Players - Bob Pursell

Bob Pursell
Birthdate: 18 March 1889
Birthplace: Campbeltown, Scotland
Date of death: 24 May 1974
Other clubs: Aberdeen University, Queen's Park (1909-11), Port Vale (1920-22)
Signed from: Queen's Park
Signed for LFC: £360, 29.08.1911
Liverpool debut: 30.09.1911
Last appearance: 27.12.1919
Contract expiry: May 1920
Win ratio: 40.71% W:46 D:20 L:47
League games / goals: 100 / 0
Total games / goals: 113 / 0

Player Profile

Liverpool were fined £250 and an ex-director of the club, John Fare, was suspended from football for six months (reduced from two years) after buying Pursell for £360 from Queen's Park as the Reds failed to talk to his club prior to approaching him. Pursell's main strengths were his physique and speed and he was a regular in his debut season, 1911/12. He was in and out of the side during the next two years but did play in all eight of the cup ties which saw Liverpool reach their first FA Cup final in 1914 but it was Burnley who took the famous trophy home after a narrow 1-0 victory. Pursell was so described: "On his day a brilliant defender. One of the fastest full-backs playing. Provides the counterfoil to the dash of Longworth, his height standing him in good stead in his defensive work."

Controversy continued to follow Pursell's career as he along with three Liverpool players; Tom Miller, Thomas Fairfoul, Jackie Sheldon and three United players was found guilty of fixing a game between Liverpool and Manchester United on Good Friday 1915. Incidentally Pursell was the one who conceded a penalty in the game, most certainly on purpose, which to his dismay, Pat O'Connell missed. For his service to his country in the war Pursell's life ban from the game was lifted. World War I had taken the best years of his competitive playing career away from him, but he did return to Anfield after Peace was declared. Pursell fractured his arm in the first practice match of the 1919/20 season and wasn't ready for action until December when he was picked in consecutive first division games against Manchester United and Everton. However, these proved to be Pursell's only first-team appearances that season and he joined Port Vale in May 1920. He featured in 68 games for Vale until breaking his leg in a 1-1 draw against Leicester on 14 April 1922, which finished his career.
Appearances per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 100 13 0 0 0 113
1911-1912 24 2 0 0 0 26
1912-1913 21 1 0 0 0 22
1913-1914 26 8 0 0 0 34
1914-1915 27 2 0 0 0 29
1919-1920 2 0 0 0 0 2
A more detailed look at the player's appearances
Apps Minutes Opponent
8 720 Sunderland
7 630 Manchester City
7 630 Blackburn Rovers
6 540 Aston Villa
6 540 Manchester United
6 540 Sheffield United
6 540 Bradford City
5 450 Sheffield Wednesday
5 450 Chelsea
5 450 Everton
5 450 Bolton Wanderers
4 360 WBA
4 360 Burnley
4 360 Oldham Athletic
4 360 Derby
4 360 Tottenham
3 270 Notts County
3 270 Preston North End
3 270 Middlesbrough
3 270 Newcastle United
2 180 Bury
2 180 West Ham United
2 180 Arsenal
2 180 Barnsley
1 90 Bradford Park Avenue
1 90 Gillingham
1 90 Leyton
1 90 Stockport County
1 90 QPR
1 90 Fulham
1 90 Bristol City
Total Venue
59 Home
52 Away
2 Neutral
Total Competition
100 League
13 FA Cup
Total W D L Win % Manager
111 45 19 47 40.5% Tom Watson
2 1 1 0 50% David Ashworth
Milestone Appearances
# Date Against Stadium Competition
1 30.09.1911 Sunderland Roker Park League
50 06.09.1913 Blackburn Rovers Ewood Park League
100 23.01.1915 The Wednesday Hillsborough League
Related Articles
Kenneth Campbell's life story - Chapter 5

Scottish keeper, Kenny Campbell, told his life story in the Weekly News. Chapter five was published on 11 June 1921.

Kenneth Campbell's great cup run - Chapter 4

Scottish keeper, Kenny Campbell, told his life story in the Weekly News. Chapter four was published on 4 June 1921.

The Good Friday scandal

When Liverpool and Manchester United players conspired to fix their match at Old Trafford in United's favour!

Kenneth Campbell continues his life story – Chapter 2

Scottish keeper, Kenny Campbell, told his life story in the Weekly News. Chapter two was published on 14 May 1921.

Scrapbook
Purcell congratulates the Lawlers - May 1965
Purcell congratulates the Lawlers - May 1965
Other Clubs
Club Season Club rank League apps League goals Total apps Total goals
Aberdeen University N/A N/A N/A N/A
Queen's Park 1909-1910 Scotland Division 1 27 2 27 2
Queen's Park 1910-1911 Scotland Division 1 23 0 23 0
Port Vale 1920-1921 England Second Division 38 0 39 0
Port Vale 1921-1922 England Second Division 30 0 31 0
Total 118 2 120 2