Category: HISTORY

ENGLAND WORLD CUP WINNER NORMAN HUNTER SIGNED TO STYLO MATCHMAKERS WITH A NUMBER OF LEEDS UNITED TITLE WINNING SIDE.  He was part of the 1966 FIFA World Cup winning squad, receiving a winner’s medal in 2007. He has since been included in the Football League 100 Legends. Known for his tackling, he was nicknamed “Bites Yer Legs” Hunter. The nickname originated from a banner held up by Leeds United fans at the 1972 FA Cup final against Arsenal; the banner simply read “Norman bites yer legs”. Brian Clough effectively popularised the nickname by referring to it during the pre-match discussion in the TV studio.

Hunter joined Leeds at the age of 15, giving up a job as an electrical fitter in the process. He made his first-team debut in 1962, forming a partnership at the back with Jack Charlton which lasted for a decade.  Leeds were promoted as Second Division champions in 1964 and a year later came close to the “double” of League championship and FA Cup; however, they lost the title to Manchester United on goal average and were beaten 2–1 by Liverpool in the FA Cup final.  Hunter picked up winner’s medals as Leeds won the League Cup, the Fairs Cup in 1968 and 1971, and the League Championship in 1969 and 1974.

In 1972, Leeds won the FA Cup via a goal from Allan Clarke. Hunter’s joy at the goal was captured in a photograph; his defensive position meant that he was at the opposite end of the pitch to Clarke, and a photographer behind the Leeds goal captured the moment as Hunter leapt high in the air in celebration with arms and legs spread, as if in the midst of a star-jump. At the end of the game, Hunter climbed the steps to the Royal box twice; once to collect his own medal, and then again to help Mick Jones negotiate his way up and down, as Jones had been receiving treatment for a dislocated elbow while his teammates had been getting their prizes.

1973 saw defeats in two finals, as Leeds lost in the FA Cup Final to Sunderland, and then a few days later to A.C. Milan in the European Cup Winners’ Cup. This match is one of a series of matches involving Italian clubs that are regarded as being “fixed”, by Dezso Solti. Hunter was sent-off in this match for retaliation.  In 1974, Hunter was the first winner of the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award, receiving it at the end of the 1973–74 season.

Hunter had a new defensive partner for the next season with Leeds, playing alongside Gordon McQueen. Leeds started the season with a 29-match unbeaten run, which led them to the title. He was a member of the Leeds side that reached the 1975 European Cup Final, which Leeds lost 2–0.

After 540 Football League appearances for Leeds, Hunter signed for Bristol City on 28 October 1976 for £40,000, and remained there for three years, making 108 appearances and scoring four goals. His final game for Bristol City was against Leeds United. In June 1979 Hunter joined Barnsley as a player and made 31 appearances before finally retiring from playing in January 1983.

Hunter was appointed Barnsley manager on 16 September 1980 after Clarke left to take over as manager at Leeds United. That season, Hunter took Barnsley to second in the Third Division in the 1980–81 season. Barnsley finished sixth the following season and if not for a poor run in February could have been promoted. At the end of that season though the side began to break up and whilst they got to the fifth round of the FA Cup the following season they could only finish 11th. In 1983–1984 the team struggled after a fairly good start, and with the team fifth from bottom Hunter was sacked on 8 February 1984. A week after that he became a first team coach at West Bromwich Albion until June 1985.

In June 1985 Hunter moved to Rotherham United, but he could not replicate the success that he achieved at Barnsley in the early years, and was sacked on 9 December 1987. In 1989, he became a coach at Bradford City but was sacked in February 1990.

Hunter made his debut for the England team in 1965, but the existing partnership between Jack Charlton and Bobby Moore meant that he spent much of his international career as an understudy, winning 28 caps in total. He was in the squad which won the 1966 World Cup but never kicked a ball.

In 2018, Premier League Champion  Christian Fuchs wore Stylo Matchmakers Heirship Seventeen.  Christian even customised his own boots with his own brand No Fuchs Given.

