Joe Cadden

Glasgow-born centre-half Joe Cadden signed for Liverpool in the summer of 1948 after impressing the club’s management during their tour of the United States. On 16 May 1948, he had played for the New York Metropolitan All-Stars against Liverpool at Triborough Stadium in New York. The All-Stars lost 5–1, but Cadden’s performance caught the attention of the Anfield club. After being discharged from the Army at the end of the Second World War, Cadden moved to the United States, where he spent around 15 months playing for the Chicago Maroons and Brooklyn Wanderers. His earlier career had included spells with Shawfield Juniors and Glasgow Welfare, while wartime service took him to Canada with the RAF.

Standing 6 ft (1.83 m) tall and weighing 13 st (82.6 kg), he brought considerable physical presence to the centre of defence. Despite signing in 1948, Cadden had to wait more than two years for his Liverpool first-team debut. He made his first appearance on 23 September 1950 against Fulham at Craven Cottage, in a 2–1 defeat watched by a crowd of 42,954. He started at centre-half alongside Bob Paisley, with Cyril Sidlow in goal. By then, Cadden had already passed his 30th birthday. He made four league appearances during the 1950/51 season but was unable to establish himself as a regular in the side. His fifth and final appearance came against Wolves in the FA Cup on 23 February 1952. Cadden left Liverpool at the end of June 1952 and joined Grimsby Town the following month, where Bill Shankly was manager. His stay was brief, and he made just one appearance in the Third Division North before moving to Accrington Stanley in 1953.