August 23, 1902
During the off season Liverpool lost by death their present and financial mainstay, Alderman John Houlding, J.P., but his son, Councillor W. Houlding, makes a capital successor.
Whether from economy or affection Liverpool do not usually make so many changes, and old favourites, or “old crooks,” according to the view point, remain on, as appears from the following list of League players for the ensuing season: –
Goal, W. Perkins and P. Platt; backs, J. Glover, W. Dunlop, and D. McCallum; halves, M. Parry, A. Raisbeck, W. Goldie, G. Fleming, and C. Wilson; forwards, J. Cox, A. Goddard, A. McGuigan, G. Bowen, S. Raybould, E. Chadwick, G. Livingston, T. Morris, and J. Worthington.
(* Note, T. Morris should be R. Morris and J. Worthington should be J. Waddington.)
The new men among these are Platt, late of Blackburn Rovers; Livingston, late Celtic, who played in the international for Scotland against England last season; and Edgar Chadwick, of Everton, Burnley, and Southampton fame.
The majority of the others are very old hands, indeed, and the infusion of new blood is so slight as scarcely to promise a revival of the decrepit ex-League champions, who last season easily won the Wooden Spoon.
The reserve team will be composed of local amateurs, a saving in wages which may be worse than lost by diminished gates at reserve matches.
(Lancashire Evening Post: August 23, 1902)
"Play Up, Liverpool" 