THE week when Liverpool Football Club is marking the golden anniversary of the arrival of Bill Shankly as manager has been tinged with real poignancy following the announcement of the death of one of his former players, Alan A’Court.

He died on Monday following illness at the age of 75.

Born in Rainhill on September 30, 1934, A’Court had the distinction of being the very first player to score a competitive goal in the Shankly reign.

His 58th-minute header against Charlton Athletic on December 28, 1959, set Liverpool on their way to a 2-0 victory in Shankly’s third game at the helm.

A’Court, who attended Prescot Grammar School, had joined Liverpool some seven years before in September, 1952 signing from his local amateur side Prescot Cables.

His debut in a Liverpool jersey came the following February when, wearing the number nine, he played his part in a 3-2 victory at Middlesbrough.

Sadly for A’Court and for Liverpool, the 1950s saw the club decline

until they were relegated into the Second Division at the end of the 1953-54 campaign.

A strong and skilful winger who generally operated on the left flank, A’Court, proved to be one of the few bright lights in those dark years for Liverpool.

So much so that he was chosen to be part of England’s World Cup squad at the 1958 tournament in Sweden – quite an achievement for someone plying their trade outside the top flight.

A’Court had made his England debut in November 1957, scoring one goal and laying on another for the great ‘Busby Babe’ Duncan Edwards in a 3-2 loss against Northern Ireland at Wembley Stadium.

He played in England’s three group games at the 1958 Finals against Brazil, Austria and the USSR before winning his fifth and final cap in a match with Wales in November, 1958.