March 19, 2024

Liverpool FC Irish Players

Irish Footballers that Played for Liverpool FC

The Irish relationship with the Liverpool Football Club stretches right back to the late 1800’s when the club built it’s stadium at Anfield Road.

The name Anfield came from the old townland Annefield in New Ross, County Wexford. This area of Stanley Park had been named by Wexford shipbuilder Robert Samuel Graves who lived in New Ross. Graves was the first Irishman to hold the mayoralty of an English city. In 1865, he was returned as MP for Liverpool and held the seat.

The first director of football at Liverpool was Monaghan man John McKenna and the first Liverpool manager after the First World War was Waterford born Davis Ashworth. The first Irish player to play for Liverpool FC was David Hannah from County Down and the first player from the Republic of Ireland to play for the Reds was Wexford’s Billy Lacey.

Green Reds that Succeeded

Irish footballers have featured in most of the great moments in the history of Liverpool FC. The great Elisha Scott from Belfast who played for Liverpool for more than 20 years, and made 468 appearances, helped the club some it’s earliest League titles. Billy Lacey from Wexford also played in these campaigns alongside Scott.

In four out of five of Liverpool’s European Cup triumphs Irish players played in the finals. Steve Heighway appeared in the first two victories in 1977 and 1978. Mark Lawrenson, Ronnie Whelan, and Mick Robinson took part in the 1984 European Cup final victory over Real Madrid. Steve Finnan from Limerick played in that unforgettable match in 2005 in Turkey when Liverpool pulled of the Miracle of Istanbul.

List of Northern Irish Footballers that Played for Liverpool FC

n-i-liverpool The following is a full list of Northern Irish players that have played for Liverpool FC. By far the greatest player from Northern Ireland was charismatic goalkeeper Elisha Scott who established himself as a true Red legend. He made 468 appearances for Liverpool FC but would surely have made many more but for a five year hiatus in his career caused by the intervention of the First World War. Great as he was Scott was not the only Northern Irishman to play for Liverpool FC. Read about them here.
Player
From
Period With Liverpool
David Hannah
Raffrey, Co. Down
1894 – 1897
Willie Donnelly
Magherafelt, Co. Down
1896 – 1898
Elisha Scott
Belfast, Co. Antrim
1912 – 1934
Billy McDevitt
Belfast, Co. Antrim
1923 – 1925
David McMullan
Belfast, Co. Antrim
1925 – 1928
Billy Millar
Ballymena, Co. Antrim
1928 – 1928
Sam English
Coleraine, Co. Derry
1933 – 1935
William Hood
Belfast, Co. Antrim
1937 – 1938
Ernie McCappin
Lurgan, Co. Armagh
1937 – 1938
Sammy Smyth
Belfast, Co. Antrim
1952 – 1954

List of Republic of Ireland Footballers that Played for Liverpool FC

irl-liverpool The following is a full list of Republic of Ireland players that have played for Liverpool. Starting with Irish dual international, the great Billy Lacey from Wexford, right through to Ireland’s record goal scorer, Robbie Keane, Republic of Ireland footballers have made their mark at Anfield Road. Irish players have played a prominent part in Liverpool’s golden era that stretched form Bill Shankly through to Kenny Dalglish. Read about these Republic of Ireland Reds below.
Player
From
Period With Liverpool
Bill Lacey
Wexford
1914 – 1919
Steve Heighway
Dublin
1970 – 1981
Ronnie Whelan
Dublin
1979 – 1994
Mark Lawrenson
Preston, England
1981 – 1988
Kevin Sheedy
Builth Wells, Wales
1978 – 1982
Michael Robinson
Leicester City, England
1983 – 1984
Jim Beglin
Waterford
1983 – 1987
Brian Mooney
Dublin
1983 – 1987
John Aldridge
Liverpool, England
1987 – 1989
Steve Staunton
Drogheda, Co. Louth
1986-1991 / 1998-2000
Ray Houghton
Glasgow, Scotland
1987 – 1992
Phil Babb
Lambeth, England
1994 – 2000
Mark Kennedy
Dublin
1995 – 1998
Jason McAteer
Birkenhead, England
1995 – 1999
Darren Potter
Liverpool, England
1999 – 2007
Richie Partridge
Dublin
2000 – 2005
Steve Finnan
Limerick
2003 – 2008
Robbie Keane
Dublin
2008 – 2009

Liverpool FC History – Liverpool Supporters Clubs

 

Manchester United History – Manchester United Irish Players – Man Utd Irish Supporters Clubs
Glasgow Celtic History – Celtic’s Irish Players

 

Irish Footballers
Liam Brady – Damien Duff – Eamon Dunphy – Niall Quinn