He began his senior career as a teenager at Wiener Neustadt before signing his first professional contract at 17 with SV Mattersburg, challenging for the Austrian Football Bundesliga title and taking part in European competitions. In 2008, he left for Germany, signing for VfL Bochum. After a season on loan at 1. FSV Mainz 05, he signed for FC Schalke 04 in 2011, where he contested the UEFA Champions League but suffered a serious knee injury. In 2015, he signed for Leicester, winning the Premier League in his first season at the club.

A full international for a decade starting from his debut in 2006, Fuchs earned 78 caps for Austria, making him their eighth-most capped player of all time. He played for the nation at UEFA Euro 2008 and UEFA Euro 2016, captaining them for the first time in 2010 and on a permanent basis from 2012, before retiring from international duty in 2016.

Fuchs made his debut for Austria on 23 May 2006 in a friendly match against Croatia, replacing Stefan Lexa for the final six minutes of the 1–4 loss at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion in Vienna.

He was part of the Austrian international squad as they co-hosted UEFA Euro 2008 alongside Switzerland. He made only one appearance in the group stage elimination, playing the entirety of the 1–0 loss to Germany in their last match of the tournament.

On 11 August 2010,  Fuchs captained his nation for the first time in a 0–1 friendly loss to the Swiss in Klagenfurt. That 17 November, he scored his first international goal, equalising in a 1–2 home friendly loss to Greece.

Fuchs received the armband on a permanent basis at the behest of manager Marcel Koller on 13 August 2012.  He played all 10 games as they qualified for UEFA Euro 2016, the first time they did so, and featured in every minute of the group stage elimination in France. Afterwards, he retired from international play with a total of 78 caps, declaring “I am very proud of the 10 years that I have spent with the national team. I did everything with passion and, as I said, I am very, very proud.”

LIAM BRADY SIGNED WITH STYLO MATCHMAKERS IN 1975/1979.  THE YOUNG TALENTED IRISH PLAYMAKER WOULD BECOME A LEGENDAND RECIVED THE PFA PLAYER OF THE YEAR IN 1979 FOR ARSENAL.

Brady started his career at Arsenal, moving to London to join the side on schoolboy forms in 1971, at the age of 15. He turned professional on his 17th birthday in 1973, and made his debut on 6 October 1973 against Birmingham City as a substitute for Jeff Blockley, and put in an assured performance. However his next match, in a North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur, Brady had a poor match, and Arsenal manager Bertie Mee decided from then on to use the young Irishman sparingly for the time being. Brady ended the 1973–74 season with 13 appearances (four of them as substitute) to his name.

In 1974–75 Brady was a first-team regular at Arsenal, and shone as a rare light in a side that hovered close to relegation for a couple of seasons in the mid-1970s. With the appointment of Terry Neill as manager and the return of Don Howe as coach, Brady found his best form. His passing provided the ammunition for Arsenal’s front men such as Malcolm Macdonald and Frank Stapleton, and Arsenal reached three FA Cup finals in a row between 1978 and 1980. Arsenal won only the middle of the three, against Manchester United in the 1979 final, with Brady starting the move that ended in Alan Sunderland’s famous last-minute winner.

Brady was at the peak of his Arsenal form by now, as shown by one of his best goals for Arsenal; having dispossessed Peter Taylor he flighted a looped curled shot from the edge of the penalty area into the top corner, in a 5–0 win against Tottenham Hotspur on 23 December 1978. During this time he was voted the club’s player of the year three times, and chosen as the PFA Players’ Player of the Year in 1979. Being from the Ireland, he was the first foreign player to win the award.

He was the most talented player in what was then a promising young Arsenal side, which was looking to consistently challenge for honours such as the Division One title. Despite this, by the 1979–80 season rumour was rife that Brady would be leaving the club in search of a fresh challenge.

