Brian Hall
Encyclopedia
Brian Hall was a footballer who played as a midfielder in The Football League
in the 1960s and 1970s, including a successful time with Liverpool
.
following his graduation in mathematics.
The Bachelor of Science made his debut in a 0-0 league draw with Stoke City
at the Victoria Ground
on 7 April 1969 but his first goal took a further 2 years to arrive, coming in a bruising semi-final of the FA Cup
against Merseyside
rivals Everton
at Old Trafford on 27 March 1971. Hall scored the goal in the 73rd minute with an awkward shot over his shoulder. It also won the match sending Liverpool to Wembley, not bad for a first goal for the club.
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
. 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
, 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.
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.
Runner-up:
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
in the 1960s and 1970s, including a successful time with Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
.
Life and playing career
Hall joined LiverpoolLiverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
following his graduation in mathematics.
The Bachelor of Science made his debut in a 0-0 league draw with Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
at the Victoria Ground
Victoria Ground
Victoria Ground may refer to:*Victoria Ground, the former name of Hartlepool United’s ground Victoria Park.*Victoria Ground, Stoke City’s ground from 1878 to 1997.*Victoria Ground, current home of Bromsgrove Rovers...
on 7 April 1969 but his first goal took a further 2 years to arrive, coming in a bruising semi-final of the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
against Merseyside
Merseyside
Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool...
rivals Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
at Old Trafford on 27 March 1971. Hall scored the goal in the 73rd minute with an awkward shot over his shoulder. It also won the match sending Liverpool to Wembley, not bad for a first goal for the club.
Hall played in the final and was one of Liverpool's brighter performers on the day but Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
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
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
. Brian was one of the main protagonists of an incident that will forever remain in Anfield
Anfield
Anfield is an association football stadium in the district of Anfield, Liverpool, England, with a seating capacity of 45,522. It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 1892 and was originally the home of Everton F.C. from 1884 to 1892, before they moved to Goodison Park...
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
Borussia Mönchengladbach
Borussia Mönchengladbach is a German association football club based in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia. The team plays in the Bundesliga and is one of the country's most well-known, well-supported, and successful teams. Borussia Mönchengladbach has over 40,000 members and is the sixth...
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
John Toshack
John Benjamin Toshack OBE is a Welsh former footballer and manager. He is currently the manager of Macedonia. He has also managed several others clubs including Swansea City, who he took from the Fourth Division to the First in four seasons.As a player, he is remembered for being part of the...
. It worked wonders as Liverpool gained a 3-goal advantage to take to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, 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
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
to win the FA Cup. Hall's famous 'dummy' set up the first goal of the game for team-mate Kevin Keegan
Kevin Keegan
Joseph Kevin Keegan, OBE is a former international footballer and former manager of the England national football team and several English clubs, most notably Newcastle United....
- it was not the orthodox 'stepping over' of the ball which he carried out to let Tommy Smith
Tommy Smith (footballer born 1945)
Thomas "Tommy" Smith MBE was a long-serving footballer with Liverpool, known for his uncompromising defensive style. Manager Bill Shankly once said of him: "Tommy Smith wasn't born, he was quarried."-Life and playing career:...
'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
Jimmy Case
James Robert Case is a retired English football player who shot to fame with the all-conquering Liverpool side of the 1970s and became known as a player with one of the hardest shots in the game.-Early life:...
, signed from South Liverpool
South Liverpool F.C.
South Liverpool F.C. are a football club from Liverpool, England. They are currently in the West Cheshire Amateur Football League and play their home matches at Jericho Lane. The club's colours are white shirts, black shorts and red socks.-First incarnation:...
, and Ray Kennedy
Ray Kennedy
Raymond Kennedy is an English former football player who won every domestic honour in the game with Arsenal and Liverpool in the 1970s...
, signed from Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
, arrived on the scene.
He left Liverpool in 1976 and joined Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
, moving again to Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
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
Public relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
officer.
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.
Liverpool
Winner:- 1976 First Division Championship: (2) 1973, 1976
- FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
: (1) 19741974 FA Cup FinalThe 1974 FA Cup Final was contested by Liverpool and Newcastle United at Wembley. In a one-sided match Liverpool won 3–0, with goals from Kevin Keegan and Steve Heighway... - FA Charity Shield: (1) 19751975 FA Charity ShieldThe 1975 FA Charity Shield was the 53rd FA Charity Shield, an annual football match played between the winners of the previous season's First Division and FA Cup competitions. The match was played on 9 August 1975 at Wembley Stadium and contested by Derby County, who had won the 1974–75 First...
- UEFA CupUEFA CupThe UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
: (2) 1973, 1976
Runner-up:
- FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
: 19711971 FA Cup FinalIn the finale to the 1970-71 FA Cup season, the 1971 FA Cup Final was contested by Arsenal and Liverpool at Wembley on the 8 May 1971.Arsenal won 2–1 after extra time, with all three goals coming in the added half hour. Steve Heighway opened the scoring for Liverpool with a low drive past... - FA Charity Shield: 19721972 FA Charity ShieldThe 1972 FA Charity Shield was contested between Manchester City and Aston Villa.Normally, the Charity Shield would have been contested by the First Division champions and FA Cup holders, who were Derby County and Leeds United, but both declined the chance to play in the Charity Shield...
Statistics
| Club | Season | League The Football League The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football... |
FA Cup FA Cup The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's... |
League Cup Football League Cup The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis... |
Europe Europe Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting... |
Others | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | ||
| Liverpool FC | 1975/76 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 2 |
| 1974/75 | 35 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 45 | 5 | |
| 1973/74 | 22 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 7 | |
| 1972/73 | 21 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 3 | |
| 1971/72 | 26 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 33 | 2 | |
| 1970/71 | 33 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 51 | 2 | |
| 1969/70 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 1968/69 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 153 | 15 | 19 | 3 | 13 | 1 | 35 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 222 | 21 | |