November 24, 1944
Liverpool have a great opportunity of building up their position for the League War Cup Competition, which opens on December 25, when they visit Southport. In the remaining matches in the League Championship No. 1 they should give the many promising junior players on their books the needed experience of League football.
The Reds have no chance of securing title honours for the first competition, for they are about halfway down the table, and as clubs are not likely to be as free with permission for guest players as in the past months, Liverpool must concentrate on having plenty of their own players at hand for the Qualifying Competition. Players like Harold Thompson, Kenny Swift, Williams, Les Shannon, are potential stars of the future whom Liverpool may be forced to include as their list of guests diminishes. So why not “blood” those players in the remaining four League games?
I put this suggestion to manager Mr. George Kay when he mentioned the team problems with which he has been faced during the week and which prevented his forecasting a team for tomorrow’s match against Bury at Anfield. I said “Play your young players,” and I hope the directors respond. Of course, this play your own lads idea applies with equal force to alle clubs, but Liverpool’s position is uppermost in my mind at the moment. Keen youngsters with the natural skill operating alongside players of experience would produce for the Reds a team well-equipped to go forward in search of cup honours.
Liverpool should improve their league position tomorrow when Bury come seeking a “double” at the expense of the Reds. Bury are quite an improved side, as witness their two goals win last week.
Apart from one sensational win the cup competition in 1943m Bury have secured little tangible out of their war-time visits to Anfield, and while they have shown excellent form in the last few weeks they should go away empty tomorrow. Bury are playing fast, go-ahead football at the moment, with Gorman quite a success at wing-half and Arsenal’s Drury an inspiration of an attack still featuring Davies, the Earlestown lad.
The Liverpool team will not be chosen until just before the kick-off, but it is probable that Shannon, the reserve centre-forward and leading scorer in the County Combination will lead the attack.
Liverpool (from): Alf Hobson, Kenneth Seddon, Sam Thorpe, Jeff Gulliver, Jimmy McInnes, Laurie Hughes, Jack Pilling, Berry Nieuwenhuys, Phil Taylor, Les Shannon, Horace Cumner, Harry Kaye, Bill Kinghon, Jack Campbell.
Bury (from): George Bradshaw, Ken Holland, George Griffiths, Les Hart, Blunt, Bill Griffiths, Bill Gorman, Harry Potts, Norman Berry, McFeat, George Davies, George Drury, Bert Worsley.
(Evening Express, 24-11-1944)
"Play Up, Liverpool" 