That season, Arsenal reached the Cup Winners’ Cup final (losing to Valencia on penalties), having beaten Juventus 2–1 over two legs in the semi-finals. Brady’s performance in the tie impressed the Italian giants and in the 1980 close season they signed him for just over £500,000, becoming the first foreign player to sign for the club since the Italian borders were re-opened for foreign transfers in 1980.  He is remembered as one of Arsenal’s all-time greats, playing 307 matches for the Gunners, scoring 59 goals and setting up many more.

Brady spent two seasons with Juventus, wearing the number 10 shirt, and picking up two Italian Championship medals, in 1981 and 1982; Brady scored the only goal (a penalty) in the 1–0 win against Catanzaro that won the 1982 title.  After the arrival of Michel Platini in summer 1982, Brady moved to Sampdoria, and went on to play for Internazionale (1984–1986) and Ascoli (1986–1987), before returning to London in March 1987, for a transfer fee of £100,000, to play for West Ham United, where he scored 10 goals in 119 games in all competitions.  He was a member of the side relegated from the First Division in 1989 and played one season in the Second Division before finally retiring as a player in 1990.^[4] His last game came on 5 May 1990, a 4–0 home win against Wolverhampton Wanderers, a game in which he scored.

Brady made his debut for Ireland on 30 October 1974, in a 3–0 win against the Soviet Union at Dalymount Park in a European Championship qualifier.^[9] Brady has claimed his favourite international goal was that against Brazil in 1987.

Due to a suspension accrued before Euro 88 he was not eligible to play within the tournament. During qualification for Italia 90 Brady retired from the international game. As Ireland got to the World Cup he declared himself available to play once again. However, Jack Charlton went on to declare that only those who played in the qualifiers would make the trip to Italy.  He won 72 international caps for the Republic of Ireland with 70 within the starting line-up, scoring 9 goals.

Brady was a talented offensive midfielder renowned for his left foot and elegant technical skills such as his high-quality passing, vision, and close control, which made him an excellent playmaker. He combined these abilities with significant tenacity, an eye for goal from midfield, and accurate penalty-taking. In addition to his footballing ability, Brady also stood out throughout his career for his professionalism. He found success both in England with Arsenal, where he won an FA Cup in 1979, and in Italy with Juventus, winning two Serie A titles. Brady was altogether capped 72 times for the Irish national football team.  Brady went on to manage two clubs – Celtic and then Brighton and Hove Albion – together with being the assistant manager of Ireland’s national football team.

 

IN 1975, BRIAN CLOUGH SIGNED STYLO MATCHMAKERS TO NOTTINGHAM FOREST  AS THE CLUBS BOOTS SPONSOR. BRIAN CLOUGH WORE THE BOOTS DURING HIS INFAMOUS SPELL AS MANAGER AT LEEDS UNITED AND WAS IMPRESSED BY THE BRANDS QUALITY.

Arguably the most successful, almost certainly the most outspoken, English manager of his generation, Brian Clough’s desire to win was first seen in an all-action playing career ultimately cut short by injury.

Born in Middlesbrough, Clough made his professional debut for his home team club in 1952 aged 17 as a centre-forward.

A prolific striker, he was to be Boro’s top scorer for three consecutive seasons. In total he scored 204 goals in 222 games, winning two England caps while still playing for the Division Two side, against Wales and Sweden in 1959. It was at Middlesbrough he met goalkeeper Peter Taylor who would later become a close friend and colleague in his managerial career.

Clough moved to local rivals Sunderland in 1961 where he scored 63 goals in 74 matches before suffering an injury in a match against Bury at Roker Park in December 1962. Clough spent two years attempting to regain fitness, but would play only 3 more matches, before retiring aged 29.

However it was Cloughie’s success at Midlands club Derby County and local rivals Nottingham Forest that really made his name.His managerial career began in 1965 when he was asked to manage Hartlepools United (now Hartlepool). Aged just 30 he was the youngest manager in the Football League.

