Written with the help of the highly-respected LFChistory.net, the 540-page offering is packed with insights, facts and statistics from a journey that started back in September 1900.
It also features the thoughts, opinions and memories of the players, managers, protagonists and fans who were involved in delivering the championship to the Anfield trophy cabinet time and time again.
In the first of three excerpts from the book, which can be ordered here, Clemente provides a tale from each of Liverpool’s first six title-winning seasons…
1900-01
Liverpool manager Tom Watson was a popular figure throughout the game and had already won three First Division titles at Sunderland before his move to Anfield in 1896. During the 1900-01 season, Watson implemented a strict diet at Anfield. The players’ day started with a 30-minute stroll at 7.30am; breakfast at 8.30am ideally consisted of weak tea, chops, eggs, dry toast or stale bread. Butter, sugar, potatoes and milk were not held in high regard. Training was at 9.45am and again at 3.30pm. A glass of beer or claret was recommended at dinner and tobacco was to be “sparingly used”. The day finished with a one-hour stroll at 7.30pm.
1905-06
When Liverpool played Stoke City at Anfield on New Year’s Day 1906, Watson’s team started the match with 10 men, because defender Billy Dunlop arrived late at the ground. Dunlop then had to leave the pitch with an injury but was able to resume after treatment. Curiously, Liverpool were forced to play in white that afternoon, even though they were the home team, because the visitors turned up in red jerseys.
1921-22
Harry Chambers was the greatest personality in the Liverpool side of the early 1920s. He was one of the smartest inside-lefts of his time. The fans called him Smiler while his teammates dubbed him Sharky. Harry had a ferocious shot and won over the fans from the start. Against Sunderland on January 11, 1922, he hit the ball so hard that it finished up deflated in the back of the net!
1922-23
Prior to Liverpool’s game against Burnley on September 23, 1922, three players had each been offered £10 to let Burnley win the game. The honest trio – Elisha Scott, the goalkeeper; Dick Johnson, the centre-forward; and Walter Wadsworth, the centre-half – reported the attempted bribe to the club secretary, who gave the letters to his directors, and these gentlemen, after consultation, decided to forward them to the police. The Reds won 3-0 that afternoon.
1946-47
Liverpool manager George Kay was curiously absent for his team’s trip to Molineux on May 31, 1947, as he couldn’t miss out on a pre-arranged five-day scouting mission to Ireland! Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers that day eventually clinched league title number five.
1963-64
During Liverpool’s trip to Highbury on February 15, 1964, seven minutes before half-time Liverpool captain Ron Yeats and Arsenal’s Joe Baker went down together. Both got up and punches were thrown before Yeats went back down with a cut eye, leading to Bill Shankly running onto the pitch to check he was OK. The referee, who had been following play, came back and promptly dismissed both men from the field and told Shankly to leave, too, but not before he had quickly given some tactical instructions to his players.
Click here to order your copy of 19 now.