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Birthdate:
29.08.1938
Birthplace: Liverpool, England
Other clubs: None
Bought from: Liverpool schools
Signed for LFC: £0 Joined 1953 - Professional 30.08.1955
International debut: 06.04.1963 vs. Scotland
International caps: 2/0 - 29.06.1966
Liverpool debut:
28.09.1957
Last appearance: 05.04.1969
Debut goal: 03.02.1962
Last goal: 15.01.1966
Contract expiry: December 1969
LFC league games/goals: 274 / 2
Total LFC games/goals: 333 / 4
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Player Notes:
Liverpool-born Gerry signed professional forms aged 17 after coming through the junior ranks at Anfield.But although he made his League debut at Charlton Athletic on 28th September 1957, that was his only outing that season and the experienced full-back pairing of John Molyneux and Ronnie Moran prevented him from making more than a handful of appearances during the next two years as well. But Bill Shankly's arrival in late-1959 changed Gerry's prospects completely as the new manager seemed to take a liking to the tough-tackling full-back and he took over from Ronnie Moran in the autumn of 1960 and played in the remaining 33 League games of that season. Gerry was to become a regular for the majority of the rest of the decade and was an important part of the settled team that brought so much success to the club in the middle of the 1960's after so many mediocre years.
He might not have been as well-known as some of his colleagues but his uncompromising style and courage were never in question; and that was never shown more clearly than on the day Liverpool finally won the FA cup for the first time after 72 years of trying. He was injured very early on in the 1965 final against Leeds United and although trainer Bob Paisley knew that Gerry had broken his collar-bone after a tough tackle and was in danger of puncturing his lung if involved in a similar challenge, the player concealed his injury at a time before substitutes were allowed and bravely carried on although in extreme pain. The extent of his injury was not revealed until the final was over, by which time Gerry had a winners' medal in his pocket and an important involvement in the first, vital breakthrough goal scored by Roger Hunt early in extra-time.
Gerry was in England's world cup winning side in 1966 alongside team mates Roger Hunt and Ian Callaghan although he failed to make an appearance in the finals.
1968-69 was Gerry's last season as a Liverpool player. Although he had celebrated his 30th birthday a few days into the season and was by no means over the hill as a player, the injury problems which had wrecked most of the 1966-67 season for him were to recur and he made his final appearance for the club against Wolves at Anfield early April 1969. Gerry's reward for a career which had seen him play 333 times for the first-team in all competitions was a testimonial match attended by nearly 40,000 people who braved appalling conditions to pay tribute to a man who had been an integral part of the success story of the previous few years. Although his career had been cut short by injury, Gerry Byrne had the satisfaction of being part of the best Liverpool team for many, many years and the medals he took home with him in League and Cup confirm that fact.
On the 10th of June 2009 Gerry was presented with a World Cup winners' medal at a special ceremony in London to mark the fact that he had been a member of England's 22-man squad in 1966 even though he did not play in any of the six matches which took England to the pinnacle of world football. His club colleague Ian Callaghan, also in the squad but who DID play in the group match against France but not in any of the knock-out rounds, was amongst the other members of the squad who received their medals at the same time as Gerry. |
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