Elisha Scott
Encyclopedia
Elisha Scott was an Irish
football
goalkeeper who most notably played for Liverpool
from 1912 to 1934 (still holding the record as their longest-serving player).
and Broadway United before Liverpool manager Tom Watson
signed him on a Sunday morning at 10am 1st September 1912, following a recommendation from Scott's older brother Billy Scott. Liverpool only got the chance to sign Scott when Everton decided that the 19-year-old Elisha was too young.
Scott was reported as signed by Crewe Alexandra
in August 1913, presumably under some sort of loan arrangement. He succeeded Thomas Charles Allison as deputy for the first choice keeper, Arthur Box and played for them in the early part of season 1913/14.
Scott finally made his Liverpool debut on New Year's Day
1913 at St James' Park
. The team drew 0-0 with Newcastle
.
During the early days of his career Scott was understudy to Ken Campbell
and only appeared occasionally. The First World War interrupted Scott’s career for four years. However, after its conclusion he returned to Liverpool and was determined to make the number 1 jersey his own. Scott finally got a chance of a run in the Liverpool goal at the end of the season. Scott's goalkeeping position was set in stone when Campbell was allowed to leave in the April 1920. Scott established himself as Liverpool’s number 1. He was a major part of the back-to-back Championship winning teams of 1922 and 1923, missing just 3 games of the first title and none in the second.
Numerous stories about Scott exist in Liverpool folklore. One such story relates to a 1924 game, after Scott had just made a phenomenal save at Ewood Park
against Blackburn
. A man appeared from the crowd went over to Scott and kissed him. Scott was part of one of the legendary rivalries of the day along with Everton’s Dixie Dean
. The two of them were the main topic of discussion when derby
day was approaching - Everton declared that Dean would score whilst Liverpool disagreed, saying Scott wouldn’t let a single shot past. A famous story, and possible myth associated with the two men was that of how they once encountered each other in Belfast city centre the day before an Ireland versus England game. Dean, famed for his remarkable heading ability touched his hat and nodded to Scott as they were about to pass only for Scott to respond by diving as if to try and save an imaginary header, much to the initial shock and then delight of the locals who witnessed it while a mildly shocked Dean smiled and quietly continued on his walk.
Towards the end of the decade, Scott lost his starting position to another Liverpool goalkeeper, Arthur Riley
, but he never gave up the battle for the position of goalkeeper. However, at the beginning of the 1930s it was becoming more and more difficult for Scott to get into the line-up; eventually Scott asked if he could return to his homeland when his old team Belfast Celtic offered him a player-manager role in 1934. Liverpool consented. Scott played the last of his 467 appearances at Chelsea on 21 February 1934.
Chelsea
defeated Liverpool 2-0 in Scott's final appearance at Chelsea. Upon Liverpool’s final home match of the season Scott headed to the director’s box to give his adoring fans a farewell speech. Scott played his final game for the Belfast club in 1936 at the age of 42. In his time as manager of the Celtics Scott won 10 Irish League
titles, 6 Irish Cup
s, 3 City Cups, 8 Gold Cups and 5 County Antrim Shields.
Sectarian crowd trouble, such as an incident in which Celtic player Jimmy Jones had his leg broken at a match on Boxing Day
1948 against Linfield
, led to Celtic withdrawing from the league in 1949. The club felt that the police couldn’t protect their players and supporters from further violence in future games.
Liverpool
Belfast Celtic
Manager
Belfast Celtic
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
goalkeeper who most notably played for 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...
from 1912 to 1934 (still holding the record as their longest-serving player).
Life and playing career
Elisha Scott played for LinfieldLinfield F.C.
Linfield F.C. , is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club, whose home ground is Windsor Park in Belfast, which is also the home of the Northern Ireland international team....
and Broadway United before Liverpool manager Tom Watson
Tom Watson (football)
Tom Watson was an English football manager who managed Sunderland A.F.C. and Liverpool F.C. around the turn of the 20th century....
signed him on a Sunday morning at 10am 1st September 1912, following a recommendation from Scott's older brother Billy Scott. Liverpool only got the chance to sign Scott when Everton decided that the 19-year-old Elisha was too young.
