Brian HallD.o.B - 22/11/46
Position - attacking midfielder
1st team games (goals) - 224 (21)
Glaswegian born Brian Hall was in Liverpool long before his football career came about. He was studying mathematics in Liverpool University when he signed his amateur papers for Liverpool Football Club and with a Bachelor of Science degree to his name, he signed professionally in the summer of 68. His university background earned him the affectionate nickname from the Liverpool faithful of "Little Bamber" after University Challenge host, Bamber Gascoigne. (Fellow Red Steve Heighway was known as "Big Bamber")
Hall eventually made his Liverpool debut in April 69 when he replaced Roger Hunt as a second half substitute in a goalless draw at the Victoria Ground against Stoke. Five days later he again came off the bench, this time against Leicester and for Geoff Strong as Liverpool won 2-1 at Filbert Street. Not a bad introduction to first team football, your first two games see you going against Gordan Banks and Peter Shilton as your opposing goalkeepers.
The following season saw Brian play even fewer games, making just one appearance though he was an unused substitute on a few occasions as well. He was one appearance in the 69/70 season was on Boxing Day when he replaced Bobby Graham as we strolled to a 5-1 victory at Turf Moor. (I must admit, I've never heard of Burnley's keeper that day - Peter Mellor)
Moving into the 70s, Brian gained more opportunities and finally made his Anfield debut, again from the bench, when he replaced John McGlaughlin in a four nil victory over Huddersfield. In September 1970, he won his first start for the club in the League Cup at Field Mill against Mansfield. Who'd have thought it eh? Even in the 70s, we were throwing in youngsters for the League Cup. As the season progressed he began starting more and more games but his first goal for the club appeared elusive.
But when it did come, it's the sort of goal we all dream of. Scoring the winner at Old Trafford. It gets better though, it was against Everton in the FA Cup semi final. Considering we hadn't won a trophy since the League in 66, this was the opportunity for Shankly's new side to prove their greatness. Before the Cup final against Arsenal though, Brian would net his first League goal when he scored the only goal at the City Ground against Nottingham Forest.
Brian was one eight players to play in all seven FA Cup games that year but of course it all ended in disappointment as we lost the final to Arsenal's double winning side.
With the arrival of Kevin Keegan in 71, Brian saw fewer opportunities come his way. He still achieved a credible thirty-three games over the course of the year and got himself on the scoresheet twice in the process, once against Hull and then against Man United - both at Anfield. With the Keegan and Toshack partnership starting to find it's feet by the time 72/73 rolled around, Brian played even fewer games making thirty-one appearances that campaign.
The season did end with a League Title and a UEFA Cup winner's medal for Brian though. However the UEFA Cup medal may have a bittersweet taste for him as in the first leg of the final he started ahead of Toshack, only for the game to be postponed due to Anfield being waterlogged. In that time Shanks, spotted that Monchengladbach's defence had a weakness in the air so for the rearranged game decided to put Toshack back in the side in place of Hall. While Brian later replaced Steve Heighway towards the end of the match, he was left on the bench for the second leg in Germany.
After an in-different start to the 73/74 season, Brian firmly established himself as a regular starter for Bill Shankly's side. With Hall in the side, Liverpool went all the way to Wembley again to play Newcastle in the FA Cup final. This time Brian was on the winning side and added another winners medal to his collection. During the game was the incident I'll always remember Brian for when he "ducked" under the ball and allow Keegan to open the scoring. Brian maintains he purposely ducked because he heard Keegan shout leave it, I'm not so sure.
Make your own minds up;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKYiN0aUB8w (around the 2:50 mark)
With Shanks leaving at the end of the season, Brian played under his first "new" manager since arriving at the club when Bill's assistant, Bob Paisley took over the reigns. Brian remained an important member of the first team during Bob's first year, getting forty-five games over the course of the season.
However, Paisley wanted to put his own stamp on the side and Brian was unfortunately one of those who was deemed surplus to requirements after the 75-76 season. His final game for the club was as a substitute against Barcelona in the semi final of our successful UEFA Cup run. He got a UEFA Cup winners medal that year but didn't make it off the bench in either leg. His final start for the club was back in December 75 and his final goal a month earlier.
He was sold to Plymouth in the summer of 76 but made a return to Anfield with Burnley in the FA Cup of 79. It wasn't a happy return as the Clarets lost three nil.
That wasn't the final time Brian Hall returned to Anfield though because he became our head PR Officer in the early 90s. A job he would hold for many years.
After battling with leukaemia, we sadly lost Brian in July of this year but he will always be remembered by Kopites all around the world.