Bill Michael
Birthdate: 1874
Birthplace: Wishaw, Scotland
Other clubs: Wishaw Thistle (1890-93), Hearts (1893-96), Hearts (2 / 1897-1900), Bristol City (1900-01), Falkirk, Wishaw United, Motherwell (1903-04)
Bought from: Hearts
Signed for LFC: N/A, May 1896
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Liverpool debut: 05.09.1896
Last appearance: 10.04.1897
Debut goal: 10.10.1896
Last goal: 03.04.1897
Contract expiry: 01.05.1897
Win ratio: 34.78% W: 8 D: 8 L: 7
Games/goals ratio: 4.6
LFC league games/goals: 19 / 5
Total LFC games/goals: 23 / 5
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Player profile
Michael was at Anfield for just one season, 1896/97, after their promotion as second division champions. Liverpool had previously tried to loan him from Hearts in the 1894/95 season when they were seriously depleted in an important Test match that would decide their fate in the First Division. Hearts didn't release him and the Reds were relegated. A scribe at the Athletic News had the following first impression of Michael shortly after his arrival at Liverpool: "He is a very nice player – one of the big ones in a small compass, and can play on the wings or centre." He was also described as having been "the battering ram" of Hearts the previous season and "could charge into a bull elephant and still come off best," so it's pretty evident he made his presence felt. Michael got his chance in the side at outside-left when Becton was suspended by the club for a couple of months after missing training. Michael regained a regular spot in the team in the last eight games of the campaign after Jimmy Ross had been sold to Burnley. The inside-forward scored five times as the club comfortably held on to their first division status at the second time of asking by finishing in a respectable fifth place. Liverpool wanted to keep Michael and offered him a "big sum down" and £4 per week for renewing his contract, but he wanted a return to Scotland and his old club, Hearts, re-signed him ahead of Hibernian, Celtic and Rangers.