1922-1923: Liverpool win the League 2nd year in a row!

A picture of Anfield from 15th February 1923. More or less how Anfield looked like from 1906 to 1928 until a roof was put over the Kop.

Liverpool Echo had guessed that Liverpool wouldn't search far for David Ashworth's successor: "Who will get the job? I don't want to guess, but I think I am right in forecasting that, as usual, the club will not go out of the region of its former players." As it turned out on 14th February it was reported: "Last night Mr. Matt McQueen was officially appointed team manager of the Liverpool Football Club. Many names have been bandied about as to who would fill the position of team manager to the Liverpool club, vacated by Mr. Ashworth. The vacancy attracted many applicants, which included quite a number of former Liverpool players. It is gratifying to know that an old and trusted servant of the club has secured the position.

"Mattie" as he is known by all, is a popular figure out Anfield way, and he can be relied upon to give of his best in his new post. Mr. McQueen, it is rather strange to say, figured in the four drawn games with Sheffield United in the Cup semi-final in 1899, so it is only fitting that he should have a hand in the next meeting with the Blades.

Mr. McQueen was probably the most versatile footballer of his day. He had a lengthy spell as a goalkeeper, about two years as a full-back, and then went into the half-back line. In one match, owing to the poor display of his full-back, he changed positions, leaving his goal to the care of McLean and went full-back. He has also refereed many First Division matches.

Last Saturday's "Football Echo" gave the first and only information in any newspaper of the likelihood of Mr. McQueen's appointment. Most people had gone nap on Raisbeck, but we knew from the start that Mr. McQueen was the most likely of all selections."

Liverpool and Sunderland had created quite a gap on the rest of the teams at the top. The Reds had a three point lead on the Wearsiders, although having played one more game, when Matt McQueen took charge of his first ever Liverpool game vs Blackburn on 17th of February. Dick Forshaw scored a hat-trick for Liverpool in a secure 3-0 win.
Great interest was in Liverpool's next game against Sheffield United in the 3rd round of the cup. Sheffield had sent train loads of people and Everton were not playing so the locals' interest was focused on Anfield. The average attendance for Anfield that season was 34,790, but no less than 51,859 spectators were now present. The queues in Kemlyn Road had started forming early that morning and some had even tried to hide under the director's stand the night before to gain a useful advantage. Harry Chambers gave Liverpool an ideal start by scoring after ten minutes. Salmon-red shirted Liverpool were playing brilliantly in the first half, but United equalized before half-time. United's grit proved the deciding factor and as in 1899 and 1915 Sheffield United knocked Liverpool out of the cup.

Liverpool tried to put this bitter disappointment behind them in the league vs Bolton at Anfield on 3rd of March. Dick Forshaw and Dick Johnson put Liverpool 2-0 up in the first half, but following Liverpool's third and outside-left Fred Hopkin's first goal for Liverpool in his 78th game for the club the Anfield road stand caught fire! "At first it seemed a mere nothing, but later on the smoke threatened to stop the game. The spectators at the bottom end could see little of what was going on, and through my field glasses I could see the police ordering the spectators about and clearing them into the stand. There was a general stampede into the stand, and quite an uncommon sight was witnessed of the spectators being more interested in the fire than the game. The Bolton goalkeeper was badly situated, as he was in a mass of smoke." (Liverpool Football Echo) A massive smoke-screen obscured the field of play, but thankfully the Westminster-road fire brigade put the fire out and this eventful game finished with a 3-0 win for Liverpool.

Liverpool lost to Blackburn in the following game on 12th March, conceding their first league goal since 26th December. Liverpool also lost away at Manchester City, but Sunderland failed to gain advantage and Liverpool got back on track with three wins in a row. Liverpool then suffered their biggest defeat of the season at Bramall Lane, 1-4.

Liverpool faced Huddersfield at Anfield on 21st of April with three rounds still to be played. Challengers Sunderland were four points behind, but a win for Liverpool would clinch the title as Liverpool had a much better goal average than Sunderland. At half-time the game at Anfield was goalless, but the spectators had every reason to cheer as they learnt that Sunderland were losing 2-0 at Burnley. Huddersfield took the lead at Anfield in the second half, but with 17 minutes left Liverpool were on the attack: "Hopkin started the movement, Lacey went for a stray ball on the right, and centered so well that Chambers with a very emphatic header forced the ball into the net and equalised the scores."

Liverpool drew 1-1 with Huddersfield and Sunderland lost at Burnley. Liverpool's lead had increased to five points with only four points to be played for so the Reds retained the title.

Liverpool became the fifth side since the League was formed in 1888 to win the championship in two consecutive seasons joining Preston North End's "Invincibles", Sunderland, Aston Villa (twice) and Sheffield Wednesday in the history books.

Liverpool wanted to win the last league game in front of their home fans, who had gathered to see Liverpool lift the league trophy. Harry Chambers scored the only goal in the 52nd minute versus Stoke. Liverpool had to play with one less player for some part of the game as goalkeeper Elisha Scott injured his thigh after stretching for an overambitious pass by his own defender, Jock McNab. Scott was carried off the field on the back of one of the ground assistants. Bill Lacey took his place and did marvellously well, keeping a clean sheet.

John McKenna, former chairman of Liverpool, and current president of the League presented the cup to Walter Williams, Liverpool's chairman, at the end of the game. Liverpool paraded the cup around Anfield and "players and directors received a rallying shout of praise." In fact, the directors' and players' rooms "were stormed by those desiring to offer congratulations."

The chairman was overjoyed: "The team have done wonders. You ask the reason of their success, and I reply that they won because they are a good side, and have proved themselves a good side. It is one of happiest days of my life."

Captain Donald MacKinlay was also proud of his team (displayed on the right with the title): "It was touch and go now and again, and one could see that the boys felt the keenness of the position. We are grateful to all who have helped us to our top position, and we hope the public realise that we have won again, in spite of being on top early on, a big barrier to success in most cases, as teams come along with the avowed intention of making the League game a Cup-tie business. However, it is all over now, and I want to thank all the players sincerly for their splendid service in the second championship win in succession."

One jocularly asked: "If we win it for the third time does it become our own property?" Walter Wadsworth presented former and current captain: Ephraim Longworth and Donald Mackinlay with miniature cups on behalf of the players and board as a tribute for their leadership.

Echo congratulated Liverpool on their splendid season: "Undoubtedly the feat is an unusual one in that the League, though won twice in succession before, has not been won in successive years when there was the severe competition that obtains to-day. The Anfield side has won through by its all-round skill, and through its determined, as well as good class standard of play. Every man deserves praise, and the club realises, as well as anyone, that much of the success of the side has been due to immunity from accident. Only nineteen players have been called in to service."

"Liverpool's grip on the cup or puzzle -- find Chambers" asked Echo its readers when this picture of the 1922-23 winners was published with "Smiler" Chambers hiding between John Bamber's legs.

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