Ian Rush, can remember an 8 year old me kicking the ball around the garden for about 3 hours after hearing on the Rushie was coming home on the news. He went onto become our all time highest goal scorer with 346 goals surpassing Roger Hunt.
Stan Collymore, was away with school in Snowdon for the weekend. I got word that we’d signed Collymore on the Saturday night and that he’d turned down more money from Everton. I firmly believed this would signal the return of the league title to Anfield, but we’d have to wait a little while longer. Collymore struck a fantastic partnership with Robbie Fowler during his 1st season with us and left an indelible mark in Premier League history in the 4-3 win against Newcastle at Anfield. But his time at the club ultimately proved a false dawn as the league title during both of Collymore’s seasons with us ended up down the M62.
Robbie Fowler, I had bittersweet memories of 2001. We’d won the treble and made the Champions League but I’d lost my job and my Nan that year then Fowler went. I think Fowler had shown with his hat trick at Filbert Street not long before he left and at his time at Leeds that he still knew where the back of the net was. I felt we were lightweight up front in 2005/6 and remarked to my mate in the car back from Old Trafford that given the chance I’d bring him back. 5 days later, I’d been out on all night session and was just about to finish work, when I got a text saying he’s signed. Rang my mate to ask who and he said Robbie Fowler. I couldn’t believe it and checked on teletext, suddenly pandemonium and was phone was going 9 to the dozen with calls about Fowler coming back. Queue another night on the ale, I didn’t have a high expectation this time around. I was just pleased he’d come back and we’d get the opportunity to say goodbye. The ovation Robbie got when he came out to warm up with Xabi Alonso that night against Birmingham was fantastic, it’s just a shame he had his late winner chalked out.
