NewsLiverpool's Greatest - No.9: Roger Hunt
Years: 1959-1969
Appearances: 492
Goals: 285
Trophies: Second Division (1961-62), First Division (1963-64, 1965-66), FA Cup (1965)
‘Sir’ Roger Hunt had an honorary knighthood bestowed on him by Liverpool supporters for all the goals he provided.
Hunt’s brilliance in front of goal and willingness to graft went a long way to restoring the Reds’ status as a giant in English football under Bill Shankly.
“I made up my mind that if I didn’t succeed at Anfield then it wouldn’t be for the lack of determination,” said the forward.
“From the first day I threw myself into training, ran and tackled for everything, and practised my ball skills at every opportunity.”
A record of 42 strikes across his first two seasons was more than respectable, but Hunt flourished after the arrival of Ian St John and the creation of a formidable attacking partnership between the pair.
He would go on to score an astonishing 41 goals in 41 league matches during the Second Division-winning campaign of 1961-62.
Making the step up in divisions proved no difficulty either; the World Cup winner with England was Liverpool’s top scorer for eight seasons in a row, reaching the 30-goal mark in five of them.
Such contributions helped deliver First Division titles to Anfield in 1963-64 and 1965-66, and sandwiched in between those triumphs was the glory of the 1965 FA Cup final.
Hunt had a starring role in the historic achievement by opening the scoring against Leeds United in the eventual 2-1 win, to clinch long-awaited success for the club in football’s oldest competition.
The No.8 overtook Gordon Hodgson’s tally of 241 to claim top spot on Liverpool’s all-time scorers list in November 1967.
By the time of his departure in 1969, his final total would be 285 – a figure that has only since been bettered by Ian Rush.
Hunt does, however, still hold the record for most league goals scored for the Reds with 244, and a flag in his honour continues to feature on the Kop to this day.
“A dream come true,” said the master finisher of his Anfield career. “To be playing for Liverpool really was a great feeling, because of the great fans that we had.
“You never know if you’re going to be good enough. Everybody wants to play. I was just fortunate that I got in at the right time and took my chance, and I was playing in a good team.”
Those humble words barely scratch the surface of the true impact Hunt had for the Reds, of which he was left in no doubt three years after leaving.
A reported capacity crowd of more than 55,000 were in attendance at Anfield to witness his testimonial match and pay special homage.
“When Dad retired from football in 1972, he was worried that the fans might have forgotten about him,” his daughter Julie said after he passed away in 2021.
“He always said that he was amazed and choked up that so many people had turned out that night – even with the really bad weather too. It was lashing down with rain. It had meant such a lot to him to receive that adulation.”
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