Ian St John
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Ian St John: Former Liverpool and Scotland striker dies aged 82
Legendary ex-Liverpool striker Ian St John dies aged 82; St John's arrival at Anfield in 1961 was vital to the transformation of the club under Bill Shankly; St John scored winning goal in FA Cup final in 1965
Tuesday 2 March 2021 09:26, UK
Image:Ian St John, pictured playing for Liverpool in 1969, has died at the age of 82
St John was a key player in the great Liverpool team assembled in the 1960s by Bill Shankly which rose from the second division to win two English league titles and an FA Cup in 1965, in which he scored the winning goal in the final.
In a statement, his family said: "It is with a heavy heart that we have to inform you that after a long illness we have lost a husband, father and grandfather.
"He passed away peacefully with his family at his bedside. We would like to thank all the staff at Arrowe Park Hospital for their hard work and dedication during these very difficult times.
"The family would be grateful for privacy at this extremely sad time."
St John spent 10 years at Anfield following a £37,500 transfer from Motherwell in June 1961 which was a record fee paid for Liverpool at the time, and scored 118 goals in 424 appearances for the club.
At the time of his retirement, Shankly said of the signing, and that of Ron Yeats later that summer: "The turning point and the beginning of the whole affair was the signing of Ian St John and Ron Yeats."
Legend has it that when Shankly approached his board for the funds they questioned the wisdom of spending so much on one player, to which he replied: "We can't afford not to buy him."
After being almost ever-present in the Liverpool team for eight seasons, St John left the club in August 1971 and played briefly for Hellenic in Cape Town, South Africa and Coventry City before retiring in 1973.
He also managed Motherwell and Portsmouth and then became well known as a pundit alongside another former player, Jimmy Greaves, on the hugely popular Saturday football television show Saint and Greavsie from 1985 to
Ian St John: Former Liverpool and Scotland striker dies aged 82
Legendary ex-Liverpool striker Ian St John dies aged 82; St John's arrival at Anfield in 1961 was vital to the transformation of the club under Bill Shankly; St John scored winning goal in FA Cup final in 1965
Tuesday 2 March 2021 09:26, UK
Image:Ian St John, pictured playing for Liverpool in 1969, has died at the age of 82
St John was a key player in the great Liverpool team assembled in the 1960s by Bill Shankly which rose from the second division to win two English league titles and an FA Cup in 1965, in which he scored the winning goal in the final.
In a statement, his family said: "It is with a heavy heart that we have to inform you that after a long illness we have lost a husband, father and grandfather.
"He passed away peacefully with his family at his bedside. We would like to thank all the staff at Arrowe Park Hospital for their hard work and dedication during these very difficult times.
"The family would be grateful for privacy at this extremely sad time."
St John spent 10 years at Anfield following a £37,500 transfer from Motherwell in June 1961 which was a record fee paid for Liverpool at the time, and scored 118 goals in 424 appearances for the club.
At the time of his retirement, Shankly said of the signing, and that of Ron Yeats later that summer: "The turning point and the beginning of the whole affair was the signing of Ian St John and Ron Yeats."
Legend has it that when Shankly approached his board for the funds they questioned the wisdom of spending so much on one player, to which he replied: "We can't afford not to buy him."
After being almost ever-present in the Liverpool team for eight seasons, St John left the club in August 1971 and played briefly for Hellenic in Cape Town, South Africa and Coventry City before retiring in 1973.
He also managed Motherwell and Portsmouth and then became well known as a pundit alongside another former player, Jimmy Greaves, on the hugely popular Saturday football television show Saint and Greavsie from 1985 to
The first person I remember seeing when I came out of a coma after Hillsborough. He was sat on my hospital bed chatting to my old man about a game from the 60s. Met him a few times later on too, and he gave me a lift home from Radio City tower after watching European game up there once.
Very sad news. RIP.
One of the stand out players when I read the entire history of the club as a kid in 1991.
One of the stand out players when I read the entire history of the club as a kid in 1991.
RIP Ian. I started supporting Liverpool the day he scored the winner in the 1965 FA cup. Back then "soccer" wasn't very big in Ireland. Somebody asked me that morning who I supported and I said Liverpool. The reason? I had been to Liverpool with my dad a couple of months earlier with our local gaelic football team, who were over for a weekend to play a couple of matches against the John Mitchell's team from Liverpool.