Clough moved to Derby in 1967, taking Peter Taylor with him as Assistant Manager. Prior to his arrival County had been in the Second Division for over a decade. It was here that Clough really got into his stride and earned his infamous reputation as a hard but fair manager. During his first season he started to lay the foundations for the club’s future success, signing players including Roy McFarland and John McGovern. Of the players he inherited he only saved four: it’s even rumoured he sacked two tea ladies he overheard laughing about the club after a defeat.

Although somewhat controversial, and often at odds with his chairman and board, his management helped the club win promotion to the first division in 1969, followed by their first Division One Championship in 1972. His players attributed their success to Clough’s role as a coach before manager, he was one of the first “tracksuit managers” – always at the training ground.

Away from the pitch, Clough’s forceful personality, sharp wit and often good humour put him in the public eye. His appearances on chat shows as well as in the football media made him a household name; assertions like “I wouldn’t say I’m the best manager in the world, but I’m in the top one…” may have made him a popular figure with the media and TV viewers, but meant he often ruffled feathers in the football world.

Clough’s frequent outspoken comments against football’s establishment eventually led to him falling out with the board of directors at the club, and following brief periods at Brighton and Hove Albion and Leeds United, Clough and Taylor went on to manage Derby’s local rivals Nottingham Forest in 1975.

He was awarded an OBE for his services to football in June 1991.During his 18 years as manager (with Peter Taylor as his assistant until 1982) he led Forest from 6th from the bottom of Division Two (January 1975) to winning the First Division Championship in 1978, followed by two consecutive European Cup wins in 1979 and 1980 and four League Cup victories. This has been argued as one of the greatest managerial feats in the English Football League’s history to date. He was awarded Manager of the Year in 1978.

Clough was spoken of as ‘the greatest manager England never had’, as he was overlooked for the national team job despite being one of the league’s most successful managers. He was in fact interviewed for the job in 1977 and 1982. His qualifications were never in doubt, but it seems his outspoken views on the way football should be played, and run, ultimately counted against him.

Clough himself summed up the headache facing those who appointed the England manager: “I’m sure the England selectors thought if they took me on and gave me the job, I’d want to run the show. They were shrewd because that’s exactly what I would have done”.

Following his death in September 2004, a stretch of the A52 which connects Derby and Nottingham was renamed the Brian Clough Way. Statues have been erected in Middlesbrough, Nottingham and Derby and both Derby and Nottingham now compete for the Brian Clough Trophy twice annually when the teams meet in the Championship.

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Clubs Managed: Hartlepools United, Derby County, Brighton & Hove Albion, Leeds United, Nottingham Forest
Honours: 2 European Cups, 2 Division One Championships, 4 League Cups

 

IN 1976 VIV ANDERSON SIGNS FOR STYLO MATCHMAKERS.  LATER IN 1978 VIV BECOMES the first black football player to represent England in a full international.

Anderson spent a year as a schoolboy with Manchester United before being released. He returned to Nottingham where at school he sat and passed three CSEs. He then worked for three weeks as a silkscreen printer that he described as “a glorified tea boy really. I’d get the tea, and get the sandwiches at lunch time. I was just a dogsbody.”Anderson had broken into the Nottingham Forest team during 1974 and became a regular after the arrival of Brian Clough as manager of the East Midlands club, then in the Second Division, in January 1975. He was part of the side that won promotion to the First Division in 1977, winning the title, along with the League Cup, a year later.

Anderson was one of the first black players to represent top English clubs at the time, and regularly suffered racial abuse from fans of rival teams. He was regularly pelted with bananas and targeted with racist chants.

When Anderson received the call-up for England in November 1978, for a friendly against Czechoslovakia, coach Ron Greenwood was insistent that no political issue was at stake, despite the ever-rising number of young black stars in the game, born and raised in England. There was no doubt that Anderson was playing outstandingly in a form team that season and got his call-up entirely on merit. A gangly, awkward figure, he was a much-admired tackler and was also quick going forward and occasionally scored vital goals. Vindication for his selection on merit was further supplied when Anderson was part of the Forest team that retained the League Cup and then clinched the European Cup in 1979 with victory over Malmö.

