Fairclough has been said to have finished his playing days with Knowsley United but his signing for the club was only a publicity stunt for his friend Max Thompson who was manager there. Fairclough neither signed for Manchester City nor Rochdale. He played only two reserve games for City and featured for Rochdale in a pre-season friendly against Blackburn just prior to leaving for Belgium.
Season | League | FA | LC | Europe | Other | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Totals | 98 | 15 | 21 | 19 | 1 | 154 |
1973-1974 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
1974-1975 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
1975-1976 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 19 |
1976-1977 | 20 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 30 |
1977-1978 | 29 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 42 |
1978-1979 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
1979-1980 | 14 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 26 |
1980-1981 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 16 |
1981-1982 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
1982-1983 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 11 |
Apps | Minutes | Opponent |
---|---|---|
9 | 644 | Manchester City |
8 | 435 | Nottingham Forest |
8 | 425 | Everton |
8 | 523 | Arsenal |
8 | 635 | Norwich City |
6 | 260 | Ipswich Town |
6 | 430 | Manchester United |
6 | 301 | Derby |
6 | 379 | WBA |
5 | 392 | Middlesbrough |
5 | 387 | Coventry City |
4 | 204 | Newcastle United |
4 | 258 | Chelsea |
4 | 248 | Crystal Palace |
3 | 108 | Dyn. Dresden |
3 | 205 | Club Brugge |
3 | 210 | Wolves |
3 | 122 | Leicester City |
3 | 200 | West Ham United |
3 | 241 | QPR |
3 | 210 | Birmingham City |
3 | 187 | Leeds United |
3 | 156 | Brighton & Hove Albion |
3 | 169 | Stoke City |
2 | 105 | Sunderland |
2 | 99 | Aston Villa |
2 | 180 | Bristol City |
2 | 34 | Sheffield United |
2 | 142 | Southampton |
2 | 180 | Hamburg SV |
2 | 43 | Tranmere Rovers |
2 | 81 | Dinamo Tbilisi |
2 | 109 | Bradford City |
2 | 180 | Oulu Palloseura |
2 | 180 | Southend |
1 | 90 | Swindon Town |
1 | 44 | Real Sociedad |
1 | 15 | Trabzonspor |
1 | 16 | Saint-Étienne |
1 | 90 | Zurich |
1 | 90 | Chesterfield |
1 | 44 | Exeter City |
1 | 25 | Widzew Lodz |
1 | 44 | Bury |
1 | 14 | Swansea City |
1 | 14 | Tottenham |
1 | 90 | Anderlecht |
1 | 25 | Watford |
1 | 55 | Burnley |
1 | 90 | Blackburn Rovers |
Total | Started/substitutions |
---|---|
92 | Started |
75 | On the bench |
62 | Substitute |
12 | Substituted |
Total | Home/Away/Neutral venue |
---|---|
74 | Home |
69 | Away |
11 | Neutral |
Total | Competition |
---|---|
98 | League |
21 | League Cup |
15 | FA Cup |
11 | European Cup |
5 | UEFA Cup |
3 | European Super Cup |
1 | Charity Shield |
Fairclough has been said to have finished his playing days with Knowsley United but his signing for the club was only a publicity stunt for his friend Max Thompson who was manager there. Fairclough neither signed for Manchester City nor Rochdale. He played only two reserve games for City and featured for Rochdale in a pre-season friendly against Blackburn just prior to leaving for Belgium.
Season | League | FA | LC | Europe | Other | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Totals | 34 | 4 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 55 |
1973-1974 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
1974-1975 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
1975-1976 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
1976-1977 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
1977-1978 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 15 |
1978-1979 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
1979-1980 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
1980-1981 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 |
1981-1982 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
1982-1983 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Total | Opponent |
---|---|
7 | Norwich City |
5 | Manchester City |
4 | WBA |
3 | Derby |
2 | Hamburg SV |
2 | Oulu Palloseura |
2 | Exeter City |
2 | Burnley |
2 | Arsenal |
2 | West Ham United |
2 | Coventry City |
2 | Bury |
2 | Stoke City |
1 | Sunderland |
1 | Ipswich Town |
1 | Manchester United |
1 | Leeds United |
1 | Southampton |
1 | Chelsea |
1 | Nottingham Forest |
1 | Everton |
1 | Leicester City |
1 | Anderlecht |
1 | Saint-Étienne |
1 | Swindon Town |
1 | Real Sociedad |
1 | Middlesbrough |
1 | Chesterfield |
1 | Tranmere Rovers |
1 | Swansea City |
1 | Brighton & Hove Albion |
Total | Started/substitutions |
---|---|
37 | Started |
18 | Substitute |
Total | Competition |
---|---|
34 | League |
10 | League Cup |
4 | FA Cup |
3 | European Cup |
3 | European Super Cup |
1 | UEFA Cup |
Total | Goal minute period |
---|---|
3 | 1-15 minutes |
4 | 16-30 minutes |
5 | 31-45 minutes |
5 | 46-60 minutes |
14 | 61-75 minutes |
21 | 76-90 minutes |
Total | Open play/Penalty |
---|---|
55 | Open play |
# | Date | Against | Stadium | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 01.11.1975 | Middlesbrough | Ayresome Park | League |
50 | 13.08.1977 | Manchester United | Wembley | Other |
100 | 13.02.1979 | Birmingham City | Anfield | League |
150 | 26.03.1983 | Manchester United | Wembley | League Cup |
# | Minute | Date | Against | Stadium | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 72 | 04.11.1975 | Real Sociedad | Anfield | Europe |
50 | 68 | 01.10.1980 | Oulu Palloseura | Anfield | Europe |
The review of Supersub, the story of local hero David Fairclough who is still remembered for his achievements in a red shirt.