Scott was reported as signed by Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
in August 1913, presumably under some sort of loan arrangement. He succeeded Thomas Charles Allison as deputy for the first choice keeper, Arthur Box and played for them in the early part of season 1913/14.
Scott finally made his Liverpool debut on New Year's Day
New Year's Day
New Year's Day is observed on January 1, the first day of the year on the modern Gregorian calendar as well as the Julian calendar used in ancient Rome...
1913 at St James' Park
St James' Park
St James' Park, known for sponsorship reasons as the Sports Direct Arena, is an all-seater stadium in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It is the home of Newcastle United Football Club and is the sixth largest football stadium in the United Kingdom with a capacity of between 52,387 and 52,409.St James'...
. The team drew 0-0 with Newcastle
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...
.
During the early days of his career Scott was understudy to Ken Campbell
Ken Campbell (footballer)
Kenneth 'Ken' Campbell was a Scottish footballer who played for Liverpool in the early part of the 20th century.-Life and playing career:...
and only appeared occasionally. The First World War interrupted Scott’s career for four years. However, after its conclusion he returned to Liverpool and was determined to make the number 1 jersey his own. Scott finally got a chance of a run in the Liverpool goal at the end of the season. Scott's goalkeeping position was set in stone when Campbell was allowed to leave in the April 1920. Scott established himself as Liverpool’s number 1. He was a major part of the back-to-back Championship winning teams of 1922 and 1923, missing just 3 games of the first title and none in the second.
Numerous stories about Scott exist in Liverpool folklore. One such story relates to a 1924 game, after Scott had just made a phenomenal save at Ewood Park
Ewood Park
Ewood Park is a football stadium in the English town of Blackburn, Lancashire, and is the home of Blackburn Rovers Football Club — one of the founder members of the Football League and Premier League. Rovers have played there since they moved from Leamington Street in the summer of 1890. The...
against Blackburn
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
. A man appeared from the crowd went over to Scott and kissed him. Scott was part of one of the legendary rivalries of the day along with Everton’s Dixie Dean
Dixie Dean
William Ralph Dean , better known as Dixie Dean, was an English football player. Dean originally started his career with Birkenhead based Tranmere Rovers before moving on to Everton, the club he had supported as a child, where he became one of the most prolific goal-scorers in English football...
. The two of them were the main topic of discussion when derby
Merseyside derby
The Merseyside derby is the name given to any football match contested between Everton and Liverpool football clubs, the two most successful clubs from the city of Liverpool in England...
day was approaching - Everton declared that Dean would score whilst Liverpool disagreed, saying Scott wouldn’t let a single shot past. A famous story, and possible myth associated with the two men was that of how they once encountered each other in Belfast city centre the day before an Ireland versus England game. Dean, famed for his remarkable heading ability touched his hat and nodded to Scott as they were about to pass only for Scott to respond by diving as if to try and save an imaginary header, much to the initial shock and then delight of the locals who witnessed it while a mildly shocked Dean smiled and quietly continued on his walk.
Towards the end of the decade, Scott lost his starting position to another Liverpool goalkeeper, Arthur Riley
Arthur Riley
Arthur Riley was a South African who played football for Liverpool.-Life and playing career:Born in Boksburg, Gauteng, South Africa, Riley played for Boksburg F.C before being signed by Reds manager Matt McQueen in the August of 1925, he made his debut on the 24 October 1925 in a First Division...
, but he never gave up the battle for the position of goalkeeper. However, at the beginning of the 1930s it was becoming more and more difficult for Scott to get into the line-up; eventually Scott asked if he could return to his homeland when his old team Belfast Celtic offered him a player-manager role in 1934. Liverpool consented. Scott played the last of his 467 appearances at Chelsea on 21 February 1934.
Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
defeated Liverpool 2-0 in Scott's final appearance at Chelsea. Upon Liverpool’s final home match of the season Scott headed to the director’s box to give his adoring fans a farewell speech. Scott played his final game for the Belfast club in 1936 at the age of 42. In his time as manager of the Celtics Scott won 10 Irish League
IFA Premiership
The IFA Premiership – formerly the Irish Premier League, and before that the Irish Football League–and still known in popular parlance simply as the Irish League, is the national football league in Northern Ireland, and was historically the league for the whole of Ireland. Clubs in the league are...
titles, 6 Irish Cup
Irish Cup
For the equivalent tournament in the Republic of Ireland, see FAI Cup.The Irish Cup is the national cup knock-out competition in Northern Irish football. Inaugurated in 1881, it is the fourth oldest national cup competition in the world...
s, 3 City Cups, 8 Gold Cups and 5 County Antrim Shields.
Sectarian crowd trouble, such as an incident in which Celtic player Jimmy Jones had his leg broken at a match on Boxing Day
Boxing Day
Boxing Day is a bank or public holiday that occurs on 26 December, or the first or second weekday after Christmas Day, depending on national or regional laws. It is observed in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and some other Commonwealth nations. In Ireland, it is recognized as...
1948 against Linfield
Linfield F.C.
Linfield F.C. , is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club, whose home ground is Windsor Park in Belfast, which is also the home of the Northern Ireland international team....
, led to Celtic withdrawing from the league in 1949. The club felt that the police couldn’t protect their players and supporters from further violence in future games.
Honours
PlayerLiverpool
- English ChampionsFootball League First DivisionThe First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
: 2- 1921-22, 1922-23
- 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...
Belfast Celtic
- Irish LeagueIFA PremiershipThe IFA Premiership – formerly the Irish Premier League, and before that the Irish Football League–and still known in popular parlance simply as the Irish League, is the national football league in Northern Ireland, and was historically the league for the whole of Ireland. Clubs in the league are...
- Winners 1936
- Irish CupIrish CupFor the equivalent tournament in the Republic of Ireland, see FAI Cup.The Irish Cup is the national cup knock-out competition in Northern Irish football. Inaugurated in 1881, it is the fourth oldest national cup competition in the world...
- Winners 1917-18
- Runners Up 1918-19
- Gold CupGold CupGold Cup may refer to:In art and archaeology:* Royal Gold Cup, 14th century French cup in the British Museum* Rillaton Gold Cup, late Neolithic, from Rillaton Barrow in England* Ringlemere Cup, Bronze Age from EnglandIn horse racing:...
- Winners 1935
- County Antrim ShieldCounty Antrim ShieldThe County Antrim Shield is a football competition in Northern Ireland. The competition is open to senior teams who are members of the North East Ulster Football Association , often plus intermediate teams who...
- Winners 1936
Manager
Belfast Celtic
- Irish LeagueIFA PremiershipThe IFA Premiership – formerly the Irish Premier League, and before that the Irish Football League–and still known in popular parlance simply as the Irish League, is the national football league in Northern Ireland, and was historically the league for the whole of Ireland. Clubs in the league are...
- Winners 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1944, 1947, 1948: 10
- Irish CupIrish CupFor the equivalent tournament in the Republic of Ireland, see FAI Cup.The Irish Cup is the national cup knock-out competition in Northern Irish football. Inaugurated in 1881, it is the fourth oldest national cup competition in the world...
- Winners 1937, 1938, 1941, 1943, 1944, 1947: 6
- Gold CupGold CupGold Cup may refer to:In art and archaeology:* Royal Gold Cup, 14th century French cup in the British Museum* Rillaton Gold Cup, late Neolithic, from Rillaton Barrow in England* Ringlemere Cup, Bronze Age from EnglandIn horse racing:...
- Winners 1935, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947: 8
- County Antrim ShieldCounty Antrim ShieldThe County Antrim Shield is a football competition in Northern Ireland. The competition is open to senior teams who are members of the North East Ulster Football Association , often plus intermediate teams who...
- Winners 1936, 1937, 1939, 1943, 1945 5
- Belfast City Cup
- Winners 1940, 1948, 1949 3