Paul Walsh

Sir Tokyo Sexwale · July 30, 2015

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/paul-walsh-life-liverpool-fc-9761347

“We were taught something of a lesson as they thrashed us 6-0. The funny thing is, I probably played better than I had during the 3-3 draw a year before!
“I nutmegged Alan Kennedy on the left, chipped Bruce Grobbelaar and hit the bar and had a really good all-round game, but ended with nothing to show for my efforts.
“As we came off at the final whistle, Ian Rush walked over to me, shook my hand and said, ‘I can’t believe I’ve just scored five goals and you were man-of-the-match.’ It was nice to hear that from a striker of his calibre.”
On joining Liverpool in 1983
“There were no airs and graces about the Liverpool lads at all – they weren’t Big Time Charlies, even if they have had every right to be.
“There were holes in the training kit, everything was pretty basic and they were happy to play football wherever they were asked to.
“I found the training at Liverpool a bit different to what I’d expected. I’d imagined it would be hard, precision drilled routines and suchlike but I couldn’t have been more wrong.

Paul Walsh celebrates scoring 14 seconds into his home Liverpool debut against West Ham in 1984

“We had two sticks and two bollards for goals across half of a pitch and that was as technical as it got.
“But when you look at how many trophies the club won, it’s hard to argue with their methods, even if they were somewhat unorthodox. Maybe that was the secret of their success.”
On being injured in 1984
“I quickly realised the medical side of the club wasn’t that great. In fact, it was bordering on amateurish.
“Liverpool had a club doctor who was getting on a bit and I remember having a back spasm before the game against Young Boys.
“He examined my back, had a prod and said, ‘Is that where it’s hurting?’ I said it was and thought maybe I’d underestimated the club’s methods after all. Then he went into his bag and gave me two aspirin!

Watford 2 v Liverpool 3 old League Division One at Vicarage Road. (Picture shows) Paul Walsh in action. 12th January 1984

“On one occasion, Ronnie Moran was treating my ankle with an ultrasound machine and all of a sudden I could feel he was halfway up my shin.
“I looked at him and he was reading the back page of the paper, lost in his own world. I said, ‘Er, Ron, the ankle’s a bit lower down, mate.’
“I was in the treatment room a few days later when a guy came in to test all the equipment. After a simple procedure on the ultrasound machine, he informed us it wasn’t even working!”
On his FA Cup semi-final goal against Manchester United at Goodison in 1985
“Trailing 2-1 with just a minute of extra-time to play, Dalglish swung in a cross, Rush’s header was saved by Gary Bailey but the ball fell to me a few yards out
“It was between me and Kevin Moran but I reacted marginally faster and bundled the ball over the line to make it 2-2.

Paul Walsh scores a late equaliser against Man United

“It was in front of our fans packed into the Gwladys Street end and they just went mental. I’d never experienced a better atmosphere or such a rush when I scored a goal.”
On being sent off in the League Cup semi-final against Southampton in 1987
“It was a bad-tempered game and I was in a frustrated state of mind because the goals had dried up for me.
“So when I got the ball from a throw-in and was clattered from behind by Kevin Bond I wasn’t best pleased.
“We had a bit of a grapple but no more as I backed into him and though it was handbags at that point, he crossed the line when he leant in and spat in my face.
READ MORE: Paul Walsh: Liverpool FC new strikers must be mentally strong - but I was competing against Rush and Dalglish!
“I checked to see that the ref wasn’t looking and then turned around and smashed him as hard as I could in the face.
“What I hadn’t noticed in my eagerness to plant one on him was the linesman, who was stood about five yards away and saw the whole thing.
“I was sent off and I was waiting for my b******ing in the dressing room when Kenny walked in after the final whistle. We’d drawn 0-0 and he said, ‘Wee man, you know you were wrong don’t you?’ I nodded, waiting for the inevitable, then he said, ‘But if there’s one person I don’t mind you smacking, it’s that t---.’”

Murphman · July 30, 2015

Him smacking Bond was a thing of beauty.

Murphman · July 30, 2015

11 minutes in, it doesn't show Bond gobbing at him, the telly at the time did. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61ZM6HHe72I

Cunny · July 30, 2015

my favourite player in the mid 80s

Cheesecake · July 30, 2015

who was the guy who tried to take Rushies leg off late on

muleskinner · July 30, 2015

I used to deliver milk to Walshies house when i was a kid. Tipped well.

