HistoryThe story of a forgotten Liverpool title triumph

It was captured during the Second World War when the man in charge at Anfield was former Saints boss George Kay.

Recruited from The Dell in 1936, Kay was just three years into his eventual 15-year tenure when the outbreak of hostilities saw normal league and cup competition suspended.

Football continued, though, albeit on a regional basis. The structure was often complicated and just fielding a team could sometimes be problematic.

With players being called up to serve their country, clubs regularly had to rely on ‘guests’ make up the numbers, yet under Kay’s astute leadership Liverpool were successful in 1942-43.

In what was known as the ‘Football League North Championship’, the Reds finished runners-up to Blackpool in the first phase, which ran from August until Christmas Day, then won this cup by topping the second series, played between Boxing Day and the start of May.

Having scored 134 goals over the course of the season and lost just six of the 38 games that counted towards the league, it was a well-deserved victory. And one that would be a pointer to future glory.

Of the 53 players Kay used throughout the campaign, several would feature in his inaugural post-war title-winning squad of 1946-47.

Top scorer Cyril Done and captain Willie Fagan were mainstays of the side, while the likes of Jack Balmer and a young Billy Liddell also made a significant number of appearances.

Although you won’t find this trophy listed among the club’s official honours, it’s another important piece of our history that deserves to be recognised.

Now 82 years old, it can be viewed at Anfield, where it remains on display in the museum.

• To visit the new and improved LFC Museum, which is included in all Anfield tours and experiences, book via liverpoolfc.com/stadium-tours