ALAN A'COURT

'Alan A'Court' (born September 30, 1934) is a former English footballer who predominantly played for Liverpool.

Contents

Life and playing career

Career details

External links

Life and playing career

Born in Rainhill, St Helens, Merseyside, England, A'Court was a winger who started out at Prescot Celtic as an amateur before he was signed by Reds manager Don Welsh, Alan made his debut in a league match at Ayresome Park on the 7 February 1953, a game that saw Liverpool take both the points from a 3-2 win. His first goal came a month later on the 14 March, again, in a league match, this time at Anfield in a 2-0 victory over Sunderland.
A'Court, who followed Rugby League, signed from Prescot as an 18-year-old in September 1952, spurning the advances of Everton and Bolton to become an Anfield apprentice, a decision that paid off as just six months after joining he made his first team debut. The following season A'Court played 16 times but Liverpool were relegated to the Second Division.
During the Anfield clubs first season in the second tier of English football A'Court established himself as a first team regular making 33 league and cup appearances. Alan remained consistent even though Liverpool failed to regain their top flight status. By the age of 24 years and 89 days Alan had played 200 league games for the Reds becoming the youngest player to do so, a record that still stands.
Although the strong and talented A'Court could have left to play for teams in the First Division, his loyalty to Liverpool was rewarded in 1962 when, as an ever-present, he and the Reds celebrated promotion back to the First Division under the guidance of the great Bill Shankly a full 8 points, in the days of 2 points for a win, clear of 2nd placed Leyton Orient. Alan was selected 23 times during the Liverpool's first season back amongst football's elite teams; he helped Liverpool to a more than healthy 8th place.
Whilst still in Division 2 A'Court's skill alerted England manager Walter Winterbottom who was looking for a player to replace an injured Tom Finney; Winterbottom handed the left winger the first of his 5 caps on the 6 November 1957 in a British Championship match against Northern Ireland at Wembley. A'Court's only goal for his country and a goal for Duncan Edwards were not enough to prevent England losing the game 3-2. The highlight of Alan's career has to be representing England at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, he played in all 3 matches against Brazil (0-0), Austria (2-2) and the USSR (0-1), remember he did this despite playing, at the time, in the Second Division.
Unfortunately for Alan injuries began to take their toll, he missed the whole of the 1963/64 championship winning season, so Shankly signed Peter Thompson from Preston and after spending most of his career at Liverpool, playing 382 times and scoring 63 goals, he was allowed to leave. He joined Tranmere Rovers for a fee of £4,500 in October 1964. A'Court's final outing in a Red shirt was in a historic match, it was Liverpool's first ever European match at Anfield, the game was a European Cup preliminary round 2nd leg which took place on the 14 September 1964. Liverpool had won the first encounter with Icelandic side Knattspyrnufelag Reykjavikur 5-0 but rather than treat the return leg as a mere formality, the Reds finished off the job with a comprehensive 6-1 victory.
He later became player coach at Norwich City before taking on various coaching jobs, including posts in Zambia and New Zealand, he also became assistant manager at Stoke City when George Eastham called upon his services in 1969, he eventually took over the reins in January 1978 for a month as caretaker when Eastham departed. From Stoke he moved to Crewe Alexandra, again, as an assistant. He then went to join the sport staff at North Staffordshire Polytechnic which became Staffordshire University. After finally retiring from football Alan ran a tobacconist/newsagent shop on the borders of Birkenhead and Bebington, Merseyside.

Career details

★ Liverpool F.C. (1953 - 1964) 382 appearances, 63 goals - Football League Second Division championship winners medal (1962)

★ England (1957 - 1958) 5 caps, 1 goals

External links

★ Official player profile at Liverpoolfc.tv

★ Player profile at LFChistory.net

★ 100 Players Who Shook The Kop - NO.81

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