Brian Hall

Infobox Football biography
playername = Brian Hall


fullname = Brian William Hall
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1946|11|22
cityofbirth = Glasgow
countryofbirth = Scotland
height =
position = Midfield
years = 1968-1976
1976-1977
1977-1980
clubs = Liverpool
Plymouth Argyle
Burnley
Total
caps(goals) = 153 (15)
051 (16)
043 0(3)
247 (34)

Brian Hall (born Glasgow, 22 November 1946) was a compact and hard-working midfield player in the hugely successful Liverpool team of the 1970sI.

Life and playing career

A bright lad, Hall chose to go into higher education to study mathematics rather than follow a professional career exploiting his obvious football skills but, upon graduation from Liverpool University, he signed as a pro for Liverpool in 1969, having enjoyed playing for them as an amateur while studying.

Hall and fellow graduate Steve Heighway became known amongst their team-mates as "Little Bamber" (Hall, due to him being just 5ft 6) and "Big Bamber" (Heighway). These affectionate nicknames derived from Bamber Gascoigne, the host of television's "University Challenge".

The Bachelor of Science made his debut in a 0-0 league draw with Stoke City at the Victoria Ground on 7 April 1969 but his first goal took a further 2 years to arrive, coming in a bruising semi-final of the FA Cup against Merseyside rivals Everton at Old Trafford on 27 March 1971. Hall scored the goal in the 73rd minute with an awkward shot over his shoulder. It also won the match sending Liverpool to Wembley, not bad for a first goal for the club.

Hall played in the final and was one of Liverpool's brighter performers on the day but Arsenal won the game 2-1 after extra time. Two years later, he was part of the team which won both the League championship and UEFA Cup. Brian was one of the main protagonists of an incident that will forever remain in Anfield folklore. The 1st leg of the UEFA Cup final took place on home soil but had to be abandoned due to very heavy rain. However, Shankly had spotted something in the way Borussia Mönchengladbach had set out to play and changed his tactics for the game that would take place the following evening. Shankly dropped Hall, who had started the abandoned game, and brought in striker John Toshack. It worked wonders as Liverpool gained a 3-goal advantage to take to Germany, which proved to be enough as the Germans could only muster a 2-0 victory, meaning Liverpool had won the cup 3-2 on aggregate.

On 4 May 1974 he played an integral role in Liverpool's 3-0 demolition of Newcastle United to win the FA Cup. Hall's famous 'dummy' set up the first goal of the game for team-mate Kevin Keegan - it wasn't the orthodox 'stepping over' of the ball which he carried out to let Tommy Smith's pass through to Keegan; instead he physically dived underneath the ball. It was a feinting tactic which had not been seen before and has rarely been imitated since. Newcastle's covering defenders were fooled and Keegan had time to control the ball and lash it into the net.

A famous photograph of manager Bill Shankly was taken in the immediate aftermath of the 1974 win. It shows Shankly being blessed by an overjoyed, besotted supporter who had sunk to his knees to kiss the turf at Shankly's feet. Hall was captured in the picture with an amused but bamboozled smile on his face as he walked past the incident.

Hall's chances over the next two years diminished as younger midfielders such as Jimmy Case, signed from South Liverpool, and Ray Kennedy, signed from Arsenal, arrived on the scene. He left Liverpool in 1976 and joined Plymouth Argyle, moving again to Burnley a year later. He retired from the game 1980.

Brian's link with Liverpool didn't end when left in 1976 as he returned to Anfield in 1991 to take on the role of the Reds head PR officer, one of his duties being to oversee the running of the International Supporters Club.

Hall's workmanlike displays are still fondly remembered amongst Koppites everywhere and he was voted in at No.75 in the [http://www.liverpoolfc.tv Official Liverpool Football Club web site] poll 100 Players Who Shook The Kop.

Career details

"*" Liverpool F.C (1969 - 1976) - 224 appearances, 21 goals
* 1970/71 FA Cup runners-up medal
* 1971/72 Charity Shield runners-up medal
* 1972/73 First Division championship winners medal
* 1972/73 UEFA Cup winners medal
* 1973/74 FA Cup winners medal
* 1974/75 Charity Shield winners medal
* 1975/76 First Division championship winners medal
* 1975/76 UEFA Cup winners medal

Statistics

External links

* [http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/team/past_players/players/hall/ Official past players at Liverpoolfc.tv]
* [http://www.lfchistory.net/player_profile.asp?player_id=309 Player profile at LFChistory]