Players - Bill McPherson

Bill McPherson
Birthdate: 22 November 1884
Birthplace: Beith, Ayrshire, Scotland
Other clubs: Beith (1902-04), St. Mirren (1904-06), Rangers (1908-11), Beith (2/ loan 1911), Hearts (1911-13)
Signed from: St. Mirren
Signed for LFC: 01.08.1906
Liverpool debut: 06.10.1906
Last appearance: 20.04.1908
Debut goal: 06.10.1906
Last goal: 20.04.1908
Contract expiry: 22.05.1908
Win ratio: 45.45% W:25 D:9 L:21
Games/goals ratio: 3.24
League games / goals: 48 / 16
Total games / goals: 55 / 17

Player Profile

Scottish inside-right forward McPherson arrived at Anfield in 1906 to join a club that had just proudly won the First Division for the second time. At he start of his Liverpool career the club programme described him as "slight and wiry in build, but lithe and active in all his movements and there is no fear of his stamina. He is just the type of man to whom the honours fall. He is modest, unassuming, and, like so many others who have adopted professional football as a calling - a gentleman." Surprisingly the team failed to repeat its impressive form of the previous year and even though McPherson scored on his debut against Woolwich Arsenal, that eventual defeat that day was the fourth in a row which would rise to five after a home loss to Sheffield Wednesday a week later. As McPherson settled the team's fortunes changed dramatically and seven wins came from the next nine matches. Even though the team's performances overall were very inconsistent, McPherson contributed with an excellent total of 11 goals from the 32 games he figured in that season.

McPherson only played seven times in the first half of 1907/08 but was picked more frequently from then on, making 20 League appearances in all to take his career total for Liverpool up to 55. He also represented his club on seven occasions in the FA Cup, with his only goal being enough to beat Oldham in a second round tie on 2 February 1907. McPherson joined Rangers in Scotland in 1908 and scored in three consecutive rounds as the side progressed to the 1909 cup final against Celtic. Rangers had to settle for a 2-2 draw in the first final as their 'keeper carried the ball over the goalline for Celtic's second goal eight minutes before the final whistle as he turned away to protect himself from an onrushing forward. Extra-time was expected to be played as the teams were level 1-1 after 90 minutes of the second game at Hampden. However, when it was realised a third game was to be played the spectators rioted for several hours, tearing up the goalposts, ripping up parts of the pitch and setting fire to the wooden barricades and the pay-boxes. The mounted police tried to contain the situation but were fended off with stones and even bits and pieces of the goalposts, while the fire brigade was also repelled by missiles and had its hoses cut. "I would suggest the withdrawal of all policemen from football matches," wrote one correspondent in the Glasgow Evening Times, "and substitute a regiment of soldiers with fixed bayonets." Any plans of a second replay were abandoned and the trophy withheld! 
Appearances per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 48 7 0 0 0 55
1906-1907 28 4 0 0 0 32
1907-1908 20 3 0 0 0 23
A more detailed look at the player's appearances
Apps Minutes Opponent
4 360 Manchester City
4 360 Sheffield Wednesday
4 360 Notts County
3 270 Birmingham City
3 270 Blackburn Rovers
3 270 Bolton Wanderers
3 270 Bristol City
3 270 Sheffield United
3 270 Derby
3 270 Manchester United
3 270 Newcastle United
2 180 Bury
2 180 Preston North End
2 180 Chelsea
2 180 Middlesbrough
2 180 Arsenal
2 180 Sunderland
2 180 Nottingham Forest
1 90 Everton
1 90 Aston Villa
1 90 Brighton & Hove Albion
1 90 Oldham Athletic
1 90 Bradford City
Total Venue
30 Home
25 Away
Total Competition
48 League
7 FA Cup
Total W D L Win % Manager
55 25 9 21 45.5% Tom Watson
Goals per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 16 1 0 0 0 17
1906-1907 10 1 0 0 0 11
1907-1908 6 0 0 0 0 6
A more detailed look at the player's goalscoring
Milestone Appearances
# Date Against Stadium Competition
1 06.10.1906 Woolwich Arsenal Manor Ground League
50 14.03.1908 Manchester City Anfield League
Milestone Goals
# Minute Date Against Stadium Competition
1 25 06.10.1906 Woolwich Arsenal Manor Ground League
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New player for Liverpool

Cricket and Football Field on 28 July 1906.

Scrapbook
Biography in Liverpool match programme on 15 September 1906
Biography in Liverpool match programme on 15 September 1906
Other Clubs
Club Season Club rank League apps League goals Total apps Total goals
Beith 1902-1904 Scotland N/A N/A N/A N/A
St. Mirren 1904-1905 Scotland Division 1 12 3 12 3
St. Mirren 1905-1906 Scotland Division 1 28 2 28 2
Rangers 1908-1909 Scotland Division 1 26 12 33 15
Rangers 1909-1910 Scotland Division 1 25 12 27 12
Rangers 1910-1911 Scotland Division 1 0 0 0 0
Beith 1911 Scotland N/A N/A N/A N/A
Hearts 1911-1912 Scotland Division 1 18 3 18 3
Hearts 1912-1913 Scotland Division 1 16 3 16 3
Total 125 35 134 38