Albert Stubbins : Liverpool Centre Forward (1946 - 1952)
Albert was one of Liverpool's most popular players in the period immediately
following the end of the Second World War.
In 1946 Albert Stubbins cost Liverpool a record £12,500
What Liverpool fan at that time could ever forget that overnight dash to
Newcastle by Anfield officials, to pip Everton to the purchase of Albert Stubbins.
Albert had joined Liverpool in response to an urgent message flashed
in a Newecastle picture house.
My "Old Fellah" who was thirteen at the time reckoned this signing was to
transform a mediocre Liverpool side into League champions in the first
fully competitive season after the war.
If it were not for Albert missing a sitter in the semi-final against Burnley
we may also have won our first league and cup double.
Alberts arrival also released the versatile Bill Jones from attack into defence,
and therefore solved two problems at once as Liverpools defence at the time
left a lot to be desired, letting in four goals against Chelsea (Although we scored 7)
and five against the mancs.
Debut: 14th September 1946 v Bolton Wanderers (Away) Football League Division One: won 3-1
He scored on his debut at Bolton and only missed two more League fixtures for the rest of
the season, which ended with him winning a League championship medal and being equal
top-scorer at the club with Jack Balmer (24 goals each).
The excitement of packed houses at Anfield was the new norm and a penalty-kick that
broke the arm of the Leeds goalkeeper, as Albert sought his first goal in front of the Kop,
would not be forgotten in a long time.
Who could forget about the famous diving header in the cup win over Birmingham,
when he launched himself through the snow, to connect with a ferocious Liddell free-kick
just six inches above the ground ?
The infamous game,
Liverpool v Birmingham City Date: 01/03/1947
Stadium: Anfield, Liverpool (Att: 51911)
Competition: FA Cup - Sixth Round
Score: 4 (1) - 1 (0)
Liverpool Line Up
Cyril Sidlow
James Harley
Raymond Lambert
Phillip Taylor
William Jones
Robert Paisley
William Fagan
Jack Balmer
Albert Stubbins
Cyril Done
William (Our Billy) Liddell
Liverpool Scorers
Stubbins
Stubbins
Stubbins
Balmer
Albert also scored 24 League goals in 1947-48, which included four, two in each half,
when Huddersfield Town visited Anfield on 6th March 1948.
Then came THE PROBLEMS, Albert made the team for the opening 10 fixtures of the
1948-49 season but then became embroiled in a contractual dispute with LFC
over his desire to return to his native North-East, or at least train there.
But the club insisted that he continued to live on Merseyside and partly because of this
dispute and partly because of injury-problems, Albert didn't play for Liverpool's first-team
again until the opening day of the next season.
Ever the professional, he didn't let his personal feelings affect his commitment to the club
that was paying his wages and he again reached double-figures in the League despite
missing 13 First Division matches and was also a member of the team defeated by Arsenal
in the 1950 F.A. cup final.
In his early-30's, Albert's name was less frequently on Liverpool's team-sheet and the
last of the 180 first-team appearances he made for the club came at Stoke on 3rd January 1953.
He had kept up his record of scoring a goal almost every other game and finished his playing
days on Merseyside with an impressive total of 83 in League and cup.
After all said and done, these were happy days for my Dad and me Grampa and were enjoyed by huge,
trouble-free crowds, and remembered with affection by all reds fans, who revelled in the glittering talents
of a great player and true gentleman of football.
Albert Stubbins : Liverpool Centre Forward (1946 - 1952)
Total Appearances: 180
Total Goals: 83
International caps while with Liverpool: (1)
Honours with Liverpool: (1) First Division Championship 1946/47
WOOLY
