Players - Max Thompson

Max Thompson
Birthdate: 31 December 1956
Birthplace: Liverpool, England
Date of death: 27 June 2023
Other clubs: Dallas Tornado (loan 1977), Blackpool (1977-81), Dallas Tornado (2-loan 1978), Seattle Sounders (loan 1980), Swansea City (1981-83), Bournemouth (1983-84), Port Vale (loan 1983), Academica Coimbra (1985-86), Northwich Victoria (1986), Caernarfon Town, Fleetwood, Newport County (1988-89), Kramfors, Southport (1989), Southport (2-1992)
Signed from: Local
Signed for LFC: 1973 - Professional January 1974
Liverpool debut: 08.05.1974
Last appearance: 04.11.1975
Contract expiry: 28.02.1978
Win ratio: 50% W:1 D:1 L:0
Total games/goals opposite LFC: 3 / 0
League games / goals / assists: 1 / 0 / 0
Total games / goals / assists: 2 / 0 / 0

Player Profile

Max Thompson was a defender who had been an apprentice at Anfield before being offered a professional contract. He was the youngest player ever to play for Liverpool's first team, 17 years old and 129 days when he played in the final League fixture of the season away to Spurs four days after the FA Cup had been won in 1974. Thompson came in for Toshack, otherwise the team was exactly the same as the one which had trounced Newcastle at Wembley. Nobody knew then that this would be the last time Bill Shankly ever picked a team to play a League match. Thompson's record was broken on 9 May 2010, when Jack Robinson, at just 16 years and 250 days, came on as a substitute against Hull in the last Premier League game of the 2009/10 season. 

Thompson made a brief appearance as a substitute against Real Sociedad in the 1975/76 UEFA Cup, but that was it for the record-breaker. He left Anfield for a two month's loan to Blackpool in December 1977 after spending the summer on loan at Dallas Tornado in the NASL. After a successful stay at Blackpool Thompson made his move permanent. Thompson played for a variety of teams in many countries such as the USA. Portugal and Sweden. He passed away on 27th June 2023 at the age of 66, with Liverpool releasing a statement on their website saying they were deeply saddened by the news. 
Appearances per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 1 0 0 1 0 2
1973-1974 1 0 0 0 0 1
1974-1975 0 0 0 0 0 0
1975-1976 0 0 0 1 0 1
A more detailed look at the player's appearances
Apps Minutes Opponent
1 90 Tottenham
1 2 Real Sociedad
Total Started/substitutions
1 Started
3 On the bench
1 Substitute
0 Substituted
Total Venue
1 Away
1 Home
Total Competition
1 League
1 UEFA Cup
Total W D L Win % Manager
1 0 1 0 0% Bill Shankly
1 1 0 0 100% Bob Paisley
Milestone Appearances
# Date Against Stadium Competition
1 08.05.1974 Tottenham White Hart Lane League
Scrapbook
Max leaving - 28 February 1978
Max leaving - 28 February 1978
Reserves are a real champion bunch - 5 May 1976
Reserves are a real champion bunch - 5 May 1976
Twin tornado!
Twin tornado!
Other Clubs
Club Season Club rank League apps League goals Total apps Total goals
Dallas Tornado 1977-1978 NASL 21 2 21 2
Blackpool 1977-1978 England Second Division 12 0 12 0
Dallas Tornado 1978-1979 NASL 22 2 22 2
Blackpool 1978-1979 England Third Division 39 1 40 1
Blackpool 1979-1980 England Third Division 24 0 28 0
Seattle Sounders 1980-1981 NASL 5 0 5 0
Blackpool 1980-1981 England Third Division 24 5 25 5
Swansea City 1981-1982 England First Division 23 1 25 1
Swansea City 1982-1983 England First Division 3 1 6 1
Bournemouth 1983-1984 England Third Division 9 0 11 0
Port Vale 1983-1984 England Third Division 2 0 2 0
Academica Coimbra 1985-1986 Portugal N/A N/A N/A N/A
Northwich Vict. 1986 Alliance Premier League N/A N/A N/A N/A
Caernarfon Town 1987 Northern Premier League N/A N/A N/A N/A
Fleetwood 1988 Northern Premier League N/A N/A N/A N/A
Newport County 1988-1989 Conference 15 1 15 1
Kramfors 1989 Sweden N/A N/A N/A N/A
Southport 1989 Northern Premier League 7 0 11 0
Southport 1992 Northern Premier League 0 0 3 0
Total 206 13 226 13