Players - Dirk Kemp

Dirk Kemp
Birthdate: 15 October 1913
Birthplace: Cape Town, South Africa
Date of death: 1983
Other clubs: Arcadia (1931-34), Transvaal (1934-36); York City, Brighton, Belfast Distillery, Southport (wartime guest)
Signed from: Transvaal
Signed for LFC: 07.12.1936
Liverpool debut: 27.03.1937
Last appearance: 11.02.1939
Contract expiry: 1945
Win ratio: 36.67% W:11 D:5 L:14
Wartime games/goals: 10 / 0
League games / goals: 27 / 0
Total games / goals: 30 / 0
League clean sheets: 4
Total clean sheets: 5

Player Profile

South African Dirk Kemp was on Liverpool’s books as a goalkeeper at the same time as his fellow countryman, Arthur Riley. But whereas Riley made over 300 Football League appearances for the club, Kemp had to settle for just 30. Alf Hobson started the 1936/37 season as first-choice between the posts and although the experienced Riley took over from him towards the end of January 1937, it was Kemp who was selected for the last seven matches of that campaign. Kemp played in 13 of the first 14 League matches in 1937/38, but Riley had re-established himself in the side by the halfway stage of the season. It was somewhat ironic when Riley left Anfield at the end of the 1938/39 season, leaving his countryman free to make his mark, that war should deprive the South African of featuring regularly in the Football League, although he did continue to represent the club during the non-competitive war years.
Appearances per season
Please note

The three League games played in the 1939/40 season were expunged from Football League records as the season was stopped due to World War II. The games are therefore not considered valid by LFChistory.net and as the "Association of football statisticians" does not count them towards official player totals.

Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 27 3 0 0 0 30
1936-1937 7 0 0 0 0 7
1937-1938 13 0 0 0 0 13
1938-1939 7 3 0 0 0 10
1939-1940 0 0 0 0 0 0
A more detailed look at the player's appearances
Apps Minutes Opponent
3 270 Wolves
2 180 Leeds United
2 180 Preston North End
2 180 Stoke City
2 180 Portsmouth
2 180 Sunderland
2 180 Charlton Athletic
2 180 Everton
1 90 Manchester United
1 90 Middlesbrough
1 90 Derby
1 90 Huddersfield Town
1 90 Chelsea
1 90 Manchester City
1 90 Luton Town
1 90 Bolton Wanderers
1 90 Leicester City
1 90 WBA
1 90 Stockport County
1 90 Brentford
1 90 Grimsby Town
Total Venue
18 Home
12 Away
Total Competition
27 League
3 FA Cup
Total W D L Win % Manager
30 11 5 14 36.7% George Kay
Clean sheets per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 4 1 0 0 0 5
1936-1937 2 0 0 0 0 2
1937-1938 1 0 0 0 0 1
1938-1939 1 1 0 0 0 2
1939-1940 0 0 0 0 0 0
Wartime Appearances / Goals
Season Appearances Goals
1939-1940 4 0
1944-1945 4 0
1945-1946 2 0
Milestone Appearances
# Date Against Stadium Competition
1 27.03.1937 Manchester United Anfield League
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