And a snippet that I have written that included Alex Raisbeck. Your feedback would be very much appreaciated, especially about the writing itself as opposed to the content, but that is also requested. Thanks.
16 April 1906 - Bolton Wanderers v Liverpool, Burnden Park, League Div. 1 - Lost 3:2
Liverpool started to create a long term philosophy and tradition by keeping faith with Manager Tom Watson after the 1904 relegation, a faith that paid off with the Reds winning immediate promotion and going up as Champions. That 2nd Division Championship was secured after beating Burnley in the last game of 1905, despite playing the majority of the 2nd half with 10 men after losing both Sam Raybould and George Fleming to injury. Goalkeeper Ned Doid also saved a penalty in that game to give added confidence for a season in the top flight.
Such confidence was soon deflated as the gap between the divisions became all too apparent with the Reds losing the opening 3 fixtures conceding 11 goals and scoring just 2. In the next 5 games, two further defeats left Liverpool trailing 5th bottom of the league. Liverpool had signed England goalkeeper Sam Hardy from Chesterfield at the end of the 2005 season and it was he who took Doid’s place in goal making his debut in the 4-1 defeat of Nottingham Forest at Anfield. The new goalkeeper proved his credentials as Liverpool leaped from 16th position to 1st in the space of 2 months, taking 15 points from a possible 16. Liverpool stayed in prime position for the remainder of the season although 1904 Champions Preston North End pushed hard.
When Liverpool lined up against Bolton on 16th April, Preston were 5 points behind but had a game in hand having three league games left compared to Liverpool’s two. This meant Liverpool needed just 2 points (one win) to secure the title. More than 1,000 supporters followed the team to Bolton's Burnden Park to see their team dominate the opening exchanges as Goddard and Hewitt rattled the posts of the goal.
It was Bolton, however, who opened the scoring after the normally reliable Hardy had failed to clear after a corner and Shepherd scored to raise the hopes of the Preston faithful 20 miles to the North West. Shepherd scored a 2nd before Jack Parkinson pulled one back for The Reds after 74 minutes, only for Marshall McEwan to increase Bolton’s lead a minute later. Parkinson scored a second but Liverpool could not claw back a point from the game and Bolton won 3-2.
The party in Preston was cancelled, however as North End lost 2-0 at Sunderland, leaving Liverpool’s five point lead intact with Preston having 2 games (max 4 points) left. The Championship was secured for the 2nd time in Liverpool’s history.
The side that day was captained by Scotsman Alex Raisbeck who is considered to be one of our greatest ever. Alex played 341 games for Liverpool and like many of our greatest players, was also a Scottish International, winning 8 caps all against England.
After starting his career with Larkhall Thistle at the age of 15, he moved to Hibernian in 1896. He was then loaned to Stoke City at the end of the 1897/98 season to temporarily strengthen their team for the Test Matches – a tactic that many teams, including Liverpool, practiced. Stoke wanted to sign Raisbeck on a permanent deal, but fortune and fate would favour Liverpool when Secretary Tom Watson was a guest of the Hibs. Chairman when Stoke’s secretary failed to keep his appointment. Watson convinced the young Scott to relocate instead to Anfield for a fee of £350.
The Athletic News reported on Liverpool‘s capture of Raisbeck and his compatriot, George Allan: "Two more important catches for the Anfield club have been effected, and few will say that Allan of the Celts and Raisbeck, of Stoke-com-Edinburgh Hibs, are not good goods. Raisbeck had a name in Scotland as the best centre half in the country, and for Stoke, where he has shown what he can do. And it has happened as I told our readers a week or two ago, Mr Editor, in commenting on Liverpool’s strength and weakness. Now with these last additions, they should go on smilingly, and I think for the first time in their history they will find themselves stronger favourites than their neighbours for the big trophies of next season." Whilst the Athletic News reporter was not quite correct, Liverpool went on to win the league three years later.
At 5’10” he was not the tallest of centre halves, but his timing and athleticism ensured that he was more than a match for any taller opponents, but his influence was not only in defence. The scribe in the club programme, after Liverpool's and Everton's cup replay at Goodison Park on 8 February 1905, captured his essence as a player: "Never has Raisbeck shown more wondrous football. He was here, there and everywhere. Now initiating an attack, now breaking up another, and again chasing Sharp when that lithe young man appeared to be all on his own. He dominated the whole field, and was, without question, the one superlative player. I am never inclined to over elaborate praise, but truly, Alec Raisbeck was a giant among pigmies."
Raisbeck was indeed a leader and having captained Liverpool to the 1901 league title, lifted the trophy again after victory in this game against Bolton, this time without his beloved moustache. He continued to lead Liverpool until 1908/09 where he missed four months of the season through injury, with Liverpool narrowly escaping relegation finishing in 17th place. When the opportunity came to return to Scotland with Partick, he put himself forward for the move and played a further 5 years for the Thistle.
After a successful managerial career with Hamilton Academicals and Bristol City, Raisbeck was tipped to replace David Ashworth as manager when he left in December 1922. Ashworth had won the league title the previous year, and Liverpool were top of the league when he resigned. He gave his reasons a need to live nearer to his family as he had a wife and daughter who were both disabled. He took a job with Oldham Athletic which was considerably nearer his family home, but who were relegated that season. Raisbeck did not replace him; however, and instead it was legend Matt McQueen who took up the reigns prior to the 3-0 home victory over Blackburn on February 17th after two months with a caretaker manager. McQueen went on to secure a successive 1st Division title.
Raisbeck went on to manage Halifax Town, Chester City and Bath City before returning to Liverpool in 1939, not as manager as he had once hoped, but as a scout. He stayed at Liverpool until he died on 12th March 1949 aged 70.
Upon winning the league for the 2nd time, Liverpool became the first team to win the 2nd and 1st division titles in succession, a feat that has only been matched by Everton (‘31 & ‘32), Tottenham (’50 & ‘51) and Ipswich (‘61 & ‘62) under Sir Alf Ramsey. Nottingham Forest did gain promotion in 3rd place in 1977 and then won the league in 1978 under Brain Clough.
Also in that season, Liverpool played the first of a number of FA Cup Semi-Finals against Everton, this time Everton prevailing against its main rivals 2-0 at Villa Park. This is the only time to date that Everton have beaten Liverpool in an FA Cup Semi Final, with Liverpool winning the 1950, 71, 77 & 2012 Semi’s, only to lose in all those finals.
Everton, however went on to play in the Cup Final at Crystal Palace Stadium against Newcastle. Liverpool was playing its final game of the season against Sheffield United at Anfield at the same time and when news of Everton’s 78th minute goal filtered through, it became a “signal for tumultuous cheering which did not subside for several minutes.” This would not be the only time that both the FA Cup and the League found their way to the city of Liverpool simultaneously.
