The name of Everton therefore crops up in the early history of Liverpool, because it was not until 1892 that Liverpool Football Club was formed. March 1892 was a crucial month. A financial dispute involving Houlding and fellow members of everton over the tenancy of the ground finally reached a point of no return, resulting in a decision to move Everton Football Club to new premised across Stanley Park. Houlding was thus left with a football ground, but no team to play on it. W.E.Barclay, Houlding's friend and fellow football fanatic, suggested that a new team be created. Houlding liked the idea so Liverpool Assoication Football Club (as the club wa originally known) was born.
Houlding applied immediatley for membership of the Football League but when his application was rejected Liverpool had to settle for a season in the more local Lancashire League. It was virtually unheard of at the time for a city to have more than one professional football team, and people naturally wondered where on earth Liverpool's players would come from. John McKenna, the club's first manager provided the answer; Scotland. All eleven players of the Liverpool team that played its first ever competitive match, against Hinger Walton on the 3rd September 1892, were Scottish.
Started with these 11 Scotsmen in the team, it slowly grew to be a force that everyone love to hate and has a record that none could match.
In the 1893-94 season, LFC was promoted to the Second Division of the football league, earning promotion to the First Division after only one season. Liverpool's first ever League game was away to the now defunct Middlesbrough Ironopolis, with Malcolm McVean earning the historic accolade of scoring Liverpool's first ever League goal, in a 2-0 victory. During the following season home gates were approaching 20,000, after very humble beginnings. The 1898-99 season saw the arrival of centre-half Alex Raisbeck, Liverpool's first real world-class player to wear the famous red strip (which had replaced the original blue and white colours in 1896). in the 1900-01 season, as Queen Victoria's lengthy reign drew to a close, Liverpool won the League Championship for the first time. This was to be the first championship victory of many. Tom Watson was in charge at that time. Liverpool experience some ups and down after that and it was only when the legendary Bill Shankly, who came into reign in 1959, that Liverpool's power begin to established.
Having taken Liverpool back to the top in 1962, it was no turning back for Liverpool. With the championship win in 1963-64, he went on to add the first Cup victory for Liverpool in 1965 in the form of the FA Cup. But the man, who brought in people like Ray Clemence, Roger Hunt and Kevin Keegan, just to name a few, was not satisfied and only after another 2 Championship titles, another FA Cup and the UEFA Cup, another first for Liverpool, were in the bag that he decided that it was enough and call it a day in 1974.
His successor, Bob Paisley, has every intention to keep the proud records of Liverpool and he did just that. In a space of 11 years, he captured the European Cup, UEFA Cup, European Super Cup, League Cup and never dropped below 2nd place in the league except for the 1980-81 season. It is through him that Kenny Dalglish started his career in Anfield.
In the 1983-84 season, Liverpool won a rare treble with Joe Fagan, one of Shankly's 'Bootroom' staff, before Kenny Dalglish was appointed the Player-Manager of the club. A first in Liverpool's history. Dalglish demonstrated his knowledge of the game by winning the doubles in 1986 before his shock resignation in 1991.
The man who took over from him was his fellow team-mates during the Paisley era. Graeme Souness, who was managing in Scotland before coming over. High hopes was placed on him to continue Liverpool's reign but it prove to be Liverpool's greatest nightmare since the Heysel and Hillsborough disasters. It was at this time that Liverpool decided to bring in Roy Evans, who is already a bootroom staff since the Shankly's days. His experience in working with the many great managers on Liverpool ensure that Liverpool goes back on the right track. In his first full season, Liverpool brought the League cup back to their trophy room and is looking forward for their 19th League Championship and the cup they never won, the Cups-Winner-Cup. Surely, glorious days for Liverpool are certain to come again.
1892/96 - John McKenna/William Barclay
1896/1915 - Tom Watson
1920/23 - David Ashworth
1923/28 - Matt McQueen
1928/36 - George Patterson
1936/5 - George Kay
1951/56 - Don Welsh
1956/59 - Phil Taylor
1959/74 - Bill Shankly
1974/83 - Bob Paisley
1983/85 - Joe Fagan
1985/91 - Kenny Dalglish
1991/94 - Graeme Souness
1994/98 - Roy Evans
1998/98 - Roy Evans/Gerard Houllier
1998/now - Gerard Houllier
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