Thursday, May 10, 2007

100 Person Who Shock The Kop - NO 41: Elisha Scott



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In at number 41 in our '100 Players Who Shook The Kop' countdown is one of the greatest goalkeepers of all-time, the legendary Elisha Scott.
Four years after our ground-breaking '100 Days That Shook The Kop', we are delighted to invite you to enjoy our new '100 Players Who Shook The Kop' series – the definitive countdown of the 100 players who have made the biggest impact at Liverpool.

Over 110,000 supporters have all nominated their own personal Top 10 players in order of impact made and now the definitive top 100 countdown is underway.

Every player who has made the top 100 – and there are some surprises in there - will be honoured on this website via the e-Season ticket console with a specially produced video clip, including archive footage and exclusive interviews.

Since 1892 hundreds of players have represented this club but everyone has their own particular favourites so don't expect this list to be based solely on talent. The greatness of a player can be measured in many ways – obviously, his ability on the pitch is the most important, but 100 PWSTK is much more than that. It's about the impact the individuals chosen have had on this club, be it for a variety of reasons. Maybe it was because of their unique rapport with the crowd, a specific incident that has never been forgotten or anything else that has left a lasting impression.

Name: Elisha Scott

Years at Liverpool: 1912 to 1934
Position: Goalkeeper

Date-of-birth: 24/8/1894
Birthplace: Belfast

Signed from: Broadway United (September 1912)

Games: 468
Clean Sheets: 137

Honours: First Division Championship (1921/22, 1922/23)

The legend of Elisha Scott will live forever in Liverpool folklore. Arguably the greatest goalkeeper to keep goal for the Reds, Scott remains one of the most famous figures to have represented the club, despite playing his last game way back in 1934. Born in Belfast, he followed in the footsteps of his elder brother Billy, who was a goalkeeper with Everton and Ireland. Scott junior signed for Linfield at just 14 years of age but was soon moved on to junior club Broadway United where he learnt his trade before Billy recommended him to his peers at Goodison. Fortunately for Liverpool, Everton deemed him to be too young and when Billy then mentioned Elisha to Anfield chairman John McKenna, the Reds did not hesitate in swooping to sign the rookie 17-year old. With the experienced Kenny Campbell still keeping goal for Liverpool, young Scott was considered one for the future. But it was not long before he made an impression. Making his first team debut against Newcastle United on New Years Day 1913, he kept a clean sheet in a goalless draw and, so accomplished was his performance at St James Park that afternoon, opponents Newcastle offered £1,000 for his signature immediately afterwards. Scott was only informed of the bid on the way back to Liverpool and believing that Campbell would be difficult to dislodge, he thought it might have been in his best interests if he was allowed to go. Liverpool's secretary/manager Tom Watson, though, wisely refused and reassured Scott that his future lay at Anfield. He was right. Towards the end of the 1914/15 season Scott enjoyed an extended run as Liverpool's first choice keeper and, although the advent of World War One interrupted his progress, as the 1920's dawned he quickly earned a reputation as one of the finest custodians around. One reporter wrote of him, 'He has the eye of an eagle, the swift movement of a panther when flinging himself at a shot and the clutch of a vice when gripping the ball.' In 1920 he won the first of his 27 international caps and in 1921/22 missed just three games as the Reds won their first league title for 16 years. The following season he was an ever-present between the sticks as the championship was retained. Scott was by now a firm favourite of the Anfield crowd and the adulation he received was unprecedented. In 1924, after pulling off a stunning save at home to Blackburn Rovers, one fan ran onto the pitch and kissed him! The years that followed the back-to-back title triumphs may have been barren in terms of honours won but Scott's popularity never once waned. In 1934 the unthinkable almost occurred when Everton offered £250 for his services. He was coming to end of his career and Liverpool were ready to accept the offer until supporters flooded the local newspaper with letters of protest. On February 21, 1934 Scott played his 467th and final game for Liverpool - it was a record that stood until Billy Liddell surpassed it in 1957. Anfield's favourite son requested a move back to Ireland to take up the post of player/manager at Belfast Celtic and on the occasion of Liverpool's final home game of that season hardened Kopites were rumoured to have shed tears when their hero made an emotional farewell speech from the directors' box. He finally retired from the game in at the age of 42 in 1936 and continued to manage the Belfast club until it folded in 1949. Ten years later the legendary Elisha Scott died. Gone, but never forgotten.

Sold to: Belfast Celtic (June 1934)

Claim to fame: Keeping goal in the back-to-back title triumphs of the early twenties

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