- Birthdate: 9 June 1954
- Birthplace: Wallsend, England
- Other clubs: Halifax Town (1971-73), Leicester City (1977-78), Swansea City (1978-80), Newport County (1980-1981), Gloucester City (1981-82), Mansfield Town (1982), Happy Valley (1982-83), Hartlepool United (1983), Peterborough United (1983-85), Hartlepool United (2 / 1985), Swansea City (2 / 1985-86), Barry Town (1986), Al Wakrah (1986-1987), Barry Town (2 / 1987-88), Llanelli (1988), Port Talbot Athletic (1988), Maesteg Park Athletic (1988-89), Bridgend Town (1989), Llanelli (2 / 1989-93)
- Bought from: Halifax Town
- Signed for LFC: £40,000, 22.06.1973
- Liverpool debut: 27.11.1973
- Last appearance: 20.04.1977
- Debut goal: 08.12.1973
- Last goal: 08.12.1973
- Contract expiry: 22.09.1977
- Win ratio: 54.55% W:12 D:8 L:2
- Honours: European Cup 1977
- Total games/goals opposite LFC: 1 / 0
- League games / goals: 16 / 1
- Total games / goals: 22 / 1
Player Profile
A tall forward who was a deputy to John Toshack. Alan Waddle only scored once in 22 appearances but it was a memorable goal; the winner in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park on 8 December 1973. Even though he was the toast of the red half of the city on the day he went unnoticed when he took a train home the same evening as he told the Liverpool Daily Post. “I’d arranged with our manager Bill Shankly before the game to have a couple of days off to go visit my father back in the North East. The media spotlight wasn’t as intense as it is now and I didn’t do any interviews after the match, I just had a quick shower and slipped away.” A solitary goal for the club was less than what was expected of him but he naturally wonders what could have been. “I ‘scored’ on my debut in front of The Kop but the goal was disallowed,” he told the Daily Post. “I remember a midweek afternoon match against Coventry when I could’ve had a hat-trick but I hit the post and the crossbar and the ball just wouldn’t go in. I sometimes think what would have happened if some of those chances had fallen for me.”
A cousin of former England player Chris, Alan played for a lot of clubs in his career. His most prolific spell came when he scored 34 goals in 90 appearances for Swansea from 1978-1981 when Toshack's side climbed up from the Third Division to the First. He featured there alongside former Reds such as Ian Callaghan, Tommy Smith and Phil Boersma. Waddle made a surprise move to Quatar at the age of 32 and then played for several clubs in Wales, retiring in 1993. After moving to Australia in 2009 to be closer to his daughter he was appointed technical advisor of amateur Australian side Demon Knights before taking over as the club's head coach during the 2012 campaign.
Appearances per season
A more detailed look at the player's appearances
Apps |
Minutes |
Opponent |
2 |
180 |
Hull City |
2 |
105 |
West Ham United |
2 |
100 |
Stoke City |
1 |
90 |
Ipswich Town |
1 |
90 |
Manchester United |
1 |
90 |
Southampton |
1 |
90 |
Norwich City |
1 |
90 |
Coventry City |
1 |
90 |
Newcastle United |
1 |
90 |
Everton |
1 |
90 |
Wolves |
1 |
90 |
Burnley |
1 |
90 |
Birmingham City |
1 |
90 |
Doncaster Rovers |
1 |
90 |
Manchester City |
1 |
20 |
Zurich |
1 |
15 |
Chelsea |
1 |
15 |
Sheffield United |
1 |
12 |
Leicester City |
Total |
Started/substitutions |
16 |
Started |
13 |
On the bench |
6 |
Substitute |
0 |
Substituted |
Total |
Venue |
12 |
Home |
10 |
Away |
Goals per season
A more detailed look at the player's goalscoring
Milestone Appearances
# |
Date |
Against |
Stadium |
Competition |
1 |
27.11.1973 |
Hull City |
Boothferry Park |
League Cup |
Milestone Goals
# |
Minute |
Date |
Against |
Stadium |
Competition |
1 |
67 |
08.12.1973 |
Everton |
Goodison Park |
League |
Related Articles
An article by Christopher Beesley at Liverpool Daily Post on 2nd of February, 2007.
Scrapbook
Stephen Done's column in Liverpool's match programme on Liverpool's trip to Trabzonspor
Waddle ready to play against Liverpool - 26 November 1977
Other Clubs
Club |
Season |
Club rank |
League apps |
League goals |
Total apps |
Total goals |
Halifax Town |
1971-1972 |
England Third Division |
9 |
1 |
10 |
1 |
Halifax Town |
1972-1973 |
England Third Division |
30 |
3 |
30 |
3 |
Leicester City |
1977-1978 |
England First Division |
11 |
1 |
11 |
1 |
Swansea City |
1978-1979 |
England Third Division |
42 |
19 |
50 |
20 |
Swansea City |
1979-1980 |
England Second Division |
34 |
8 |
40 |
13 |
Swansea City |
1980-1981 |
England Second Division |
14 |
7 |
14 |
7 |
Newport County |
1980-1981 |
England Third Division |
9 |
4 |
9 |
4 |
Newport County |
1981-1982 |
England Third Division |
18 |
4 |
25 |
4 |
Gloucester City |
1981-1982 |
Southern League Midland Division |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Mansfield Town |
1982-1983 |
England Fourth Division |
14 |
4 |
18 |
4 |
Happy Valley |
1982-1983 |
Hong Kong |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Hartlepool United |
1983-1984 |
England Fourth Division |
12 |
2 |
13 |
2 |
Peterborough United |
1983-1984 |
England Fourth Division |
33 |
12 |
34 |
12 |
Peterborough United |
1984-1985 |
England Fourth Division |
3 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
Hartlepool United |
1984-1985 |
England Fourth Division |
4 |
0 |
6 |
1 |
Swansea City |
1984-1985 |
England Third Division |
12 |
5 |
12 |
5 |
Swansea City |
1985-1986 |
England Third Division |
28 |
5 |
35 |
7 |
Barry Town |
1985-1986 |
Welsh League National Division |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Al Wakrah |
1986-1987 |
Quatar |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Barry Town |
1987-1988 |
Welsh League National Division |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Llanelli |
1988 |
Welsh League Premier Division |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Port Talbot Athletic |
1988 |
Welsh League National Division |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Maesteg Park Athletic |
1988-1989 |
Welsh League National Division |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Bridgend Town |
1989 |
Welsh League National Division |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Llanelli |
1989-1993 |
Welsh League National Division + League of Wales |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Total |
273 |
75 |
311 |
84 |