An article from Sabotage Times by Martin Quirk on 4 January 2012.
Published in the Daily Mirror on 21 April 1976.
An article from the Liverpool Echo on 27 January 1979.
Robbie Ashcroft relives the path to European cup glory in 1977. This article was previously published on the forum of redandwhitekop.
David Fairclough was born few feet away from Anfield, and his dream came true when he signed for the Reds. He played his part in Liverpool's success in the 1970's, but wonders what might have been.
"It definitely did not help my career that I came off the bench and scored so often, and from 1977 onwards I often made it clear I wanted to leave - irrespective of the success Liverpool were enjoying at that time."
David Fairclough
"Dave’s difficult to play with because you just can’t read him – that’s what makes him such a dangerous opponent. The best is yet to come from him and in a couple of years time he’ll be a force to be reckoned with. His best asset is his pace – coupled with his control. You must remember that he’s not a regular yet, and like a lot of youngsters, might have difficulty in adapting when opponents do get the measure of him. That’s when the real test will come – but I’m sure he’ll do well. He’s dedicated, got a good outlook on the game and has already picked up a lot of experience. Dave can only get better – when opponents read him he’ll develop another trick. He’s got ability you can’t coach into a player."
Kevin Keegan on David Fairclough in 1977
"Dave is a bit of a secret weapon. Often he’ll start a match and play for 90 minutes without doing a thing. Yet he’ll come on as substitute and within score the most amazing goal ever. But he’ll settle down into a great player – of that I’m sure."
Emlyn Hughes on David Fairclough in 1977
"In the Legends Lounge at Anfield they’re all there in this montage picture but all you see of me is my back with the no12 on my shirt. That says it all really."
Supersub David Fairclough
"I put a spurt on, got clear of him and put it just where I wanted. I never had any doubt about it - I knew I would score. I thought I could just not miss it. I had the whole goal to aim at and I made up my mind that it would go in. I let it tick over in my head and then put it in. It was a terrific feeling. The amazing thing is, it seemed so quiet as I homed in on the target but when the ball hit the back of the net the noise was just unbelievable. I also remember Kevin Keegan leapt on me and I could hear him saying above the roar 'Supersub you've done it again'."
David Fairclough remembers his famous goal against St Etienne in the book Liverpool Cup Kings 1977 by Mark Platt
"Grand National day, 1976. Early kick off at Anfield. It's derby day but, with time running out, it looks like the only winner will come at Aintree. Then off the bench comes a spindly, pale redhead. Late on, he picks the ball up near the Kemlyn Road touchline 40 yards out and sets off towards the Anfield Road goal. In a blur of ginger hair and flailing legs he reaches the edge of the area and shoots. Everton fall at the last! Yet the strike saddled Fairclough with an unwanted nickname: Supersub. The next year, against Saint Etienne that title would be cemented forever. Living proof that red hair is no bar to greatness. And you don't need a regular place in the side, either. Just impact."
Tony Evans from Times online on David Fairclough
Club | Season | Club rank | League apps | League goals | Total apps | Total goals |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Toronto Blizzard | 1981-1982 | NASL | 20 | 4 | 20 | 4 |
Luzern | 1983-1985 | Switzerland | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Norwich City | 1985-1986 | England First Division | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Oldham Athletic | 1985-1986 | England Second Division | 17 | 1 | 20 | 3 |
Beveren | 1986-1989 | Belgium 1 | 70 | 14 | 80 | 20 |
Tranmere Rovers | 1989-1990 | England Third Division | 14 | 1 | 19 | 1 |
Wigan Athletic | 1990-1991 | England Third Division | 7 | 1 | 9 | 1 |
Total | 130 | 21 | 150 | 29 |