All that said, Anderson found himself frequently up against equally competent right-backs when it came to getting regular international recognition. Liverpool’s much-decorated Phil Neal was the first-choice right-back as the late 1970s became the 1980s, while Leeds United captain Trevor Cherry was also regularly called up. Anderson had to be patient prior to winning his second cap in a friendly against Sweden in June 1979. His third appearance was his first competitive international as England defeated Bulgaria 2–0 at Wembley in a qualifier for the 1980 European Championships.

Arsenal

Anderson finally won an 11th cap, in April 1984, almost two years after his tenth. In the same year, he aimed to revive his career with a move to Arsenal for £250,000. This duly helped Anderson revitalise his international standing and he won six consecutive caps from 1984 and into 1985, including four qualifiers for the 1986 World Cup in Mexico; in the first of which he scored his first of his two international goals in an 8–0 mauling of Turkey. Then Robson gave a debut to the young Everton right-back Gary Stevens who was so impressive that Anderson found himself usurped again. Robson split his selection policy, but Stevens got slightly more appearances than Anderson as England completed their qualification for Mexico and though both were in the squad for the finals, it was clear that Anderson was again going as reserve.

Anderson won three caps at the end of 1986 as England began their quest to qualify for the 1988 European Championships in Germany. In one of the qualifiers against Yugoslavia, Anderson scored his second and final international goal.

In 1987, he enjoyed some club success for the first time in seven years when Arsenal defeated Liverpool 2–1 in the League Cup final.

Manchester United

Later the same year, in a tribunal agreed £250,000 deal,^[5] he became Alex Ferguson’s first signing since taking over as manager of Manchester United.

Meanwhile, Stevens had forced his way back in as England qualified for the European Championships and Anderson won his 30th and (what proved to be) final cap in a Rous Cup game against Colombia though was again in reserve when the squad went to Germany for the finals. They lost all three group games and Stevens came in for criticism, but maintained his place. For the third time, Anderson had travelled to a major international competition without getting a minute on the pitch. Robson began to look to the younger end of the playing spectrum for competition for Stevens, and Anderson’s international career ended.

At Old Trafford Anderson was a significant part of Alex Ferguson’s rebuilding plans as he attempted to create a title winning side to end the wait that had started at the club in 1967. Following a dismal start to the 1986–87 season that had cost Ron Atkinson his job on 5 November, Ferguson had steered United from 21st to 11th of 22 First Division clubs in the final six months of the campaign. Anderson played his part in United’s continued improvement in 1987–88, as they finished second in the league but never really looked like overhauling Liverpool, who finished champions by a nine-point margin with just two defeats all season as well as a 29-match unbeaten start to the 40-game campaign.

Anderson remained first-choice right-back in 1988–89, but United had a slow start to the season and despite an upturn in their form in the new year that saw them climb to third place by mid-February, a dismal final quarter of the season dragged them down to 11th place. Despite finishing 13th in the league in 1989–90, United won the FA Cup – but Anderson was not in the squad for the final. He had managed 21 games in all competitions that season but Alex Ferguson had chosen Paul Ince – normally a central midfielder – as his right-back for the first match (a 3–3 draw with Crystal Palace) and also the replay five days later, which ended in a 1–0 win.

Anderson’s hopes of winning his place back in the 1990–91 season were crushed when Ferguson paid Oldham Athletic £625,000 for Denis Irwin, who quickly established himself as the first choice right-back, while Ince switched back to central midfield. He played just three more games for the club, and on his final appearance for them in the Football League Cup second round second leg against Halifax Town on 10 October 1990 he scored their first goal in a 2–1 win that gave a 5–2 aggregate victory.

Sheffield Wednesday

Anderson joined Sheffield Wednesday on a free transfer in January 1991, helping them to promotion from the Second Division, although he missed the League Cup final triumph over Manchester United as he had played for his old club earlier in the competition. Despite originally being thought of as a short-term signing, Anderson established himself in the Wednesday first team and captained the side on many occasions.^[5] He played an active part in the Owls team that finished third in the 1991–92 First Division and seventh in the first season of the Premier League. He also helped Wednesday reach the FA Cup and League Cup final in 1993, but they were on the losing side to Arsenal in both finals.

