No. 55 – The Day Liverpool won two Cups

No. 55 – The Day Liverpool won two Cups

In the final game in the First Division during the 1946/47 season, Liverpool beat Wolves on a baking hot day, Stubbins and Balmer were the goalscorers as the Reds recorded a 2-1 win ‘“ a result that left Liverpool on the brink of a first championship since 1923.

Although Liverpool had played their last game of the season, they had to wait a fortnight to see if Stoke (the other team capable of winning the League) would beat Sheffield United.

The long awaited return of the football league took place in September 1946 after the football authorities called a halt to the professional leagues due to World War Two. Inspirational pre-war skipper Matt Busby had left to join Manchester United as manager but Liverpool had new faces such as young Bob Paisley and Billy Liddell.

However, due to one of the worst Winters in England, the 1946/47 season had run into the Summer and the Championship was to be decided when Stoke City visited Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on 14 June 1947.

On that same night, Liverpool played Everton in the Senior Cup Final and just before full time, it was announced by loudspeakers that Sheffield had beaten Stoke. Anfield erupted and celebrated 2 cups by beating Everton 2-1….. The Anfield pitch was swarmed by fans in celebration

With the Lancashire Senior Cup already in the bag it had been an unforgettable treble-winning season. A total of twenty-six players played their part in the 1946/47 season title success and, together with chairman Bill McConnell and manager George Kay, their place in Anfield folklore is forever assured.

The twenty six players who wrote their name into Anfield folklore that season are :

Jim Harley, Cyril Sidlow, Phil Taylor, Jack Balmer, Laurie Hughes, Bernard Ramsden, Bill Jones, Berry Nieuwenhuys, Len Carney, Eddie Spicer, Robert Priday, Harry Eastham, William Watkinson, Charlie Ashcroft, Tommy McLeod, George Kaye, Billy Liddell, Willie Fagan, Bob Paisley, Ray Lambert, Tom Bush, Stan Palk, Albert Stubbins, Cyril Done, Ray Minshull, John Easdale.