was brave, consistent and highly capable of sniffing out dangers.
What’s more, he was a revolutionary in the position, as a ‘sweeper-keeper’.
Shankly encouraged, with great success, his No.1 to move out of the six-yard box, patrol the edge of his penalty area and rush out to deal with balls in behind before opponents could make the most of them.
“At first I was frightened to death,” Lawrence later recalled of his new instructions. “We did it at Melwood a few times, then we tried at Anfield.
“Well, I’m standing there and the Kop is giving me some stick. ‘Get back on your line!’ they’re all yelling. No goalkeeper did that in those days.
“I thought, ‘Oh my God.’ But it worked.”
By the time of his last appearance in April 1971, Lawrence was just 10 games short of 400 at the club.
If any more evidence of his status as a legendary Liverpool goalkeeper were required, Lawrence had managed to prevent the emerging Ray Clemence from taking his spot in the XI for two years.
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