Players - Ephraim Longworth

Ephraim Longworth
Birthdate: 2 October 1887
Birthplace: Halliwell, Bolton, England
Date of death: 7 January 1968
Other clubs: Chorley Road Congregationals (1904-06), Bolton St Luke's (1906), Halliwell Rovers (1906-07), Hyde (1907), Bolton Wanderers (1907-08), Leyton (1908-10)
Signed from: Leyton
Signed for LFC: 10.05.1910
International debut: 10.04.1920 vs. Scotland
International caps: 5/0 - 14.04.1923
Liverpool debut: 19.09.1910
Last appearance: 21.04.1928
Contract expiry: 1928
Win ratio: 44.86% W:166 D:84 L:120
Honours: League Championship 1921/22, 1922/23
Wartime games/goals: 121 / 3
League games / goals: 341 / 0
Total games / goals: 370 / 0

Player Profile

Right-back Ephraim Longworth was one of the most consistent defenders Liverpool have ever had on their books and his career at Anfield from start to finish covered a remarkable 18 years. Had World War I not taken away so much of his professional career, he would certainly have played in over 500 Football League and FA Cup matches for the club he served so loyally. He was so described in Fulham's match programme ahead of their duel with Liverpool in the FA Cup in February 1912: "Resourceful to a degree, he combines dash and cleverness with fine effect, and his kicking is always of high standard. Longworth played five times for England making his debut at 32 years and 190 days of age and is one of only a handful of Liverpool players to ever captain his country. What is remarkable he wore the captain's armband for the first time against Belgium on 21 May 1921 when he was aged 33 years and 231 days."

A leading referee at the time, J.T. Howcroft, recommended him to Leyton in 1908 and Longworth made wonderful strides with the London club in his two seasons in the Southern league. Liverpool manager Tom Watson used his extensive contacts in the game and asked Michael Griffin, who had played under him at Liverpool, who was the best back in the Southern league, Griffin replied: 'Longworth of Leyton'. Longworth was signed by Liverpool on 9 June 1910 even though he had refused to move from Leyton a month earlier. Liverpool is said to have paid a club record fee for his services. After his third game for Liverpool, a 2-0 defeat against Everton, he was assessed by the Liverpool/Everton joint programme. "At full-back Longworth showed qualities which were eminently acceptable. For some seasons we have not been comfortable about our full-backs, and I must say that the Bolton youth is one of the most promising. He is not perfect, but that head save of a sure goal was as good as anything." Longworth's composed style of play meant that his position at right-back was rarely threatened during his early years on Merseyside. He played in the FA Cup final against Burnley in 1914 and would continue to be a key member of the team for several seasons after the war. He will forever be associated with one of the best defences in Liverpool's history that enabled the club to win the League Championship in 1922 and 1923. Longworth actually lost his place in the Liverpool team midway through the 1921/22 season to Tommy Lucas and resigned as captain contrary to the wishes of the Board and teammates. A scribe at the Derby Day Telegraph fully understood his reasons: "When a captain is left out of the side more often than he plays what can a man do?" Left-back Donald Mackinlay was appointed captain in his place in January 1922. Longworth eventually regained his spot in the first 11 and featured in the last dozen matches of Liverpool's victorious season and was an ever-present the following campaign when the title was retained.


