Bert Slater
Encyclopedia
Bert Slater was a professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper
.
, East Lothian
, Scotland
, Slater started his career as a 17 year old at Falkirk
, where he won a Scottish Cup
winners medal in 1957, he made his debut was in front of a 90,000 predominantly Rangers
crowd.
Liverpool
signed him in exchange for Tommy Younger
on the 12 June 1959. He made his debut 2 months later at Ninian Park
on the 22 August, Cardiff City
spoiled his day beaten the reds 3-2, Cardiff actually provided all 5 goals as City's Danny Malloy scored 2 own goals both being only 4 minutes apart. He kept his first clean-sheet on the 12 December 1959 at the Eastville Stadium
, Bristol Rovers
were the side that were unable to break down the Reds defence as Liverpool won 2-0.
Slater was small for a goalkeeper standing at just 5 ft 8½ in (1.73 m) and was nickname
d 'Shorty' but he was immediately put into the Liverpool goal upon his arrival in 1959 but after a disastrous start to the season the No.1 shirt was handed to Doug Rudman, but when Bill Shankly
arrived Bert got his place back and went on to clock-up 30 appearances in all competitions. He followed this up by being an ever-present during the 1960/61 as Liverpool, incredibly finished 3rd (top 2 gained promotion) for a 5th straight season. Shankly rallied his troops and also brought in Ron Yeats
and Ian St John to strengthen his side, it worked, Liverpool won the division by 8 points and were promoted to the top tier of English football after an 8 year break, Slater played his part by appearing 29 times, but he now had serious competition as Shankly had signed James Furnell from Burnley
.
Things got worse for Slater, Tommy Lawrence
, signed in 1957 as a 17 year old, was beginning to mature and was starting knock on the first team door, Slater was now considered to be lower than the under 12 goalkeeper in the pecking order, according to Bill Shankly, and thus was deemed surplus to requirements. Bert was told he could leave for Dundee
in the July 1962, ironically he was sold by Bill and signed by brother Bob Shankly
.
Bob's Dundee had just won the Scottish League First Division championship and were about to embark on a European Cup
campaign, Bob had rated Slater ever since a friendly between the 2 brothers clubs in 1960 so when he became available Bob made sure he got his man paying £2,500 for Slater's services.
Slater first introduction to European football was at Dens Park
against Cologne
, unbelievably Dundee were 5 up by half-time and went on to win 8-1, Cologne only got the 1 because of an own-goal by Alex Hamilton. To be fair to Cologne they lost their keeper to injury at half-time. However, the Germans
thought the challenge was a bad one and, rumour has it, were targeting Slater for reprisal in the 2nd leg. If they were by the 27th minute they got their man, Slater took a boot to the head which opened up, he was replaced by Andy Penman, an inside-forward, there were no subs back then. Cologne pulled the aggregate score back to 8-4 when a bandaged Slater returned to the game as a left winger, Cologne pushed forward and got another, this was too much for Slater who went back into the Dees goal, Dundee held on for a famous victory.
They also beat Sporting Clube de Portugal and Anderlecht
to amazingly reach the European Cup semi-final, here they came up against cup favourites A.C Milan
who proved to be too strong for Dundee, Milan went on to lift the trophy at Wembley Stadium
.
In 1965 he moved to Watford
, where he was the first choice goalkeeper for three years. Early in the 1968–69 season Mike Walker
was bought and he replaced Slater as first-choice goalkeeper. Slater also became a coach and assistant manager at Vicarage Road
before he retired from football.
Slater never gained international recognisition but did represent Scotland
at Under-23 level.
After hanging up his boots Bert worked for a company that designed golf
courses and scouted for Dundee
. Bert died in Brechin
on 21 July 2006.
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
.
Life and playing career
Born in MusselburghMusselburgh
Musselburgh is the largest settlement in East Lothian, Scotland, on the coast of the Firth of Forth, six miles east of Edinburgh city centre.-History:...
, East Lothian
East Lothian
East Lothian is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy Area. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Midlothian. Its administrative centre is Haddington, although its largest town is Musselburgh....
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, Slater started his career as a 17 year old at Falkirk
Falkirk F.C.
Falkirk Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Falkirk. It is one of two professional football teams from the town, the other being East Stirlingshire...
, where he won a Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
winners medal in 1957, he made his debut was in front of a 90,000 predominantly Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
crowd.
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...
signed him in exchange for Tommy Younger
Tommy Younger
Thomas Younger was a Scottish professional footballer of the 1950s and 60s who played as a goalkeeper.- Club career :Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, Younger signed for his hometown club Hibernian in 1948...
on the 12 June 1959. He made his debut 2 months later at Ninian Park
Ninian Park
Ninian Park was a football stadium in Leckwith, Cardiff, Wales. Until 2009, it was the home ground of Cardiff City F.C., who compete in the English Football League Championship...
on the 22 August, Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
spoiled his day beaten the reds 3-2, Cardiff actually provided all 5 goals as City's Danny Malloy scored 2 own goals both being only 4 minutes apart. He kept his first clean-sheet on the 12 December 1959 at the Eastville Stadium
Eastville Stadium
Eastville Stadium, also known as Bristol Stadium and Bristol Stadium – Eastville, was a stadium in Eastville, a northern suburb of the English city of Bristol....
, Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
were the side that were unable to break down the Reds defence as Liverpool won 2-0.
Slater was small for a goalkeeper standing at just 5 ft 8½ in (1.73 m) and was nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
d 'Shorty' but he was immediately put into the Liverpool goal upon his arrival in 1959 but after a disastrous start to the season the No.1 shirt was handed to Doug Rudman, but when Bill Shankly
Bill Shankly
William "Bill" Shankly, OBE was a Scottish football player and manager, most noted for managing Liverpool between 1959 and 1974. One of Britain's most successful and respected football managers, Shankly was also a fine player whose career was interrupted by the Second World War...
arrived Bert got his place back and went on to clock-up 30 appearances in all competitions. He followed this up by being an ever-present during the 1960/61 as Liverpool, incredibly finished 3rd (top 2 gained promotion) for a 5th straight season. Shankly rallied his troops and also brought in Ron Yeats
Ron Yeats
Ronald 'Ron' Yeats is a Scottish former footballer. He was the captain of the first great Liverpool team of the 1960s.-Life and playing career:...
and Ian St John to strengthen his side, it worked, Liverpool won the division by 8 points and were promoted to the top tier of English football after an 8 year break, Slater played his part by appearing 29 times, but he now had serious competition as Shankly had signed James Furnell from 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...
.
Things got worse for Slater, Tommy Lawrence
Tommy Lawrence
Tommy Lawrence was the goalkeeper in the first great Liverpool team under manager Bill Shankly.-Life and playing career:...
, signed in 1957 as a 17 year old, was beginning to mature and was starting knock on the first team door, Slater was now considered to be lower than the under 12 goalkeeper in the pecking order, according to Bill Shankly, and thus was deemed surplus to requirements. Bert was told he could leave for Dundee
Dundee F.C.
Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from...
in the July 1962, ironically he was sold by Bill and signed by brother Bob Shankly
Bob Shankly
Robert "Bob" Shankly was a professional football player and manager. from the village of Glenbuck in Ayrshire, Scotland....
.
Bob's Dundee had just won the Scottish League First Division championship and were about to embark on a European Cup
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
campaign, Bob had rated Slater ever since a friendly between the 2 brothers clubs in 1960 so when he became available Bob made sure he got his man paying £2,500 for Slater's services.
Slater first introduction to European football was at Dens Park
Dens Park
Dens Park is a football stadium located on Dens Road in Dundee, Scotland. The stadium is the home of Dundee F.C. and has a capacity of 12,085...
against Cologne
1. FC Köln
1. FC Köln is a German association football club based in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia. It was formed in 1948 as a merger of the clubs Kölner Ballspiel-Club 1901 and SpVgg Sülz 07....
, unbelievably Dundee were 5 up by half-time and went on to win 8-1, Cologne only got the 1 because of an own-goal by Alex Hamilton. To be fair to Cologne they lost their keeper to injury at half-time. However, the Germans
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...
thought the challenge was a bad one and, rumour has it, were targeting Slater for reprisal in the 2nd leg. If they were by the 27th minute they got their man, Slater took a boot to the head which opened up, he was replaced by Andy Penman, an inside-forward, there were no subs back then. Cologne pulled the aggregate score back to 8-4 when a bandaged Slater returned to the game as a left winger, Cologne pushed forward and got another, this was too much for Slater who went back into the Dees goal, Dundee held on for a famous victory.
They also beat Sporting Clube de Portugal and Anderlecht
Anderlecht
Anderlecht is one of the nineteen municipalities located in the Brussels-Capital Region.There are several historically and architecturally distinct districts within the Anderlecht municipality.-Pronunciation:* Dutch: * French:...
to amazingly reach the European Cup semi-final, here they came up against cup favourites A.C Milan
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...
who proved to be too strong for Dundee, Milan went on to lift the trophy at Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
.
In 1965 he moved to Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
, where he was the first choice goalkeeper for three years. Early in the 1968–69 season Mike Walker
Mike Walker
Mike Walker is the name of:*Mike Walker , gossip columnist for the National Enquirer*Mike Walker , jazz guitar player from Salford in England*Mike Walker , American football player...
was bought and he replaced Slater as first-choice goalkeeper. Slater also became a coach and assistant manager at Vicarage Road
Vicarage Road
Vicarage Road, a stadium in Watford, Hertfordshire, England, is the home of the football club Watford and their tenants, the Saracens rugby union club. An all-seater stadium, its current capacity is 17,477.-History:...
before he retired from football.
Slater never gained international recognisition but did represent Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
at Under-23 level.
After hanging up his boots Bert worked for a company that designed golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
courses and scouted for Dundee
Dundee F.C.
Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from...
. Bert died in Brechin
Brechin
Brechin is a former royal burgh in Angus, Scotland. Traditionally Brechin is often described as a city because of its cathedral and its status as the seat of a pre-Reformation Roman Catholic diocese , but that status has not been officially recognised in the modern era...
on 21 July 2006.
Career details
- Falkirk F.C. (1953–1959) - ? appearances
- Scottish Cup winners medal (1957)
- Liverpool F.C. (1959–1962) - 111 appearances
- Division Two (level 2) championship winners medal (1962)
- Dundee F.C. (1962–1965) - ? appearances
- Watford F.C. (1965–1973) - 152 appearances