- Birthdate: 16 January 1881
- Birthplace: West Calder, Midlothian, Scotland
- Date of death: 2 December 1952
- Other clubs: Lanark Athletic, Patna Doon Athletic, Kilmarnock (1904-06), Third Lanark (1906-13)
- Signed from: Third Lanark
- Signed for LFC: 08.05.1913
- Liverpool debut: 01.09.1913
- Last appearance: 12.04.1915
- Contract expiry: 23.12.1915
- Win ratio: 38.03% W:27 D:14 L:30
- Wartime games/goals: 5 / 0
- League games / goals: 62 / 0
- Total games / goals: 71 / 0
Player Profile
Right-half Fairfoul was an experienced campaigner when he arrived at Liverpool having spent two seasons at Kilmarnock from 1904-1906 and seven at Third Lanark from 1906-1913 where he featured in 247 matches in the Scottish first division. He was a regular in the Liverpool side in the two years that preceded World War I. He played in every one of the 38 first division matches in 1913/14 and made a further 24 appearances the following season. Nine FA Cup ties over the same period, including the 1914 final defeat by Burnley at Crystal Palace, brought his career total for Liverpool to 71 games.
Fairfoul along with three Liverpool players; Tom Miller, Bob Pursell, Jackie Sheldon and three United players were found guilty of fixing a game between Liverpool and Manchester United on Good Friday 1915. Bookies had laid up to 8-1 against United winning 2-0 which is how it ended. The Liverpool Echo reported in December 1915 that "the excuse, if such it can be called, has been made that the players were tempted into the sordid business through the belief that the war would prevent football in 1915-16, and summer wages would not be the rule. But it is too paltry a claim in connection with a grave charge, and can be ignored." Fairfoul received a lifetime ban effective from 23 December 1915 but for his service to his country in the war, Fairfoul's ban was lifted on 28 August 1919, but he quit playing altogether during the war.
Fairfoul remained living in Liverpool, settling in Kensington and working as a taxi driver. The club forgave his actions and he was a guest at the 1950 FA Cup final against Arsenal at Wembley. After being in ill health for some time, he died in 1952 at the age of 71 and was buried in West Derby Cemetery.
Appearances per season
Season |
League |
FA |
LC |
Europe |
Other |
Total |
Totals |
62 |
9 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
71 |
1913-1914 |
38 |
8 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
46 |
1914-1915 |
24 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
25 |
A more detailed look at the player's appearances
Apps |
Minutes |
Opponent |
5 |
450 |
Aston Villa |
4 |
360 |
Manchester United |
4 |
360 |
Sheffield United |
4 |
360 |
Blackburn Rovers |
4 |
360 |
Burnley |
4 |
360 |
Bolton Wanderers |
3 |
270 |
WBA |
3 |
270 |
Bradford City |
3 |
270 |
Sheffield Wednesday |
3 |
270 |
Tottenham |
3 |
270 |
Sunderland |
3 |
270 |
Everton |
3 |
270 |
Chelsea |
3 |
270 |
Oldham Athletic |
3 |
270 |
Manchester City |
3 |
270 |
Newcastle United |
2 |
180 |
Preston North End |
2 |
180 |
Middlesbrough |
2 |
180 |
Derby |
2 |
180 |
West Ham United |
2 |
180 |
Barnsley |
2 |
180 |
Notts County |
1 |
90 |
Bradford Park Avenue |
1 |
90 |
Gillingham |
1 |
90 |
Stockport County |
1 |
90 |
QPR |
Total |
Venue |
36 |
Home |
33 |
Away |
2 |
Neutral |
Total |
W |
D |
L |
Win % |
Manager |
71 |
27 |
14 |
30 |
38% |
Tom Watson |
Wartime Appearances / Goals
Season |
Appearances |
Goals |
1915-1916 |
5 |
0 |
Milestone Appearances
# |
Date |
Against |
Stadium |
Competition |
1 |
01.09.1913 |
Derby |
Baseball Ground |
League |
50 |
19.09.1914 |
The Wednesday |
Anfield |
League |
Related Articles
Scottish keeper, Kenny Campbell, told his life story in the Weekly News. Chapter five was published on 11 June 1921.
When Liverpool and Manchester United players conspired to fix their match at Old Trafford in United's favour!
Other Clubs
Club |
Season |
Club rank |
League apps |
League goals |
Total apps |
Total goals |
Lanark Athletic |
|
Scotland |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Patna Doon Athletic |
|
Scotland |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Kilmarnock |
1904-1905 |
Scotland Division 1 |
16 |
1 |
16 |
1 |
Kilmarnock |
1905-1906 |
Scotland Division 1 |
26 |
3 |
26 |
3 |
Third Lanark |
1906-1907 |
Scotland Division 1 |
32 |
19 |
32 |
19 |
Third Lanark |
1907-1908 |
Scotland Division 1 |
28 |
2 |
28 |
2 |
Third Lanark |
1908-1909 |
Scotland Division 1 |
34 |
0 |
34 |
0 |
Third Lanark |
1909-1910 |
Scotland Division 1 |
32 |
2 |
32 |
2 |
Third Lanark |
1910-1911 |
Scotland Division 1 |
33 |
2 |
33 |
2 |
Third Lanark |
1911-1912 |
Scotland Division 1 |
33 |
0 |
33 |
0 |
Third Lanark |
1912-1913 |
Scotland Division 1 |
13 |
1 |
13 |
1 |
Total |
247 |
30 |
247 |
30 |