Brian Hall was the energy and drive in the Liverpool engine room
By Emdad Rahman
Original article - The game against
Fulham this month offered up an opportunity for Anfield and the fans to express
their thanks and pay tribute to one of the finest ambassadors to have worn the
glittering red rouge of Liverpool Football Club.
Liverpool legend
Brian Hall picked up an award from Ian Ayre, retiring upon completion of 28
years service to the Reds as both player and head of public relations.
The
Glasweigan didn’t fit the stereotype and wasn’t an average footballer. As a
fresh faced student he arrived in Liverpool to read Mathematics and three years
later had graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree.
His astute
and studious nature and characteristics were reflected in the way he played the
game at the heart of Bill Shankly's red revolution.
Diminutive in
stature, Hall provided the energy and drive in the Liverpool engine
room. Coupled with the dynamism was a calming influence on his fellow players
as well as intelligent reading of games. It was enough to catch the attention
of Shankly who earmarked Hall for a role amongst his stable of thoroughbreds.
After a debut
in April 1969, Hall's big break had to wait two years, replacing the injured Ian
Callaghan on the right side. Such an impression was made by the new boy that
upon his recovery and return to the first team Shankly switched Callaghan to
centre midfield in order to accommodate his new star.
Shankly
preached simplicity, and Hall’s quantum theories were swapped for a philosophy
of passing to the nearest red shirt and moving, passing to the nearest red
shirt and moving. Shankly liked his players to stick to a routine until it
became embedded within the self.
Hall, who
starred for Liverpool during two prominent decades is remembered most fondly
for giving Everton a bloody nose - his memorable winner against the Toffees was
enough to take Liverpool back to Wembley for the first time since 1965.
Reminiscing
the moment Hall said: "It's not so much me remembering my first-ever goal
for Liverpool. I’m not allowed to forget it.
"To
score it at Old Trafford in an FA cup semi final against Everton, and it turns
out to be the winner, is not a bad memory. In fact, things don’t come much
better than that do they?."
Liverpool
lost the final thanks to Charlie George and a rampaging double winning
Arsenal team, but three years later Hall tasted FA Cup glory, adding further
silverware to the League Championship and UEFA Cup.
In 1976,
after winning two First Division titles, an FA Cup, Charity Shield and two UEFA
Cups, Hall transferred to Plymouth Argyle after losing his first team place to
Jimmy Case. He also played briefly for Burnley and Northwich Victoria before
taking up teaching.
In 1991 he
returned to Anfield to head up the Public Relations department until his
retirement.
The
65-year-old played 224 games and scored 20 goals for the Reds between 1969 and
1976 added: “This was something I didn’t expect. I was happy to just slip away
and enjoy my retirement.
“It’s very special and
I’d like to say a big thank-you to everyone at Liverpool Football
Club, especially our wonderful supporters who have been with us for all these
years.
“I’ve had the
privilege of walking out on this pitch thousands of times.
“It’s been an
incredible 28 years.”
Happy
retirement Brian – you’ve earned it.
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