Barnsley

Anderson’s manner on the pitch made him an obvious choice for management and in June 1993 he left Hillsborough to be appointed player-manager of Barnsley following the departure of Mel Machin. However, his first season at Oakwell was a disappointment as Barnsley narrowly avoided relegation to Division Two.

Middlesbrough

At the end of 1993–94, Anderson quit Barnsley after just a year to become assistant manager of Middlesbrough under former Old Trafford teammate Bryan Robson.

Despite retiring from playing football in 1994, Anderson was still officially registered as a player and following an injury crisis at Middlesbrough he played two games for the club in 1994–95 when they were promoted to the Premier League as Division One champions. After gaining promotion he finally hung up his playing boots.

Anderson helped Robson assemble a side that reached both domestic cup finals (both of which they lost) in 1996–97, although they were relegated due to a three-point deduction for postponing a December fixture at late notice as a result of so many players being unable to play due to illness or injury. However, Boro won promotion at the first attempt and were League Cup runners-up once again. Robson and Anderson finally left Middlesbrough in June 2001 when Terry Venables was brought in with the club facing relegation. Despite never achieving anything higher than ninth place in the final table the duo had managed to establish Boro in the Premier League.

In 1974 Bob Paisley took over Liverpool F.C as manager.  Bob continued with the clubs Stylo Matchmakers “boot sponsor”relationship  in 1974/1975 season.

Bob Paisley came from a small Durham mining community and, in his youth, played for Bishop Auckland before he signed for Liverpool in 1939. During the Second World War, he served in the British Army and could not make his Liverpool debut until 1946. In the 1946–47 season, he was a member of the Liverpool team that won the First Division title for the first time in 24 years. In 1951, he was made club captain and remained with Liverpool until he retired from playing in 1954.

He stayed with Liverpool and took on two roles as reserve team coach and club physiotherapist. By this time, Liverpool had been relegated to the Second Division and their facilities were in decline. In December 1959, Bill Shankly was appointed Liverpool manager and he promoted Paisley to work alongside him as his assistant in a management/coaching team that included Joe Fagan and Reuben Bennett. Under their leadership, the fortunes of Liverpool turned around dramatically and, in the 1961–62 season, the team gained promotion back to the First Division. Paisley filled an important role as tactician under Shankly’s leadership and the team won numerous honours during the next twelve seasons.

In 1974, Shankly retired as manager and, despite Paisley’s own initial reluctance, he was appointed as Shankly’s successor. He went on to lead Liverpool through a period of domestic and European dominance, winning twenty honours in nine seasons: six League Championships, three League Cups, six Charity Shields, three European Cups, one UEFA Cup and one UEFA Super Cup. At the time of his retirement, he had won the Manager of the Year Award a record six times. He retired from management in 1983 and was succeeded by Joe Fagan. He died in 1996, aged 77, after suffering from Alzheimer’s disease for several years.

In 1974 Stylo Matchmakers signed a deal with Liverpool F.C to become the clubs first ever boot sponsor.  The legend Bill Shankly endorsed the boot deal and wore them in the clubs training sessions. Liverpool even lifted the FA Cup that season  in Bill Shanklys 14th and final season in charge. Announcing his retirement two months after winning 3-0 against Newcastle in the Final, Shankly was hailed by the fans as a hero, when heading into retirement. Kevin Keegan scored twice in the final, further confirming his status among the Liverpool faithful. However, the club’s second-place finished in the league saw them lose their defence of the league title to Leeds United.

William “Bill” Shankly, OBE (2 September 1913 – 29 September 1981) was one of Britain’s most successful and respected football managers. Shankly was also a fine player, whose career was interrupted by the Second World War. He played nearly 300 times in The Football League for Preston North End and represented Scotland seven times, as well as playing for Partick Thistle and Carlisle United.

