Moran leads tributes to A'Court

Ronnie Moran today led the tributes to Alan A’Court and described him as a "great team-mate and even better friend".

A'Court, who has a special place in Liverpool's history thanks to the fact that he scored the first goal of the Bill Shankly regime, passed away on Monday following illness.

He was a quick, direct attacking outside left during his playing days and his 381 appearances for the Reds between 1952 and 1964 yielded an impressive 63 goals.

Moran and A'Court forged a potent combination on Liverpool's left side before Shankly arrived at the club and it continued to flourish when the Scot came in.

But Anfield stalwart Moran will remember A'Court, who was 75, mostly for the japes they used to share during away trips.

"Myself and Alan started out together and when we were in the first team, we used to room together on away trips and there were always laughs and jokes," he recalled.

"I played left-back and he was just in front of me and I always said that when he went to the World Cup in 1958 with England that they had got us confused!

"But it's such sad news; our families used to go on holiday together and he was great man, who will be sadly missed by all.

"I had heard at the former players' Christmas party that he had not been well, as both Tommy Lawrence and Roger Hunt had told me but it is still such a shock."

The news of A'Court's passing is poignant, given Anfield will mark Shankly's arrival 50 years ago with a parade of legends during tonight's game with Wigan.

His record of playing 200 games for the Reds by the time he was 24 years and 89 days still stands to this day and he was a member of the squad that won the Second Division title under Shankly.

Injury prevented him playing any part in the team that lifted the First Division Championship in 1964 and he moved that summer to join Tranmere Rovers, for whom he played 50 times.

A'Court went on to become a coach at Norwich City and assistant manager of Stoke before retiring from the game.

Liverpool Former Players chief Brian Hall said: "We knew he had not been well, but we did not realise how serious it was. He was a terrific footballer and a lovely guy.

"It is a real shock because I only saw him three or four months ago. Everyone at the club would like to pass on their sympathies to (wife) Alma and his family at this sad time."

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