Profile

Paisley the manager may well have superceded the memory of Bob the player, but when he joined the club in 1939 he was regarded as a half-back with a bright future in the game.

Unfortunately the outbreak of World War II would postpone his debut for several years and he didn't make his bow until 1946 when he featured in four FA Cup matches.

Following this he established himself in the side as an uncompromising half-back when league football resumed at the end of the war and immediately won a League Championship medal, the first of many championships he would be associated with as player, trainer/coach, assistant manager and eventually manager of the only professional club he served during his long career in the game. 

Not noted for his goalscoring, Paisley's most famous strike came when he lobbed the Everton goalkeeper, to help Liverpool through to the FA Cup final of 1950. But there was great disappointment in store for the likeable Geordie when he wasn't picked for the final itself, a disappointment he later said helped him when he had to make similarly tough decisions as a manager.

Paisley continued to clock up appearances regularly until the end of the 1953-54 season, at which time he announced his retirement as a player.

But he would stay on at Anfield throughout the most successful period of the club's history, indeed ANY English club's history, as trophy after trophy was won during an astonishing 20 year period from the middle of the 60s until he retired as manager in 1983.

Other Club:
Bishop Auckland (amateur)