Ken Brierley
Birthdate: 3 April 1926
Birthplace: Ashton-under-Lyne, England
Other clubs: Oldham Athletic (1945-48), Oldham Athletic (2 / 1953-55), Stalybridge Celtic (1955-56), Mossley (1956-58)
Bought from: Oldham Athletic
Signed for LFC: £7,000, 28.02.1948
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Liverpool debut: 06.03.1948
Last appearance: 03.01.1953
Debut goal: 21.04.1948
Last goal: 08.11.1952
Contract expiry: 04.03.1953
Win ratio: 36.07% W: 22 D: 18 L: 21
Games/goals ratio: 7.63
LFC league games/goals: 60 / 8
Total LFC games/goals: 61 / 8
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Player profile
Skilful left-winger Brierley had played over 50 League matches for Oldham in Third Division North before signing for League champions Liverpool in February 1948. He appeared in ten of the last eleven matches of the 1947/48 season and notched his first goal for the club as Everton were beaten 4-0 at Anfield on 21 April 1948. Brierley never really established himself in the Liverpool team and the highest number of League appearances he made in a season was just thirteen, in 1948/49. He returned to his former club Oldham in March 1953.
Albert Stubbins recalled an amusing story from when Brierley signed for Liverpool. "George was meticulous about drinking before a game," Stubbins said. "On the Friday night before a home game we’d stay at a hotel in Southport. I remember one occasion, we’d just signed an inside-left from Oldham called Ken Brierley. We sat down for lunch and Ken was there with a glass of beer. That was unheard off and we couldn’t believe it. Anyway, as we took our seat, Ken asked Jack Balmer, who was our captain, if it was okay. Jack replied, ‘Oh yes, we always have a pint before a game.’ When George Kay came in, he walked straight over to Ken and pulled the glass away. Ken was astonished and George told him straight, ‘When you are a Liverpool player, you do not drink before a game!’"