Elisha Scott

Infobox Football biography
playername = Elisha Scott


fullname = Elisha Scott
dateofbirth = birth date|1894|8|24|df=y
cityofbirth = Belfast
countryofbirth = Ireland
dateofdeath = death date and age|1959|5|16|1894|8|24|df=y
cityofdeath =
countryofeath =
position = Goalkeeper
youthyears = 1909
youth clubs = Belfast Boys Brigade
years = 1911–1912
1911
1912–1917
1917–1919
1919–1934
1934–1936
clubs = Broadway United
Linfield
Liverpool
Belfast Celtic
Liverpool
Belfast Celtic
caps(goals) =
nationalyears = 1920–1936
1935
nationalteam = Ireland
Irish League XI
nationalcaps(goals) = 31 (0)
02 (0)
manageryears = 1934–1949
managerclubs = Belfast Celtic

Elisha Scott (24 August 1894 – 16 May 1959) was a Northern Irish football goalkeeper who most notably played for Liverpool from 1912 to 1934 (still holding the record as their longest-serving player).

Life and playing career

Elisha Scott played for Linfield, Broadway United and Belfast Celtic teams before Liverpool manager Tom Watson signed him on 3 September 1912, following a recommendation from Scott's older brother Billy Scott. Liverpool only got the chance to sign Scott when Everton decided that the 17-year-old Elisha was too young. Scott finally made his debut on New Years Day 1913 at St James' Park. The team drew 0-0 with Newcastle.

During the early days of his career Scott was understudy to Ken Campbell and only appeared occasionally. The First World War interrupted Scott’s career for four years. However, after its conclusion he returned to Liverpool and was determined to make the number 1 jersey his ownFact|date=March 2007. Scott finally got a chance of a run in the Liverpool goal at the end of the season. Scott's goalkeeping position was set in stone when Campbell was allowed to leave in the April 1920. Scott established himself as Liverpool’s number 1. He was a major part of the back-to-back Championship winning teams of 1922 and 1923, missing just 3 games of the first title and none in the second.

Numerous stories about Scott exist in Liverpool folklore. One such story relates to a 1924 game, after Scott had just made a phenomenal save at Ewood Park against Blackburn. A man appeared from the crowd went over to Scott and kissed him. Scott was part of one of the legendary rivalries of the day along with Everton’s Dixie Dean. The two of them were the main topic of discussion when derby day was approaching - Everton declared that Dean would score whilst Liverpool disagreed, saying Scott wouldn’t let a single shot past.

Towards the end of the decade Scott lost his starting position to another Liverpool goalkeeper, Arthur Riley, but he never gave up the battle for the position of goalkeeper. However, at the beginning of the 1930s it was becoming more and more difficult for Scott to get into the line-up; eventually Scott asked if he could return to his homeland when his old team Belfast Celtic offered him a player-manager role in 1934. Liverpool consented. Scott played the last of his 467 appearances at Chelsea on 21 February 1934.

Chelsea defeated Belfast Celtic 2-0 in Scott's final appearance at Chelsea. Upon Liverpool’s final home match of the season Scott headed to the director’s box to give his adoring fans a farewell speech. Scott played his final game for the Belfast club in 1936 at the age of 42. In his time as manager of the Celtics Scott won 10 Irish League titles, 6 Irish Cups, 3 City Cups, 8 Gold Cups and 5 County Antrim Shields.

Sectarian crowd trouble, such as an incident in which Celtic player Jimmy Jones had his leg broken at a match on Boxing Day 1948 against Linfield, led to Celtic withdrawing from the league in 1949. The club felt that the police couldn’t protect their players and supporters from further violence in future games. Fact|date=September 2007

Honours

"Player"

Liverpool

*English Champions: 2
**1921-22, 1922-23
*FA Cup

Belfast Celtic

*Irish League
**"Winners" 1936

*Irish Cup
**"Winners" 1917-18
**"Runners Up" 1918-19

*Gold Cup
**"Winners" 1935

*County Antrim Shield
**"Winners" 1936

"Manager"

Belfast Celtic

*Irish League
**"Winners" 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1944, 1947, 1948: 10

*Irish Cup
**"Winners" 1937, 1938, 1941, 1943, 1944, 1947: 6

*Gold Cup
**"Winners" 1935, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947: 8

*County Antrim Shield
**"Winners" 1936, 1937, 1939, 1943, 1945 5

*Belfast City Cup
**"Winners" 1940, 1948, 1949 3

ources

*The Official Liverpool FC Illustrated History (Carlton Books 2002), p37.

External links

* [http://nifootball.blogspot.com/2006/10/elisha-scott.html Northern Ireland Footballing Greats]
* [http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/team/past_players/players/scott/ Liverpool F.C. Biography]
* [http://www.lfchistory.net/player_profile.asp?player_id=833 Player profile at LFChistory.net]