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Birthdate:
20.07.1938
Birthplace: Golborne, England
Other clubs: Stockton Heath, Bury, Stockton Heath (2), Devizes Town, Stockton Heath (3), Bolton, Hellenic FC (South Africa)
Bought from: Stockton Heath (3)
Signed for LFC: £0 29.07.1958
International debut: 04.04.1962 vs. Austria
International caps: 34/18 - 15.01.1969
Liverpool debut:
09.09.1959
Last appearance: 13.12.1969
Debut goal: 09.09.1959
Last goal: 26.11.1969
Contract expiry: 16.12.1969
LFC league games/goals: 404 / 245
Total LFC games/goals: 492 / 286
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Player Notes:
Roger Hunt signed for Liverpool after attracting Liverpool scout Bill Jones' attention playing for Stockton Heath in the mid-Cheshire league. He made his debut against Scunthorpe at Anfield in the absence of Billy Liddell. Roger had only played 5 reserve matches but he played like a seasoned pro, scoring with a great shot from outside the penalty area which went in off the bar. Hunt's partnership with Hickson worked well, but when Ian St John arrived in promotion season 1961/62, Hunt started to fire on all cylinders. He scored no less than 41 goals in 41 league matches, including 5 hat-tricks. Hunt made his England debut that spring and went with the team to the World cup in 1962, but did not play a single match. Better was to come four years later when Hunt played all 6 games, scoring 3 goals, when England won the world cup.
Hunt was Liverpool's top goalscorer 8 years in a row from 1962-1969 and on the 18th of January 1969 he broke Gordon Hodgson's league scoring record for Liverpool. In March 1969 the normally mild-mannered Hunt caused a sensation when he was substituted in a cup replay at Anfield against Leicester by taking his shirt off and angrily throwing it in the direction of the dug-out. This was completely out of character in his final full season as a Liverpool player. Although he started 1969-70 still as first choice, he lost his place to Phil Boersma in the autumn. There would be one final day to remember in front of the supporters who had always given him such great encouragement. With time running out and a 1-1 scoreline against Southampton, Shankly brought on Roger to replace Alec Lindsay and he responded by scoring twice in two minutes! Those were his last goals for Liverpool and a few weeks later he signed for Bolton Wanderers.
Hunt's league tally of 245 goals is still a LFC record. Hunt was quick, strong, skilful and possessed a rocket of a shot. He never gave up and worked his socks off for the team. Hunt was finally knighted in 2000, though he observed it was just being made official as he had been called "Sir Roger", by the Kop for a quarter of a century.
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