- Birthdate: 30 July 1899
- Birthplace: Bellshill, Lanarkshire, Scotland
- Date of death: 1972
- Other clubs: Vale of Clyde, Clyde (1921-23), King's Park (loan 1922), Cowdenbeath (1923-26), Huddersfield Town (1926-27), Hearts (1927-28), Macclesfield (1928-29),
Cowdenbeath (2 / 1929-30), Boston Swifts (1930), Mansfield Town (1930-31), Burton Town (1931), Shelbourne (1931-32), Bangor City (1932-33), Zurich (1933), Boston Town (1933-34), Ashton National (1934-35)
- Signed from: Huddersfield Town
- Signed for LFC: 06.05.1927
- Liverpool debut: 07.05.1927
- Last appearance: 27.12.1927
- Debut goal: 07.05.1927
- Last goal: 05.11.1927
- Contract expiry: 27.12.1927
- Win ratio: 31.58% W:6 D:7 L:6
- Games/goals ratio: 1.27
- Total games/goals opposite LFC: 3 / 2
- League games / goals: 19 / 15
- Total games / goals: 19 / 15
Player Profile
Cowdenbeath's Devlin was top-scorer in the Scottish League from 1924-1926 with 33 and 40 goals respectively in 68 matches and earned himself a big-money £4,200 move to Huddersfield Town in February 1926. Huddersfield had won the League Championship for two consecutive seasons and Devlin contributed to their third by scoring four goals in four games in his debut season. He scored ten goals in 28 appearances as the Terriers failed to add to their fourth consecutive title, finishing second five points behind Newcastle in 1926/27. Dick Forshaw had been controversially sold from Liverpool to Everton in March 1927 and the Reds needed a replacement. Devlin was given his Liverpool debut in the final fixture of the 1926/27 season in a visit to West Ham and scored the second goal in a 3-3 draw. He was picked for the first 15 first division matches the following year and scored 14 times, that figure included four strikes against both Bury (5-1) and Portsmouth (8-2). He then missed three matches before being recalled for a further three, in which he failed to score and Tom Reid took over as centre-forward for most of the rest of the season.
Devlin, who could shoot on the run with either foot, scored well over 250 goals in his eventful career. After stints in various local amateur leagues he joined the French exodus in their newly-formed semi-professional national league. Devlin only had a month's trial at Marseille before departing to Switzerland. William's brother, Tom Devlin, played for Liverpool's reserves in the 1926/27 season and featured later for Switzerland's Zurich just like his sibling.
Appearances per season
Season |
League |
FA |
LC |
Europe |
Other |
Total |
Totals |
19 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
19 |
1926-1927 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1927-1928 |
18 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
18 |
A more detailed look at the player's appearances
Apps |
Minutes |
Opponent |
2 |
180 |
West Ham United |
2 |
180 |
Bury |
1 |
90 |
Blackburn Rovers |
1 |
90 |
Everton |
1 |
90 |
Bolton Wanderers |
1 |
90 |
Leicester City |
1 |
90 |
Arsenal |
1 |
90 |
Sheffield Wednesday |
1 |
90 |
Tottenham |
1 |
90 |
Cardiff City |
1 |
90 |
Sheffield United |
1 |
90 |
Middlesbrough |
1 |
90 |
Derby |
1 |
90 |
Portsmouth |
1 |
90 |
Sunderland |
1 |
90 |
Aston Villa |
1 |
90 |
Manchester United |
Total |
Venue |
11 |
Away |
8 |
Home |
Goals per season
Season |
League |
FA |
LC |
Europe |
Other |
Total |
Totals |
15 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
15 |
1926-1927 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1927-1928 |
14 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
14 |
A more detailed look at the player's goalscoring
Milestone Appearances
# |
Date |
Against |
Stadium |
Competition |
1 |
07.05.1927 |
West Ham United |
Upton Park |
League |
Milestone Goals
# |
Minute |
Date |
Against |
Stadium |
Competition |
1 |
43 |
07.05.1927 |
West Ham United |
Upton Park |
League |
Related Articles
From Dundee Courier on 29 August 1933.
Wooltonian looks at Liverpool matches from 1927-1929.
Related Quotes
"When Hodgson opened his account for the evening, Liam Devlin had already scored FOUR goals in the game. One with his left, two with his right and a bullet header to round off a fine display.
Could Devlin fill the boots of Forshaw? On this occasion his toes were bursting out the front of his boots. Here was a player who was ill-fitted at Huddersfield, so off he trotted to Anfield. And in just three games, he’s posed a new question. How many goals will this player score when getting service like he got tonight. Devlin takes up his position, hangs around the backs, works at will and earnestly, but does not do a jot when it comes to tracking back or helping out those behind him. He is here to score goals, not to get in others way. And if anyone gets in his way, woe betide.
There is no better centre than he who stands at attention and keeps his wing men going. And Devlin ran both Hopkin and Edmed ragged tonight. Collecting balls on the half way line, he immediately places the ball wide. Either side it matters not a jot to Liam.
As the ball reaches the wing, Devlin is already in position waiting for the cross.
Send it in high, he’ll head home.
Send it in low, he’ll drive the ball home.
Send it in waist high, he’ll volley the ball home.
And by far the most bizarre, send it in behind him and he’ll overhead kick it into the goal."
Daily Post on Liverpool's 5-1 win over Bury on 31st August 1927
Other Clubs
Club |
Season |
Club rank |
League apps |
League goals |
Total apps |
Total goals |
Vale of Clyde |
|
Scotland |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Clyde |
1921-1922 |
Scotland Division 1 |
9 |
2 |
9 |
2 |
King's Park |
1921-1922 |
Scotland Division 2 |
12 |
17 |
12 |
17 |
Clyde |
1922-1923 |
Scotland Division 1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Cowdenbeath |
1922-1923 |
Scotland Division 2 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Cowdenbeath |
1923-1924 |
Scotland Division 2 |
25 |
25 |
25 |
25 |
Cowdenbeath |
1924-1925 |
Scotland Division 1 |
38 |
33 |
38 |
33 |
Cowdenbeath |
1925-1926 |
Scotland Division 1 |
30 |
40 |
30 |
40 |
Huddersfield Town |
1925-1926 |
England First Division |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
Huddersfield Town |
1926-1927 |
England First Division |
28 |
10 |
28 |
10 |
Hearts |
1927-1928 |
Scotland Division 1 |
15 |
12 |
15 |
12 |
Macclesfield |
1928-1929 |
Cheshire County League |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Cowdenbeath |
1929-1930 |
Scotland Division 1 |
20 |
5 |
20 |
5 |
Mansfield Town |
1930-1931 |
England Midland League |
21 |
15 |
21 |
15 |
Burton Town |
1930-1931 |
Birmingham & District League |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Shelbourne |
1931-1932 |
League of Ireland |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Bangor City |
1932-1933 |
Birmingham & District League |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Zurich |
1933 |
Switzerland |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Boston Town |
1933-1934 |
Midland League |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Ashton National |
1934-1935 |
Cheshire County League |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Total |
203 |
163 |
203 |
163 |