David Hodgson · July 30, 2015

I was at all those games. He was a great little player.

smithdown · July 30, 2015

That one on the Gwladys Street was to be fair as mad as any goal celebration I have ever known, it went off the moment the ball fell from Baileys hand iirc before Walsh had even got there.

realtarragona · July 30, 2015

Never really bothered wth autobiographies but might read a few. Which are the best ones? Preferably from players who played in the 70s and 80s?

don gato · July 30, 2015

Met him signing autographs at Makro in Charlton in about 1982, when I was 10 or 11. I was wearing a Liverpool top at the time, he said to me 'nice top'. Therefore I clearly inspired him to sign for us. True story.

Maldini · July 30, 2015

Never really bothered wth autobiographies but might read a few. Which are the best ones? Preferably from players who played in the 70s and 80s?

Craig Johnstons is great from what I remember. From a non-LFC point of view Paul McGrath's is brilliant.

D.Boon · July 30, 2015

Thought he wad a great player

David Hodgson · July 31, 2015

That one on the Gwladys Street was to be fair as mad as any goal celebration I have ever known, it went off the moment the ball fell from Baileys hand iirc before Walsh had even got there.

I was right in line with it but dead high up on that stand of theirs that has an escalator in it. It was so steep. The celebrations were wild. I thought I was going to fall off the stand .

Earl Hafler · July 31, 2015

That one on the Gwladys Street was to be fair as mad as any goal celebration I have ever known, it went off the moment the ball fell from Baileys hand iirc before Walsh had even got there.

You can see loads moving forward in expectation as Rush heads it and then it all kicks off once Walsh scores.

Whiteside wearing #4.

Noel Street · July 31, 2015

I had a handful of broken glass thrown into my face by mancs at that match. I was 10

smithdown · July 31, 2015

You can see loads moving forward in expectation as Rush heads it and then it all kicks off once Walsh scores.

Whiteside wearing #4.

Was just under the canopy behind the goal so it was chaos, everyone was dancing round mad while shouting "what happened???". Iirc it was Rush's name got sung after big style. Crap specs in that ground and the way the terrace was set up was weird.

What a bit of play it was by Kenny just before btw, that cross with his left peg was as good as anything that ground has ever seen.

Kahnee · July 31, 2015

‘Wee man, you know you were wrong don’t you?’ I nodded, waiting for the inevitable, then he said, ‘But if there’s one person I don’t mind you smacking, it’s that t---.’

Earl Hafler · July 31, 2015

Was just under the canopy behind the goal so it was chaos, everyone was dancing round mad while shouting "what happened???". Iirc it was Rush's name got sung after big style. Crap specs in that ground and the way the terrace was set up was weird.

What a bit of play it was by Kenny just before btw, that cross with his left peg was as good as anything that ground has ever seen.

Love the initial look of everything kicking off on an old style terrace - proper away support - but then those fences appear...

Who was the #10 - MacDonald ? He looked f***ed. Like the worse of Carra and Henchoz in one player.

pipnasty · July 31, 2015

That one on the Gwladys Street was to be fair as mad as any goal celebration I have ever known, it went off the moment the ball fell from Baileys hand iirc before Walsh had even got there.

Incredible scenes - as good as anything I have experienced first hand

It was a great save from Bailey too

nrkintheuk · July 31, 2015

Incredible scenes - as good as anything I have experienced first hand

It was a great save from Bailey too

I was 11 and had a seat on the front row of the top balcony - bit scary. Me Dad made us leave 2 mins before the end - reckoned a second late equalizer was unlikely. Heard the roar as we were walking down Gwladys Street. Never left a match before the final whistle again....

On the same ground, Walsh was outstanding in the match Beglin broke his leg in.

smithdown · July 31, 2015

Incredible scenes - as good as anything I have experienced first hand

It was a great save from Bailey too

Was a great save. And Whelan's was a really great goal, doesn't get shown enough for a world class FA Cup pearler.

Eeeeh by gum to be fifteen again with a ticket for that match eh.

Earl Hafler · July 31, 2015

Yeah - that goal from Whelan in that wind...brilliant.

smithdown · July 31, 2015

Yeah - that goal from Whelan in that wind...brilliant.

The set up with Neal and Lee was just beautiful

pipnasty · July 31, 2015

I was 11 and had a seat on the front row of the top balcony - bit scary. Me Dad made us leave 2 mins before the end - reckoned a second late equalizer was unlikely. Heard the roar as we were walking down Gwladys Street. Never left a match before the final whistle again....

On the same ground, Walsh was outstanding in the match Beglin broke his leg in.

Ha - a couple of my mates left early too.

doug_mac · July 31, 2015

Never really bothered wth autobiographies but might read a few. Which are the best ones? Preferably from players who played in the 70s and 80s?

i read tommy smith's a while back

its a good read

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