Profile

Willie Stevenson was settling into a new life in Australia after winning Scottish League and Cup winners medals with Glasgow Rangers before finding himself languishing in the Ibrox reserve side and deciding to emigrate.

But Bill Shankly moved in and swiftly persuaded his fellow Scot to return to Britain and open a new chapter in his life by signing for Liverpool in October 1962. It was an inspired decision by both men.

Leith-born Stevenson, a slim, elegant left half with an impressive range of passing ability, established himself as a member of the famous Anfield half back line with Gordon Milne and Ron Yeats.

In his first four full seasons with Liverpool he missed only nine League games, playing a key role in the championship wins of 1964 and 1966 and in the team that brought the FA Cup to Anfield in 1965 for the first time. Stevenson, who first experienced European football with Rangers, also won a Cup Winners Cup runners-up medal with Liverpool in 1966. He later played for Stoke and Tranmere.

Willie played his final game for the first team at Anfield against Wolves on November 25, 1967, in which he scored with a late and decisive penalty-kick. Still only 28 years old, he was far too good a player to be languishing in a reserve-team and it came as no surprise when he decided to accept Stoke City's offer in December 1967. Stevenson made 82 league appearances for Stoke before returning to Merseyside with Tranmere.

Other Clubs:
Dalkeith Thistle, Rangers, Stoke, Tranmere, Vancouver Whitecaps, Macclesfield (amateur), Hellenic FC (South Africa)