Players - Alan Irvine

Alan Irvine
Birthdate: 29 November 1962
Birthplace: Broxburn, Scotland
Other clubs: Blackburn United (1979-80),(Hibernian (1980-83), Falkirk (1983-86), Dundee United (1987-88), Shrewsbury Town (1988-89), Mazda (1989-90), St. Mirren (1990-92) Portadown (1992-93), East Fife (1993-95)
Signed from: Falkirk
Signed for LFC: £75,000, 24.11.1986
Liverpool debut: 20.12.1986
Last appearance: 28.02.1987
Contract expiry: 28.08.1987
Win ratio: 50% W:2 D:1 L:1
League games / goals / assists: 2 / 0 / 0
Total games / goals / assists: 4 / 0 / 0

Player Profile

Irvine's longest spell at one club was at Falkirk in the Scottish top division from 1982-1987 where he made 110 league appearances and scored 15 goals. This tall centre-forward hardly got a look-in at Liverpool as too many good strikers were above him in the pecking order. The odds were always stacked against him and he was never picked to start a Liverpool game. All four of Irvine's appearances came as a substitute during the 1986/87 season. He was the victim of one of the most cruel practical jokes ever committed at Liverpool. When Liverpool's FA Cup game against Luton was called off Irvine wasn't told the news. He climbed on the team bus in his best suit ready for matchday, not noticing others were in tracksuits. 'He thinks that the game is on,' Hansen said to Dalglish. Kenny called for Irvine to come to his seat. 'We've got some injuries. How would you like playing centre-back?' 'I'm not sure, gaffer,' Irvine replied. 'Would you more comfortable in midfield?,' Kenny asked, to which Irvine said 'Yes.' 'Just don't tell anybody you're playing,' were his final instructions. Poor Irvine hadn't still made his debut. The players were let in on the joke and took their seat in the dressing room at Anfield as if the game was on. They were told by Kenny to sort their match tickets out, knowing that would leave Alan alone in the dressing room with him as he was the only one without a ticket. Alan was left waiting in the dressing room for some considerable time until Kenny finally said: 'The game's off,' to which poor Alan could only mutter: 'I know.'
Appearances per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 2 1 1 0 0 4
1986-1987 2 1 1 0 0 4
A more detailed look at the player's appearances
Apps Minutes Opponent
1 71 Southampton
1 44 Everton
1 33 Luton Town
1 16 Charlton Athletic
Total Started/substitutions
0 Started
5 On the bench
4 Substitute
0 Substituted
Total Venue
3 Away
1 Home
Total Competition
2 League
1 FA Cup
1 League Cup
Total W D L Win % Manager
4 2 1 1 50% Kenny Dalglish
Milestone Appearances
# Date Against Stadium Competition
1 20.12.1986 Charlton Athletic Selhurst Park League
Other Clubs
Club Season Club rank League apps League goals Total apps Total goals
Blackburn United 1979-1980 Scotland N/A N/A N/A N/A
Hibernian 1980-1983 Scottish Premier Division 0 0 0 0
Falkirk 1982-1983 Scotland Division 1 1 0 1 0
Falkirk 1983-1984 Scotland Division 1 23 2 25 2
Falkirk 1984-1985 Scotland Division 1 34 5 36 5
Falkirk 1985-1986 Scotland Division 1 34 6 39 7
Falkirk 1986-1987 Scotland Division 1 18 4 19 4
Dundee United 1987-1988 Scotland Premier League 7 0 8 0
Shrewsbury Town 1987-1988 England Second Division 6 1 6 1
Shrewsbury Town 1988-1989 England Second Division 31 5 35 5
Mazda 1989-1990 Japan N/A N/A N/A N/A
St. Mirren 1990-1991 Scotland Premier League 11 0 11 0
St. Mirren 1991-1992 Scotland Premier League 28 3 30 3
Portadown 1992-1993 Irish Premier League N/A N/A N/A N/A
East Fife 1993-1994 Scotland Division 2 30 9 32 9
East Fife 1994-1995 Scotland Division 2 14 0 16 0
Total 237 35 258 36