A Scottish international, he played for Liverpool from 1938 through to 1961 — his only permanent club — turning out just short of 500 times and scoring 216 goals.
He won 29 Scotland caps, and was a major force in the Anfield side that won the 1946-47 championship.
Born in Townhill, he was originally spotted by Matt Busby as a 15-year-old for Lochgelly Violet.
His first contract gave him the princely sum of £3 per week.
That contract — and the boots from his final game for the Reds — are on display in the Anfield club’s museum.
One reporter once desribed him as having “genuine versatility, dignity and sportsmanship”.
Indeed, the legendary Tom Finney once commented, “Of all the great players in my era, he is the one I respect above anyone else.”
I never saw Liddell play, but I do remember older members of my family revere about his talents.
During the Second World War, he served as a bomber command pilot officer and pathfinder.
However, he managed to guest for Chelsea and his local senior club Dunfermline and also for the Scottish side that beat England 5-4 in a wartime international at Hampden.
Liddell, whose father was a coal miner, was never booked or sent off.
The Billy Liddell campaign group aimed to have a permanent memorial to him built in Townhill, where his family lived in Main Street.
They also pushed for him to be included in the SFA Hall of Fame — which he was in 2008 — and wanted to raise awareness of his success, both on and off the pitch, to youngsters.
A cairn produced by Glenrothes stonemason George Sweeney, Jun., was unveiled in Townhill Park, upon which a plaque will serve as a constant reminder of Liddell.
“As a football fan myself, I know the Billy Liddell story well,” he said.
“It was a fantastic privilege and honour to be invited to create the cairn upon which his memorial plaque has been mounted.
“This has been like a giant jigsaw which has involved selecting, cleaning, honing and fitting together more than one-and-a-half tons of reclaimed sandstone, which was sourced locally.
“Visitors will be happy with what awaits them when they come to pay tribute to the man who did so much for football locally, nationally and internationally.”
The opening of the garden in Townhill Park marks the culmination of a successful fund-raising campaign.
Councillor Bill McCulloch, campaign group convener, said, “We hope this campaign will inspire our local young people to get involved in sport and maximise their potential in the way Billy Liddell did.”
DUNDEE BOXER JIM SMITH SPARRED WITH THE GREAT MUHAMMAD ALI
JIM SMITH is immensely proud of his father, also Jim Smith, who, sadly, died of cancer last year.
The People’s Journal had an article about him on April 10, 1971, with the headline ‘Jim Smith — the South Paw who was not!’.
“Dad had in excess of 250 fights with an outstanding win ratio, having boxed and coached St Francis Boxing Club in Dundee, and representing Scotland no less than 16 times,” said Jim.
“He sparred with the great Muhammad Ali in London and had photo shoots with a few world champions.
“He also fought and trained with Dundee boxing legend Dick McTaggart and other local heros.
“I believe he may have been the first boxer to bring an international title back to Dundee in over 20 years at one point in his career.
“He was a very colourful character and represented charities and committees within the local area in his later years.”
ENGLAND HAVE NO CHANCE IN THE WORLD CUP
The World Cup has now started in South Africa — and we’ve been subject to the usual over-the-top hype from the English media over the last few weeks.
But, taking one step back, would we have been any different if Scotland had qualified?
The very sore campaign from Argentina in 1978 still lingers over 30 years on, but I reckon we would still go barmy with ditties such as Andy Cameron’s Ally’s Army if given half a chance.
There would also be the usual stories of bands of supporters heading across to South Africa in an old converted WW2 submarine or by air balloon and the like.
I’m not one for spouting anti-English comments in national tournaments because, if Scotland are not there, I would like any of the home countries to do well — and I include the Republic of Ireland in that.
However, do England really have a chance of success?
My answer to that is an emphatic “no”!
They don’t have a Shilton-esque goalkeeper to pull them out of the mire when under pressure.
They have just lost their dominant central defender (Rio Ferdinand), and stand-in skipper Steven Gerrard for me has never really done it in an England shirt.
Also, it’s very hard to see where any goals will come from, especially if Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney is not on fire.
But the real reason is that Brazil, Argentina and Spain are miles better, with the Brazilians my pick to lift the trophy.
And I’m not even going to mention Germany, Holland, Italy and France (OK, I just have!).
On top of that — I have Spain in the office sweepie!
FED TEAM NAMED
Broughty Ferry’s WILLIE YOUNG set about trying to get names for the team photo (below) which appeared in BwB in March.
“I contacted JIM CRAIG, a former BB leader, who is now in his 80s and lives in Broughty Ferry,” said Willie.
“He gave me the following information.
“The team is BROUGHTY EX-SERVICE FC, now Broughty Athletic, and was founded after the First World War as part of the activities of Broughty Ex-Service Club, who were members of a national organisation called the Ex-Service Federation hence the well-used Broughty nickname “Fed”.
“The photo was taken in the early 1930s and the trophy is the Consolation Cup, played for by Dundee Junior teams.
“The final was played at Dens Park, and the Fed beat Lochee Central 3-2. The Fed were 2-0 down at half-time, but fought back and eventually scored a late winner.
“Back row — Unknown, Tom Pattie, Willie Webster, Norman Ferrier, Reg Ferrier, Willie Rodger, Unknown, Norman McCrimmond.
“Middle row includes David Lorimer (committee), Jim Rodger, Rab Linnen, McInroy, goalkeeper Slaven or Leggat (see end of column), Donald Burk, Tom Webster, David Norrie, George Norrie, Al Elder.
“The young lad in the front row is possibly David Lorimer, Jun., and also there is Jim Neilson and trainer Tom McArthur.
“Slaven, the regular goalie, could not play in the final that day due to a family bereavement. I think Leggat, who was not cup-tied, came on loan from Logie.”