For a shortarse, Saint was a fantastic header of the ball. I was at Wembley with my rattle to see him head the extra-time winner in our first FA Cup win against Leeds United.
In the same year I hitch-hiked down to Craven Cottage with a mate to see Fulham v Liverpool. At one point, Fulham's Mark Pearson pulled Saint down by his hair (he did have hair then). St. John got up and knocked Pearson unconscious with a right hook. Even in those days, this was considered a bit aggressive. He was sent off, and Liverpool lost.
In the same year I hitch-hiked down to Craven Cottage with a mate to see Fulham v Liverpool. At one point, Fulham's Mark Pearson pulled Saint down by his hair (he did have hair then). St. John got up and knocked Pearson unconscious with a right hook. Even in those days, this was considered a bit aggressive. He was sent off, and Liverpool lost.
I think the first clip in the video posted above shows that very incident where he knocks his man out
RIP Ian St. John
I think the part with Robbo was longer, I think they were talking about the amount of caps they got when he played compared to now.
RIP Saint. Saw him here from the off. He was never a dirty player. He was as hard as nails but there was never any malice...as long as you didn't pull his hair..looked like an air shot anyway....shudder gone to VAR..
Yeah and Gerry Byrne broke his collar bone after a tackle by Collins. Carried on playing. Great header by the Saint. St.John as well as being a great finisher, he made numerous chances for Roger Hunt and others. An intelligent clever player who could see stuff very early. Sort of player who would've excelled in any era.
How many games was he suspended for, I wonder? By today’s standards would have been most of the season, probably.
For knocking someone out? Easily 6 months. The police might get involved as well.
Yeah and the mob accros the paaarrk would say he was no Saint. But back in the day the game was a lot more brutal obviously. Had to be able to mix it and obviously we had Tommy Smith and plenty more down the years who could cut up rough if it was needed. The Saint wasn't quick but he was strong lad and was gutsy. I remember he did a Sky dive for charity. Showed it on the Saint & Greavsie show. He played a huge role in those early years under Sir Bill and the Kop loved him. Very sad day for us all I think.
I'm thinking none? Unless it happened much later. He seemed to play every remaining game of that season.
Not sure if automatic suspensions came in later than that.
He missed the game which clinched promotion through suspension having sparked out a Preston player. Aside from that he was a great player, far from a typical centre forward, mobile and a great ball player. He was easily able to handle dropping back into midfield later in his career.
It’s a funny old game.
Ian st John,
We will never see your likes again, and that saddens us all
R.I.P.
We will never see your likes again, and that saddens us all
R.I.P.
Ian was instrumental in helping us to set up our charity back in 2002. This is a post I put on social media about the support he gave to us:
We would like to pay tribute to LFC football legend Ian St John who sadly passed away on Monday.
Stick 'n' Step ambassador Rob Palmer kindly put these lovely words together about St John.
When a bunch of parents were setting up Stick 'n' Step back in 2002 Ian St John was instrumental in getting the charity off the ground. As a Wirral local, he popped along to the opening of the original centre and supported all of the early fund-raising events.
He persuaded his footballing colleagues to play in our charity golf days and always brought his sporting, competitive edge to the events. His team won the golf day in 2011 and he cherished his prize like his many footballing medals.
Whenever we had a big event he invited us into his Radio City show to help with publicity. He is a footballing legend, a famous face on TV and was an invaluable supporter of Stick n Step.
I think it would be safe to say we’d have struggled to get the idea off the ground without his incredible support.
RIP Ian and our thoughts are with your family at this difficult time.
We would like to pay tribute to LFC football legend Ian St John who sadly passed away on Monday.
Stick 'n' Step ambassador Rob Palmer kindly put these lovely words together about St John.
When a bunch of parents were setting up Stick 'n' Step back in 2002 Ian St John was instrumental in getting the charity off the ground. As a Wirral local, he popped along to the opening of the original centre and supported all of the early fund-raising events.
He persuaded his footballing colleagues to play in our charity golf days and always brought his sporting, competitive edge to the events. His team won the golf day in 2011 and he cherished his prize like his many footballing medals.
Whenever we had a big event he invited us into his Radio City show to help with publicity. He is a footballing legend, a famous face on TV and was an invaluable supporter of Stick n Step.
I think it would be safe to say we’d have struggled to get the idea off the ground without his incredible support.
RIP Ian and our thoughts are with your family at this difficult time.
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