Bill Shankly was born on 2 September 1913, Glenbuck, Scotland.

He is most remembered, however, for his achievements as a manager, particularly with Liverpool. Shankly took charge of Liverpool when they were bottom of the Second Division but soon established them as one of the major forces in the English game. During his 15 years at the club, they won three league championships, two FA Cups and the UEFA Cup, before his surprise retirement after winning the 1974 FA Cup Final.

Liverpool Manager

It was Shankly’s own commitment and enthusiasm that had initially intrigued Liverpool chairman T.V. Williams when Shankly had been interviewed for the vacant Liverpool job in 1951, and in December 1959, following an embarrassing defeat to non-league Worcester City in the FA Cup, Shankly was appointed the manager of Liverpool.

Liverpool had suffered a period of decline in the 50s, after having won five league titles in the first half of the century, and were at this time languishing in the Second Division, with a crumbling stadium, poor training facilities, and a large pool of untalented players. Shankly released 24 of these players and converted a storage room into a room for tactical discussion, where Shankly, along with other Boot Room founding members Joe Fagan, Reuben Bennett and Bob Paisley began to reshape the team.

The training ground at Melwood was in a poor state of affairs, overgrown and with only one mains water tap. Shankly turned this into a strength, by arranging for the players to arrive instead at Anfield, and then bus them over to Melwood, creating team camaraderie. At Melwood, Shankly introduced fitness training, including diet assessment, and skills training including using an artificial goal painted on a convenient wall, split into eight sections which he would demand the players hit each time. For playing practice, Shankly introduced five-a-side games, and after training, the team would all bus back to Anfield together to shower, change and eat a communal meal. This way Shankly ensured all his players had warmed down correctly and he would keep his players free from injury.

1960s Liverpool Team

Slowly at first, and then with a gathering pace, Shankly and his backroom team turned Liverpool around, and with new signings Ron Yeats, Ian St. John and Gordon Milne, promotion was gained back to the First Division in 1961-1962.[4] Liverpool finished 8th in their first season back in the top flight. The addition of Peter Thompson in 1963 further strengthened the team, and in 1963-1964 Liverpool clinched their 6th league title, ahead of Manchester United.

In 1964-65, Liverpool won the FA Cup for the first time in the club’s history with a 2-1 victory over Leeds United at Wembley. The team finished 7th in the League, and reached the European Cup semi-finals, before eventually succumbing 4-3 on aggregate to Inter Milan managed by Helenio Herrera, after taking a 3-1 first leg lead to the San Siro.

In 1965-66, Liverpool won the league title, reached the final of the European Cup Winner’s Cup, losing 2-1 in extra time to Borussia Dortmund, and beat Everton to win the subsequent following season’s, Charity Shield. However, Liverpool’s performance in the 1966-67 European Cup was poor, and after struggling to overcome FC Petrolul Ploie?ti in the first round, were dumped out of the last-16 by Ajax inspired by then 19-year-old Johan Cruyff (7-3 on aggregate; including a 5-1 hammering in Amsterdam). It was this game that convinced Shankly that a more patient, possessive way of playing would be required if Liverpool were to achieve consistent success in Europe. Liverpool gradually improved their League performances again over the course of the next few years, finishing 5th, then 3rd, then 2nd, as Leeds United and Manchester United prevailed.

1970s Liverpool Team

The early 1970s team saw a transitional period which preceded the birth of Shankly’s second great Liverpool side. Players such as Roger Hunt, Ian St.John, Ron Yeats and goalkeeper Tommy Lawrence were sold or released, and fresh players like Kevin Keegan, Emlyn Hughes, Steve Heighway, John Toshack and Ray Clemence were brought in.

Liverpool finished 5th in 1969-70 as Everton regained the title, and 5th again in 1970-71, losing out in the F.A. Cup Final to double-winning Arsenal. They just missed out on another title in 1971-72, finishing third in a close group of four teams challenging for the title, and only a single point behind Brian Clough’s Derby County.

