Players - Nigel Spackman

Nigel Spackman
Birthdate: 2 December 1960
Birthplace: Romsey, England
Other clubs: Andover (1976-80), Bournemouth (1980-83), Chelsea (1983-87), Queens Park Rangers (1989), Rangers (1989-92), Chelsea (2 / 1992-96), Sheffield United (1996-97)
Signed from: Chelsea
Signed for LFC: £400,000, 24.02.1987
Liverpool debut: 25.02.1987
Last appearance: 17.12.1988
Contract expiry: 01.02.1989
Win ratio: 53.97% W:34 D:17 L:12
Honours: League Championship 1987/88
Total games/goals opposite LFC: 9 / 1
League games / goals / assists: 51 / 0 / 3
Total games / goals / assists: 63 / 0 / 3

Player Profile

A powerful midfielder who complemented the more skilful players around him and strengthened any team with his versatility. After progressing from the non-league scene Spackman played over 300 matches for Bournemouth and Chelsea before arriving at Liverpool to further solidify the squad which had just won the League and FA Cup 'Double' in 1986. Spackman was a regular for the rest of the season after his arrival in February 1987, but wasn't in the starting 11 as the following season began. He benefited from Ronnie Whelan's injury in January 1988 and played an active part as Liverpool dominated the First Division during this magical campaign. Spackman was chosen to start the FA Cup final against Wimbledon even though he had suffered bad cuts after a clash of heads with teammate Gary Gilliespie in a game against Luton five days earlier. Spackman and GIllespie both played with bandaged heads as Wimbledon caused one of the greatest upsets in FA Cup history depriving Liverpool of their second 'Double' in three seasons. Halfway through the 1988/89 season, when it was clear that Spackman's chances of being a first-team regular were still limited, he decided to return to London and joined Queens Park Rangers.

After only staying nine months at Loftus Road, Spackman then moved north of the border to play for Glasgow giants, Rangers, where he became a part of the club's' historic run of winning nine league titles in a row. Spackman returned to Chelsea in the 1992/93 season where he spent three and a half years in the Premiership before his swansong at Sheffield United.
Appearances per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 51 5 7 0 0 63
1986-1987 12 0 2 0 0 14
1987-1988 27 5 1 0 0 33
1988-1989 12 0 4 0 0 16
A more detailed look at the player's appearances
Apps Minutes Opponent
7 579 Arsenal
4 344 Wimbledon
4 343 Nottingham Forest
4 282 West Ham United
4 274 Tottenham
3 270 QPR
3 262 Everton
3 246 Manchester United
3 191 Watford
3 190 Oxford United
3 181 Southampton
3 115 Newcastle United
2 180 Chelsea
2 180 Luton Town
2 180 Aston Villa
2 156 Norwich City
2 93 Coventry City
2 66 Charlton Athletic
1 90 Derby
1 90 Portsmouth
1 90 Manchester City
1 90 Blackburn Rovers
1 90 Millwall
1 90 Sheffield Wednesday
1 70 Middlesbrough
Total Started/substitutions
50 Started
19 On the bench
13 Substitute
5 Substituted
Total Venue
31 Away
28 Home
4 Neutral
Total Competition
51 League
7 League Cup
5 FA Cup
Total W D L Win % Manager
63 34 17 12 54% Kenny Dalglish
Assists per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 3 0 0 0 0 3
1986-1987 0 0 0 0 0 0
1987-1988 2 0 0 0 0 2
1988-1989 1 0 0 0 0 1
A more detailed look at the player's assists
Total Opponent
1 Nottingham Forest
1 Arsenal
1 Watford
Total Competition
3 League
Total For player
1 John Aldridge
1 John Barnes
1 Peter Beardsley
Milestone Appearances
# Date Against Stadium Competition
1 25.02.1987 Southampton Anfield League Cup
50 17.09.1988 Tottenham Anfield League
Scrapbook
LFC Official Matchday Magazine interview 2000/01
LFC Official Matchday Magazine interview 2000/01
Poster of Nigel Spackman - 1987
Poster of Nigel Spackman - 1987
The Private Life of Nigel Spackman - 1987
The Private Life of Nigel Spackman - 1987
Other Clubs
Club Season Club rank League apps League goals Total apps Total goals
Andover 1976-1980 Southern League Division One South 0 0 0 0
Bournemouth 1980-1981 England Fourth Division 44 3 48 3
Bournemouth 1981-1982 England Fourth Division 35 3 41 3
Bournemouth 1982-1983 England Third Division 40 4 49 4
Chelsea 1983-1984 England Second Division 40 3 44 3
Chelsea 1984-1985 England First Division 42 1 55 7
Chelsea 1985-1986 England First Division 39 7 49 7
Chelsea 1986-1987 England First Division 20 1 23 2
QPR 1988-1989 England First Division 16 1 18 1
QPR 1989-1990 England First Division 13 0 15 1
Rangers 1989-1990 Scotland 1 21 1 23 1
Rangers 1990-1991 Scotland 1 35 0 50 1
Rangers 1991-1992 Scotland 1 42 0 57 2
Rangers 1992-1993 Scotland 1 2 0 4 0
Chelsea 1992-1993 England Premier League 6 0 8 0
Chelsea 1993-1994 England Premier League 9 0 12 0
Chelsea 1994-1995 England Premier League 36 0 48 0
Chelsea 1995-1996 England Premier League 16 0 20 0
Sheffield United 1996-1997 England First Division 23 0 26 0
Total 479 24 590 35