David Fairclough

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David Fairclough
Personal information
Date of birth January 5, 1957
Place of birth    Liverpool, England
Nickname Supersub
Playing position Striker
Youth clubs
Liverpool
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
1974-83
1983-84
1984-85
1985
1985-86
1986-89
1989-90
1990-91		 Liverpool
Toronto Blizzard
Luzern
Norwich City
Oldham Athletic
Beveren
Tranmere Rovers
Wigan Athletic		 98 (34)
?? (??)
?? (??)
2 (0)
17 (1)
?? (??)
14 (1)
7 (1)   
National team
1977 England Under-21 1 (0)

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only.
* Appearances (Goals)

David Fairclough (born Liverpool, January 5, 1957) was a footballer whose special role in the great Liverpool side of the 1970s was that of Supersub.

[edit] Life and playing career

The reason for this strange nickname was that Fairclough, a talented goalscorer, rarely started matches for Liverpool in comparison with other players, but frequently came into the match as a substitute in order to make an impact.

Fairclough rose through the Liverpool ranks as a boy and made his debut for the club on the 1 November 1975 in the 1-0 league win over Middlesbrough at Ayresome Park. As the season progressed, Fairclough scored seven crucial goals in just 14 appearances to land Liverpool the League championship - nine of these appearances were as substitute. David's first goal for the club came 3 days ater his debut on the 4 November '75, it came during the 6-0 hammering of Spanish side Real Sociedad at Anfield in a UEFA Cup 2nd round 2nd leg tie.

The pecking order of strikers at the club saw Fairclough trailing behind the dream duo of Kevin Keegan and John Toshack, as well as England centre forward David Johnson. As the next season got underway, Fairclough found himself rising up to third in the ranks due to a succession of injuries to Toshack, meaning he was substitute more than ever.

His most famous Liverpool goal came at Anfield as a substitute in a crucial European Cup quarter final against the French side St Etienne. Liverpool had been a goal adrift from the first leg in France, and 2-1 up in the home return. The aggregate score was level therefore at 2-2 but St Etienne were still in command due to their away goal. Liverpool therefore needed to score again to win the tie but time was running out.

Manager Bob Paisley sent Fairclough on in the last 20 minutes of the game and the red-haired striker, only just 20 years old, responded in style. Only six minutes remained when Fairclough ran on to a long ball upfield and held off two St Etienne defenders. He prodded the ball home at the famous Kop end and Anfield had one of its greatest ever footballing nights. As the roar of the Kop let rip, Anfield folklore says that the roar could be heard 3 miles away! ITV commentator Gerald Sinstadt famously bellowed: "Supersub strikes again!"

Liverpool won the League title again and also reached the FA Cup final at Wembley, as well as the European Cup final in Rome. Fairclough was not picked at all for the Wembley match as Paisley went for veteran winger Ian Callaghan on the bench (in this era, domestic football teams were permitted just one substitute). Liverpool lost to Manchester United. However, he was a substitute for the night in Rome (European fixtures allowed five substitutes) which Liverpool won 3-1.

However, the following year Liverpool reached the European Cup final again and this time Fairclough started the match. A 1-0 victory over Club Brugge retained the trophy for Liverpool.

Fairclough's scored his one and only Liverpool hat-trick on the 9 February 1980 during the thrilling 5-3 league victory over Norwich City at Carrow Road, the goals came in the 4th, 18th and 75th minutes, Kenny Dalglish (88th} and Jimmy Case (89th) guaranteed a late win for the Reds.

Fairclough spent another five years at Anfield in what was a golden era for the club, he was mostly out of the first team. He was a prolific scorer in the reserves, but the phenomenal partnership of Dalglish and Ian Rush rendered him surplus to first team requirements - the two main strikers also rarely were injured.

The supersub tag ultimately shrouded his number of first team starts with Liverpool - of his 153 appearances, only 61 were from the bench. He scored 55 goals, averaging a goal every 2¾ games.

David left Liverpool on the 4 July 1983 joining NASL side Toronto Blizzard, he then moved on to Swiss side FC Lucerne before returning to England to have spells with Norwich and Oldham Athletic. He plied his trade abroad once more at Belgium club Beveren returning to home shores for stints with Rochdale, Tranmere Rovers and Wigan Athletic, he ended his playing days at non-league Knowsley.

David now works as a pundit and also on the after-dinner circuit, he also writes a weekly column on the official Liverpool Football Club web-site.

David is still a firm favourite amongst the Anfield faithful and was voted in at No.18 on the 2006 poll 100 Players Who Shook The Kop. The poll was conducted by the Reds official web-site, 110,000 supporters worldwide took part listing their favourite 10 Liverpool players of all-time.

Ironically, David's 18th place was higher than John Toshack's 34th and David Johnson's 77th positions, two of the players that prevented David from gaining more Liverpool appearances.

[edit] Honours

(All with Liverpool)

[edit] External links

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