Tommy Lucas

Lucas was born at St Helens, a stronghold of Rugby League football, but preferred the round ball to the oval one. Lucas played in Liverpool's defence for nearly a decade and a half between the two World Wars and although he had spells when he was out of the side, his individual league appearance record for the club can only be bettered by 35 men who have worn the famous red shirt over the years. As the Football League returned to being a national competition in 1919, the slight-framed Lucas made 16 appearances. There was fierce competition for the full-back positions at that time and even though he played on 27 occasions for the 1921/22 championship-winning side, he was only called on once the next season due to Ephraim Longworth's and Donald Mckinlay's consistency, despite being an England international! The Derby Day Telegraph noted that Lucas was "not a big fellow, but sturdily built, strong in tackling, and kicks with a fine discrimination as to length and distance." He had "a hefty kick in each boot, and a sound judgment in regard to timing a tackle. And yet he is not a Longworth."

Undaunted by being virtually ignored as Liverpool retained the title, he would bounce back to make nearly 200 appearances in the League and cup over the next five years when Longworth's career faded away. Lucas was selected only occasionally in 1928/29 but again with determination he forced himself back into the first-team picture and was one of two 'ever-presents', the other being Archie McPherson, during the 1930/31 league campaign.