100 Players
Who Shook The Kop – the groundbreaking series that had every Liverpool fan
talking back in 2006 – is set to return this summer, here's my top ten
countdown.
#9 -
Roger Hunt
The only
player to have an honorary knighthood bestowed upon him by the Anfield
faithful, Roger Hunt is one of the most popular figures ever to pull on the red
jersey.
Quite why
he wasn't made a 'Sir' by the Queen is still hard to fathom, especially as he
was the only Red in the starting line-up when England won the World Cup in
1966.
The
exploits of hat-trick hero Geoff Hurst mean he's sadly overlooked when a
dewy-eyed nation reminisces about '66, and it's easy to forget he was regarded
as one of Alf Ramsey's key men going into the tournament.
It was for
his achievements at club level, however, for which Hunt will always be
remembered on Merseyside.
Until Ian
Rush came along he was the club's all-time record goalscorer, and to this day
no-one has scored more for the Reds in the league.
Without his
many net-busters, Liverpool may never have escaped the depression of life in
Division Two and regained their mantle as the country's top team.
Spotted by
ex-Red Bill Jones as a 21-year-old plying his trade for a local amateur team,
Hunt was signed by Phil Taylor and scored on his debut at home to Scunthorpe.
Who was to know the strike would open the floodgates – and that they'd remain
ajar throughout the entire Swinging Sixties?
Although
new boss Bill Shankly embarked on a mass clear-out of playing personnel upon
succeeding Taylor in the Anfield hot-seat, young Hunt's position was never in
jeopardy.
Shanks was
a big admirer and immediately entrusted the 'Blonde Bomber' with the
responsibility of spearheading Liverpool's charge back to the top-flight.
In 1961-62
he did just that, plundering a remarkable 41 goals from 41 games as the Reds
went up as runaway champions. His partnership with Ian St John has since passed
into football folklore and together they went on to terrorise First Division
defences.
Hunt
top-scored when the title came Liverpool's way in 1963-64 and again two seasons
later. And it was he who opened the scoring when the Reds finally ended their
extensive wait for an FA Cup in 1965.
Despite his
deadly finishing instincts, the Cheshire-born forward was also known for his
workrate. Fast and strong, he would run himself into the ground for the
Liverpool cause and was a handful for even the most accomplished of
defenders.
In January
1968 he overtook the great Gordon Hodgson as the club's all-time leading
goalscorer with a typical poacher's strike at Stamford Bridge but the end was
nigh for the Kop favourite.
As Shanks
started the construction of his second great side, an ageing Hunt was one of
the first casualties and he bade the Reds a fond farewell the following season.
Three years
later, the 5ft 9in striker stepped onto the Anfield turf for one final time for
a well-deserved testimonial. The gates were locked hours before kick-off as
fans clamoured to pay their respects. An astonishing gate of 56,000 was
recorded, with many thousands more reported to be locked outside.
If anyone
had ever doubted his popularity among Liverpudlians, they had no ground for
argument after this amazing show of support.
Belated
recognition of the vital role he played in England's finest hour finally
arrived at the turn of the century when he received an MBE but it went almost
unnoticed by Kopites - because they had honoured him when it mattered.
Despite
what biased members of the southern-based media may have thought, to quote a
line from the famous Kop chant of his time - 'Sir Roger Hunt - was wonderful!'
Other
clubs:
Stockton
Heath, Bury, Stockton Heath (2), Devizes Town, Stockton Heath (3), Bolton,
Hellenic FC
You can get
involved now by casting your vote of what you consider to be the 10 greatest
players in this club’s illustrious history. http://www.liverpoolfc.com/100pwstk
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