Geoff Strong
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Geoffrey Hugh "Geoff" Strong (born 19 September 1937) is an English former footballer.
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[edit] Life and playing career
[edit] Arsenal
Born in Kirkheaton, Northumberland, England, Strong played as an amateur for his local club, Stanley United, before being spotted by Arsenal; he signed for the London club as an amateur in November 1957 and turned professional the following April. He played mainly in the Gunners youth and reserve sides and his first-team debut was delayed by his National Service; he finally started for the first team against Newcastle United on September 17, 1960, two days shy of his 23rd birthday; Arsenal won 5-0.
Strong played 19 league games that season, scoring ten goals, and played 20 the following season (1961-62, before finally becoming an automatic first-choice in 1962-63. Playing as an inside-forward or centre forward, Strong formed a lethal attacking partnership with Joe Baker and he became a regular goalscorer for the club – his record being 31 in the 1963-64 season; Baker and Strong together scored 62 that season.
However, despite Strong and Baker's goalscoring efforts, Arsenal were going through a barren patch; the best league position they achieved during this period being 7th, and they made little impact in the FA Cup. Strong made it clear he wanted to move to a more successful club. Although he was still a regular starter at the start of the 1964-65 season, in November 1964, Arsenal sold him for £40,000 to Liverpool; in all he had scored 77 goals in 137 matches for the Gunners.
[edit] Liverpool
Strong was thrown straight into the Liverpool side and made his debut on 7 November 1964, in a 1-1 league draw with Fulham at Craven Cottage. His first goal came a month later on 5 December in a 5-1 thumping of Burnley at Turf Moor.
After just 16 appearances in a red shirt Strong's wish for more success came to fruition, as Liverpool won the FA Cup for the first time in the club's 73 year history. Strong, who was now used as a utility man, wore the number 4 jersey as the Reds beat Leeds United 2-1 after extra time in the Wembley final; it was also Geoff's first appearance in the competition for Liverpool, as he was deputising for the injured Gordon Milne. Unfortunately for Strong and the rest of the Anfield staff the Cup final joy was short-lived, as they lost to Inter Milan 4-3 on aggregate in the semi-final of the European Cup; Liverpool had taken a 3-1 lead to Italy, although it is said[attribution needed] that the game at the San Siro was a 'little biased' in the favour of the Serie A side with the Liverpool players receiving very little protection from the referee.[citation needed]
Strong went on to play in almost every outfield position over the next six seasons, but he eventually settled in at left back after Gerry Byrne hung up his boots. Strong was part of the side that won the 1965-66 First Division championship beating Leeds into second by 6 points. He, however, missed the European Cup Winners Cup final, which Liverpool lost 2-1 to Borussia Dortmund at Hampden Park, through an injury that he picked up in the semi-final second leg win over Celtic. Strong had a major influence in the Reds reaching their first ever European final, as it was he that scored the winner, a towering header, even though he was carrying a leg injury; had substitutes been allowed at the time, he would have probably been taken off.
Liverpool then went trophyless for a few seasons after the 1966 title win and following a humiliating 1-0 defeat at the hands of Watford in the 6th round of the 1969-70 FA Cup, Bill Shankly decided that changes had to be made; the old guard had to be replaced by a younger generation, Strong was one of the players that was caught up in the cull. After exactly 200 games and 33 goals Strong left Liverpool on 10 August 1970 for Coventry City. He spent a single season at Highfield Road before retiring from playing.
[edit] Retirement
After retiring, he left the game completely, and now runs his own hotel furnishing business; he also co-owns a pub with former Liverpool great Ian Callaghan. Strong was a firm favourite amongst the Koppites during his six-year spell at the club and was voted in at No. 98 on the Official Liverpool FC website poll, "100 Players Who Shook The Kop".
[edit] Career summary
- Arsenal F.C (1958 - 1964) - 137 appearances, 77 goals
- Liverpool F.C (1964 - 1970) - 200 apearances, 33 goals
- First Division Championship winners medal (1965-66)
- FA Cup winners medal (1964-65)
- Two Charity Shield winners medals (1965 (shared) and 1966)
- First Division Championship runners-up medal (1968-69)
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- Harris, Jeff & Hogg, Tony (ed.) (1995). Arsenal Who's Who. Independent UK Sports. ISBN 1-899429-03-4.
