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Birthdate:
23.01.1919
Birthplace: Hetton-Le-Hole, England
Other clubs: Bishop Auckland (amateur)
Bought from: Bishop Auckland
Signed for LFC: £0 08.05.1939
Liverpool debut:
05.01.1946
Last appearance: 13.03.1954
Debut goal: 01.05.1948
Last goal: 10.10.1953
Contract expiry: May 1954
Total LFC wartime games/goals: 58 / 12
LFC league games/goals: 252 / 10
Total LFC games/goals: 277 / 12
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Player Notes:
Although Bob actually joined Liverpool in 1939 when he was just 20 years old, the Second World War took away the formative years of his competitive career and he didn't make his full debut for the club until 1946, when he played in 4 FA cup ties. He established himself in the side as an uncompromising half-back when League soccer resumed at the end of the war and immediately won a League championship medal, the first of many championships he would be associated with as player, trainer/coach, assistant manager and eventually manager of the only professional club he served during his long career in the game.
Bob was never renowned as a goalscorer but one important strike, a lob from the left which caught the Everton goalkeeper out, helped Liverpool through to the FA cup final of 1950. But there was great disappointment in store for the likeable Geordie when he wasn't picked for the final itself, a disappointment he later said helped him when he had to make similarly tough decisions as a manager because when he told a player he knew what it felt like to be left out, they would know that was the truth. Paisley continued to clock up appearances regularly until the end of the 1953-54 season, at which time he announced his retirement as a player.
But he would stay on at Anfield throughout the most successful period of the club's history, indeed ANY English club's history, as trophy after trophy was won during an astonishing 20 year period from the middle of the 60's until he retired as manager in 1983. Bob's managerial exploits are well chronicled elsewhere but don’t forget he was a very respected player as well and made over 250 First Division appearances for his one and only League club, with a further 25 coming in the FA Cup competition.
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