Ian St John
Ian St John holds a place in pantheon of greats to have played for Liverpool Football Club. For many Liverpool fans, he was responsible for the single greatest moment of the Shankly era.
It was his extra-time goal that sealed their first FA Cup in 1965 and brought hundreds of thousands on to the streets of Liverpool in jubilation. Even today, after famous nights in Rome and Istanbul, that first Wembley triumph is still cherished as one of the club's finest hours.
It was his extra-time goal that sealed their first FA Cup in 1965 and brought hundreds of thousands on to the streets of Liverpool in jubilation. Even today, after famous nights in Rome and Istanbul, that first Wembley triumph is still cherished as one of the club's finest hours.
The
Saint
LFC
Legend
St John's contribution to the Red cause goes far beyond a single goal, however.
The Scot was a key figure in the transformation of Liverpool Football Club from a mediocre Second Division outfit to one of the most feared sides in Europe. It took a club record £37,500 to prise him from hometown team Motherwell in May 1961.
Legend has it that when Bill Shankly approached his board for the funds they questioned the wisdom of spending so much on one player, to which Shanks replied: "We can't afford not to buy him!"
A sign of what was to come came on his debut in a Liverpool Senior Cup tie against top-flight neighbours Everton at Goodison Park. The fact the Reds lost 4-3 was of minor significance to the Liverpudlians in the crowd, for they left knowing they'd witnessed the birth of a legend. St John scored three times and deservedly earned rave reviews for his all-round performance.
Twelve months after moving south he helped the Reds to promotion, forming a partnership with Roger Hunt which became one of the most talked about in the land.
St John was also cultivating a special relationship with the Kop, who devised one of the first ever football chants in his honour.
With close ball control and a football brain to rival the greatest in the game at the time, St John was both a taker and maker of goals. His best season in terms of hitting the back of the net was in the Second Division title-winning campaign of 1961-62 when he bagged 22. It was a feat he went on to match two years later as the First Division championship came back to Anfield.
With the passing of time the goals slowly dried up, but St John remained an influential member of a team in which he was almost an ever-present for eight seasons.
By the time the Seventies dawned, the ageing Saint was gradually being phased out of the first team as Shanks began the construction of his second great side. He left for Coventry in 1971 safe in the knowledge that the period of dominance about to be enjoyed on Merseyside would not have been possible without him.
Honours: 3 League Championships & 1 FA Cup, Scored the winning goal in the 1965 FA Cup Final, Cup winners Cup Final Hampden Park 1966, Scored the fastest hat trick on record (150 seconds in 1959)
Scottish International Caps: 21
After retiring as a player, Saint managed Coventry City 1972 – 73, Motherwell 1973 – 74, Portsmouth 1974 – 77 and Sheffield Wednesday 1978 – 79, but it was as a TV presenter that he became a star to a whole new generation of followers.
He joined Granada television in 1978 to present ‘On the Ball’ for world of Sport. He teamed up with another football superstar of the 60’s, Jimmy Greaves in 1984 to present ‘Saint & Greavsie’, a unique and unmissable combination of football and comedy which became essential Saturday viewing.
Saint was an ITV commentator for 6 World Cup Finals and 5 European Championships . He hosted Sport in Question, wrote a regular column in the Sunday Post and presented ‘Saint on Sunday’
Ian is a very good orator and is much in demand as an After Dinner Speaker. In addition to this Ian is available for Golf Days, Corporate Seminars and Personal Appearances. Ian is a keen golfer with a 13 handicap and runs a highly successful soccer coaching school for young players.
The Scot was a key figure in the transformation of Liverpool Football Club from a mediocre Second Division outfit to one of the most feared sides in Europe. It took a club record £37,500 to prise him from hometown team Motherwell in May 1961.
Legend has it that when Bill Shankly approached his board for the funds they questioned the wisdom of spending so much on one player, to which Shanks replied: "We can't afford not to buy him!"
A sign of what was to come came on his debut in a Liverpool Senior Cup tie against top-flight neighbours Everton at Goodison Park. The fact the Reds lost 4-3 was of minor significance to the Liverpudlians in the crowd, for they left knowing they'd witnessed the birth of a legend. St John scored three times and deservedly earned rave reviews for his all-round performance.
Twelve months after moving south he helped the Reds to promotion, forming a partnership with Roger Hunt which became one of the most talked about in the land.
St John was also cultivating a special relationship with the Kop, who devised one of the first ever football chants in his honour.
With close ball control and a football brain to rival the greatest in the game at the time, St John was both a taker and maker of goals. His best season in terms of hitting the back of the net was in the Second Division title-winning campaign of 1961-62 when he bagged 22. It was a feat he went on to match two years later as the First Division championship came back to Anfield.
With the passing of time the goals slowly dried up, but St John remained an influential member of a team in which he was almost an ever-present for eight seasons.
By the time the Seventies dawned, the ageing Saint was gradually being phased out of the first team as Shanks began the construction of his second great side. He left for Coventry in 1971 safe in the knowledge that the period of dominance about to be enjoyed on Merseyside would not have been possible without him.
Honours: 3 League Championships & 1 FA Cup, Scored the winning goal in the 1965 FA Cup Final, Cup winners Cup Final Hampden Park 1966, Scored the fastest hat trick on record (150 seconds in 1959)
Scottish International Caps: 21
After retiring as a player, Saint managed Coventry City 1972 – 73, Motherwell 1973 – 74, Portsmouth 1974 – 77 and Sheffield Wednesday 1978 – 79, but it was as a TV presenter that he became a star to a whole new generation of followers.
He joined Granada television in 1978 to present ‘On the Ball’ for world of Sport. He teamed up with another football superstar of the 60’s, Jimmy Greaves in 1984 to present ‘Saint & Greavsie’, a unique and unmissable combination of football and comedy which became essential Saturday viewing.
Saint was an ITV commentator for 6 World Cup Finals and 5 European Championships . He hosted Sport in Question, wrote a regular column in the Sunday Post and presented ‘Saint on Sunday’
Ian is a very good orator and is much in demand as an After Dinner Speaker. In addition to this Ian is available for Golf Days, Corporate Seminars and Personal Appearances. Ian is a keen golfer with a 13 handicap and runs a highly successful soccer coaching school for young players.