Ephraim's final selection for Liverpool, at Birmingham on 21 April 1928, came over seventeen and a half years after he had been handed his debut in an away match at Bramall Lane, Sheffield on 19 September 1910. Remarkably, considering the number of matches he played, he never scored a single goal for Liverpool! Rob Jones and Stephane Henchoz later became famous for never scoring for Liverpool in an official game. Jones played 243 games and Henchoz 205 without getting on the scoresheet, but Longworth managed 370 games without a goal! To be fair to Longworth he did manage to score three goals in 119 war-time matches for Liverpool, but they don't count towards his official total. He revealed in the Echo perhaps why he struggled to score goals: "Some backs love to roam and I am convinced by practical effects that they are wrong. I don't disagree with any full-back going forward when he sees the open door as it were. But as a rule it is wrong for full-backs to wander. There is the vital necessity of defence to be remembered and any defence spreadeagled is asking for a peck of trouble."Longworth joined the coaching staff at Liverpool following his retirement as a player. He is in Liverpool FC's Hall of Fame as he ranks with the greatest defenders the club has ever had.
Appearances per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 341 28 0 0 1 370
1910-1911 33 1 0 0 0 34
1911-1912 37 2 0 0 0 39
1912-1913 35 3 0 0 0 38
1913-1914 27 7 0 0 0 34
1914-1915 35 2 0 0 0 37
1919-1920 27 5 0 0 0 32
1920-1921 24 0 0 0 0 24
1921-1922 26 0 0 0 1 27
1922-1923 41 4 0 0 0 45
1923-1924 14 0 0 0 0 14
1924-1925 22 2 0 0 0 24
1925-1926 4 2 0 0 0 6
1926-1927 15 0 0 0 0 15
1927-1928 1 0 0 0 0 1
A more detailed look at the player's appearances
Apps Minutes Opponent
19 1710 Newcastle United
18 1620 Everton
18 1620 Tottenham
17 1530 WBA
17 1530 Arsenal
17 1530 Oldham Athletic
16 1440 Burnley
16 1440 Sheffield United
16 1440 Sunderland
16 1440 Aston Villa
15 1350 Manchester United
15 1350 Manchester City
15 1350 Blackburn Rovers
14 1260 Preston North End
14 1260 Middlesbrough
13 1170 Bolton Wanderers
11 990 Bradford City
11 990 Chelsea
11 990 Notts County
10 900 Sheffield Wednesday
9 810 Birmingham City
8 720 West Ham United
7 630 Huddersfield Town
6 540 Cardiff City
6 540 Bury
6 540 Bradford Park Avenue
5 450 Derby
3 270 Bristol City
3 270 Nottingham Forest
2 180 Leicester City
2 180 Barnsley
2 180 Stoke City
2 180 Leeds United
2 180 Southampton
2 180 Gateshead
1 90 Leyton
1 90 Luton Town
1 90 Stockport County
1 90 QPR
1 90 Fulham
1 90 Wolves
Total Venue
187 Away
180 Home
3 Neutral
Total Competition
341 League
28 FA Cup
1 Charity Shield
Total W D L Win % Manager
182 72 38 72 39.6% Tom Watson
92 47 27 18 51.1% David Ashworth
73 35 15 23 47.9% Matt McQueen
12 9 3 0 75% Caretaker Manager
10 3 1 6 30% George Patterson
1 0 0 1 0% George Patterson (2nd term)
Wartime Appearances / Goals
Season Appearances Goals
1915-1916 32 1
1916-1917 34 1
1917-1918 32 0
1918-1919 23 1
Milestone Appearances
# Date Against Stadium Competition
1 19.09.1910 Sheffield United Bramall Lane League
50 09.12.1911 Newcastle United Anfield League
100 15.02.1913 The Wednesday Anfield League
150 03.10.1914 Everton Anfield League
200 31.01.1920 Luton Town Kenilworth Road FA Cup
250 31.12.1921 Bradford City Valley Parade League
300 12.03.1923 Blackburn Rovers Ewood Park League
350 02.01.1926 Leicester City Anfield League
Related Articles
The Untold Story of Billy Howard - Part 2

Last week we introduced you to Billy Howard, an ardent Kopite who also had the pleasure and privilege to be on Liverpool Football Club's books. We hope you will enjoy reading this article as much as we enjoyed interviewing this gentleman.

Longworth in a car accident

From the Lancashire Evening Post on 10 February, 1937.

Why Villa lost the Cup, by Ephraim Longworth

Published in Sport Angus 12 September 1914,

Related Quotes

No player was ever easier to a club than Ephraim Longworth, whose Christian name sounds on, but it must be remembered that he plays in front of Elisha each week. Long may Longworth prove his worth. He is a credit to the game and his club.

Liverpool Echo on Ephraim Longworth

Scrapbook
End of season report - May 1924
End of season report - May 1924
Ephraim Longworth remembers the Merseyside derby in 1911 56 years later!
Ephraim Longworth remembers the Merseyside derby in 1911 56 years later!
How to place a team in defence - 1920/21
How to place a team in defence - 1920/21
Liverpool Echo spotlight on Longworth
Liverpool Echo spotlight on Longworth
Liverpool not a team of stars - October 1920
Liverpool not a team of stars - October 1920
Longworth enjoyed cricket in the summer - Sketch 1912-13
Longworth enjoyed cricket in the summer - Sketch 1912-13
Longworth finally managed to score for Liverpool, but in a friendly
Longworth finally managed to score for Liverpool, but in a friendly
Longworth is worthy of England recognition - Sketch 1912
Longworth is worthy of England recognition - Sketch 1912
Longworth praised in the Echo in the 1924/25 season
Longworth praised in the Echo in the 1924/25 season
Mini biography in Liverpool match programme on 17 March 1915
Mini biography in Liverpool match programme on 17 March 1915
Phases of goalkeeping - 1920/21
Phases of goalkeeping - 1920/21
Photographing of players and Jackie Sheldon's health - 30 April 1921
Photographing of players and Jackie Sheldon's health - 30 April 1921
Sketch of Longworth in 1910
Sketch of Longworth in 1910
Team formations - 1925/26
Team formations - 1925/26
Team tactics - 1925/26
Team tactics - 1925/26
The League Championship on board - 28 April 1923
The League Championship on board - 28 April 1923
Other Clubs
Club Season Club rank League apps League goals Total apps Total goals
Chorley Road Congregationals 1904-1906 Bolton Sunday School League 0 0 0 0
Bolton St Luke's 1906 Lancashire Combination 2 N/A N/A N/A N/A
Halliwell Rovers 1906-1907 Bolton & District League 0 0 0 0
Hyde 1907 Lancashire Combination 2 N/A N/A N/A N/A
Bolton Wanderers 1907-1908 England First Division 0 0 3 0
Leyton 1908-1910 Southern League 1 67 0 67 0
Total 67 0 70 0