In 1972-73 the club cruised to the league title, despite strong competition from Arsenal and Leeds. Liverpool also won their first European trophy the UEFA Cup, overcoming Borussia Moenchengladbach 3-2 in a two-legged final. Liverpool lost out to Leeds in the following season’s League race, but won the F.A. Cup once more, as Liverpool overcame Newcastle United in a comprehensive 3-0 victory at Wembley, in what proved to be Shankly’s last competitive game in charge.

Shankly’s Relationship with fans

Due to his working-class background, Shankly had a strong feeling for how the fans followed the team and wanted them to perform. He felt he was letting the fans down when the team didn’t do well. When he wasn’t managing the football club, Shankly was often working at his typewriter, personally replying to letters from fans that arrived at Melwood. Shankly even called some supporters at home to discuss the previous day’s game, while the accounts of him providing tickets for fans are endless.

One of the most iconic images of all was caught on television in April 1973, when he and the team were showing off the League Championship trophy to the fans in the Kop. A Liverpool scarf which had been thrown at Shankly during a lap of honour was flung to one side by a policeman. Shankly pounced on the scarf and reprimanded him, uttering “Don’t do that. This might be someone’s life”. After his retirement, he said: “I was only in the game for the love of football – and I wanted to bring back happiness to the people of Liverpool.”

THE DRIVING FORCE OF LEEDS UNITED BILLY BREMNER SIGNED TO STYLO MATCHMAKERS IN 1974 WITH THE FULL LEEDS UNITED TEAM. WEARING THE LOCAL BRITISH BRAND THEY LIFTED THE TITLE AND DOMINATED THE ENGLISH GAME OVER THIS TIME.

Billy Bremner, Scottish association football (soccer) player whose skill, inspiring leadership (usually as captain), and fierce determination made him vital to the success of Leeds United (1959-76), Hull City (1976-78), and Scotland (54 caps, 1965-75); as tough off the field as on, in 1975

He later became manager of Leeds (1985-88) and Doncaster Rovers (1978-85, 1989-92) (b. Dec. 9, 1942–d. Dec. 7, 1997).

in 1973 stylo matchmakers sign the biggest name in english football with kevin keegan sporting the stylo matchmakers boots for the 1973/74 season.

Kevin Keegan from 1972-1982, made 63 appearances for England, 31 of them as captain, and scored 21 goals.

During his playing career, he played for Scunthorpe United (1968-1971), Liverpool (1971-1977), Hamburger SV (1977-1980), Southampton (1980-1992) and Newcastle United (1982-1984).

At Liverpool, Keegan won three First Division titles, the UEFA Cup twice, the FA Cup and the European Cup. He also gained his first England cap in 1972, and moved to West German club Hamburger SV in the summer of 1977 which he won  the Ballon d’Or. 1979, Hamburger SV. 1978 season.

He managed Newcastle United (1992-1997, 2008), Fulham (1998-1999), England (1999-2000), and Manchester City (2001-2005).

He was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1982 Queen’s Honours List for his services to Association Football.

EXCITING WELSH WING WIZARD LEIGHTON JAMES SIGNED WITH STYLO MATCHMAKERS IN 1970 AND SHOWCASED GREAT FORM FORM BURNLEY F.C.

James started his career as a left winger with Burnley, making his league debut in November 1970 against Nottingham Forest.  In 1971, he won his first international cap against Czechoslovakia. Altogether, he played 54 times for Wales and scored 10 goals.  In 1975, he signed for Derby County for a then club record fee of £310,000, and in 1977 joined Queens Park Rangers in exchange for Don Masson. He made his QPR debut against WBA in October 1977 and went on to play 28 league games, scoring 4 goals.

In 1978, he returned to play with Burnley but left when they were relegated to the third division and signed for Swansea City, helping them from the third division to the first. He had spells with Sunderland, Bury and Newport County before in 1986 he returned to Burnley for a third spell, as youth team manager and occasional player.