Brian Hall (footballer)

Brian Hall (born Glasgow, 22 November 1946) was a footballer who played as a midfielder in The Football League in the 1960s and 1970s, including a successful time with Liverpool.^[1]

Life and playing career

Hall joined Liverpool following his graduation in mathematics.^[2]

The Bachelor of Science made his debut in a 0-0 league draw with Stoke City at the Victoria Ground on 7 April 1969.^[2] His first goal took a further 2 years to arrive,^[2] coming in the semi-final of the FA Cup against Merseyside rivals Everton at Old Trafford on 27 March 1971.^[3]

Hall played in the final and was one of Liverpool's brighter performers on the day but Arsenal won the game 2-1 after extra time. Two years later, he was part of the team which won both the League championship and UEFA Cup. Brian was one of the main protagonists of an incident that will forever remain in Anfield folklore. The 1st leg of the UEFA Cup final took place on home soil but had to be abandoned due to very heavy rain. However, Shankly had spotted something in the way Borussia Mönchengladbach had set out to play and changed his tactics for the game that would take place the following evening. Shankly dropped Hall, who had started the abandoned game, and brought in striker John Toshack.^[2] It worked wonders as Liverpool gained a 3-goal advantage to take to Germany, which proved to be enough as the Germans could only muster a 2-0 victory, meaning Liverpool had won the cup 3-2 on aggregate.

On 4 May 1974 he played an integral role in Liverpool's 3-0 demolition of Newcastle United to win the FA Cup. Hall's famous 'dummy' set up the first goal of the game for team-mate Kevin Keegan - it was not the orthodox 'stepping over' of the ball which he carried out to let Tommy Smith's pass through to Keegan; instead he physically dived underneath the ball. It was a feinting tactic which had not been seen before and has rarely been imitated since. Newcastle's covering defenders were fooled and Keegan had time to control the ball and lash it into the net.

Hall's chances over the next two years diminished as younger midfielders such as Jimmy Case, signed from South Liverpool, and Ray Kennedy, signed from Arsenal, arrived on the scene.

He left Liverpool in 1976 and joined Plymouth Argyle,^[2] moving again to Burnley a year later. He retired from the game in 1980.

Hall returned to Anfield in 1991 to take on the role of the Reds head PR officer.^[2]

Hall's workmanlike displays are still fondly remembered amongst Kopites everywhere and he was voted in at No.75 in the Official Liverpool Football Club web site poll 100 Players Who Shook The Kop.

Honours

Liverpool

Winner:

• Football League First Division: 1973, 1976
• FA Cup: 1974
• FA Charity Shield: 1975
• UEFA Cup: 1973, 1976

Runner-up:

• FA Cup: 1971
• FA Charity Shield: 1972

Statistics

References

External links

• Brian Hall interview at shankly.com