- Birthdate: 13 February 1870
- Birthplace: Edinburgh, Scotland
- Date of death: 23 October 1946
- Other clubs: Darlington St Augustine's (1888-90), Darlington (1890), Leith Athletic (1892-94), Blackburn Rovers (1894-96), Portsmouth (1899-1903), Plymouth Argyle (1903-05)
- Bought from: Blackburn Rovers
- Signed for LFC: 13.03.1896
- Liverpool debut: 21.03.1896
- Last appearance: 03.04.1899
- Debut goal: 30.01.1897
- Last goal: 30.01.1897
- Contract expiry: August 1899
- Win ratio: 41.43% W:29 D:17 L:24
- Total games/goals opposite LFC: 1 / 0
- League games / goals: 56 / 0
- Total games / goals: 70 / 1
Player Profile
Cleghorn was a popular player at Blackburn where his energetic performances at half-back were worth the admission price alone as described by a Blackburn historian: "A great little player who never knew when he was beaten. He worked like a demon, tackled effectively and headed the ball with wonderful skill. His value was enhanced by the judgement he displayed in feeding the forwards. On many occasions Cleghorn roused crowds to a frenzy of enthusiasm." Five ft. 5 in. (166 cm.) Cleghorn played 48 games for Rovers from 1894-1896 in the First Division.
Cleghorn made his debut for second division Liverpool on 21 March 1896 in a home fixture with Burton Swifts which Liverpool won 6-1. He played in the last six games of that successful season which saw Liverpool go up again. Cleghorn made a further 17 League appearances in 1896/97 before being one of the club's two 'ever-present' players, the other was 'keeper Harry Storer, in 1897/98. The next season was his final one at the club and he made six more League appearances to take his total up to 70. Cleghorn also played in ten FA Cup ties for Liverpool and his only senior goal for the club came in that competition, a 4-3 first round victory over Burton Swifts on 30 January 1897. After leaving Liverpool he won the Western and the Southern League with Portsmouth in 1901/02.
Appearances per season
A more detailed look at the player's appearances
Apps |
Minutes |
Opponent |
5 |
450 |
Derby |
5 |
450 |
Aston Villa |
5 |
450 |
WBA |
4 |
360 |
Sheffield Wednesday |
4 |
360 |
Nottingham Forest |
4 |
360 |
Wolves |
4 |
360 |
Bolton Wanderers |
4 |
360 |
Stoke City |
4 |
360 |
Bury |
4 |
360 |
Preston North End |
4 |
360 |
Sheffield United |
3 |
270 |
Blackburn Rovers |
3 |
270 |
Notts County |
2 |
180 |
Burnley |
2 |
180 |
Birmingham City |
2 |
180 |
Everton |
2 |
180 |
Sunderland |
2 |
180 |
Manchester United |
2 |
180 |
Newcastle United |
2 |
180 |
Burton Swifts |
1 |
90 |
Hucknall St Johns |
1 |
90 |
Manchester City |
1 |
90 |
Crewe |
Total |
Venue |
35 |
Home |
34 |
Away |
1 |
Neutral |
Goals per season
A more detailed look at the player's goalscoring
Milestone Appearances
# |
Date |
Against |
Stadium |
Competition |
1 |
21.03.1896 |
Burton Swifts |
Anfield |
League |
50 |
22.01.1898 |
Sunderland |
Newcastle Road |
League |
Milestone Goals
# |
Minute |
Date |
Against |
Stadium |
Competition |
1 |
70 |
30.01.1897 |
Burton Swifts |
Anfield |
FA Cup |
Other Clubs
Club |
Season |
Club rank |
League apps |
League goals |
Total apps |
Total goals |
Darlington St Augustine's |
1888-90 |
Northern League |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Darlington |
1890 |
Northern League |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Leith Athletic |
1892-1893 |
Scotland Division 1 |
15 |
1 |
17 |
1 |
Leith Athletic |
1893-1894 |
Scotland Division 1 |
15 |
0 |
17 |
0 |
Blackburn Rovers |
1894-1895 |
England First Division |
28 |
3 |
31 |
3 |
Blackburn Rovers |
1895-1896 |
England First Division |
17 |
0 |
17 |
0 |
Portsmouth |
1899-1900 |
Southern League |
22 |
0 |
22 |
0 |
Portsmouth |
1900-1901 |
Southern League |
21 |
0 |
21 |
0 |
Portsmouth |
1901-1902 |
Southern League |
15 |
0 |
15 |
0 |
Portsmouth |
1902-1903 |
Southern League |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Plymouth Argyle |
1903-1904 |
Southern League |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Plymouth Argyle |
1904-1905 |
Southern League |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Total |
135 |
4 |
142 |
4 |