Born: 16 January 1881

Born in: West Calder, Midlothian

Died: 2 December 1952

Other clubs: Lanark Athletic, Patna Doon Athletic, Kilmarnock (1904-06), Third Lanark (1906-13)

Signed from: Third Lanark

Joined Liverpool: 08.05.1913

Debut: 01 Sep 1913

Final appearance: 12 Apr 1915

Contract until: 23.12.1915

Wartime: Apps / Goals: 5 / 0

League: Apps / Goals: 62 / 0

All Competitions: Apps / Goals: 71 / 0

Player Profile

Right-half Fairfoul was an experienced campaigner when he arrived at Liverpool having spent two seasons at Kilmarnock from 1904-1906 and seven at Third Lanark from 1906-1913 where he featured in 247 matches in the Scottish first division. He was a regular in the Liverpool side in the two years that preceded World War I. He played in every one of the 38 first division matches in 1913/14 and made a further 24 appearances the following season. Nine FA Cup ties over the same period, including the 1914 final defeat by Burnley at Crystal Palace, brought his career total for Liverpool to 71 games. 

Fairfoul along with three Liverpool players; Tom Miller, Bob Pursell, Jackie Sheldon and three United players were found guilty of fixing a game between Liverpool and Manchester United on Good Friday 1915. Bookies had laid up to 8-1 against United winning 2-0 which is how it ended. The Liverpool Echo reported in December 1915 that "the excuse, if such it can be called, has been made that the players were tempted into the sordid business through the belief that the war would prevent football in 1915-16, and summer wages would not be the rule. But it is too paltry a claim in connection with a grave charge, and can be ignored." Fairfoul received a lifetime ban effective from 23 December 1915 but for his service to his country in the war, Fairfoul's ban was lifted on 28 August 1919, but he quit playing altogether during the war.

Fairfoul remained living in Liverpool, settling in Kensington and working as a taxi driver. The club forgave his actions and he was a guest at the 1950 FA Cup final against Arsenal at Wembley.