Former Bill Shankly favourite Peter Thompson dies aged 76

Peter Thompson, former Liverpool winger and a favourite of Bill Shankly, has died aged 76.

Thompson was a star for the Reds in the 1960s, signed by Bill Shankly in 1963 for £40,000 from Preston North End, after impressing against Liverpool 12 months earlier.

Shankly deemed Thompson the ‘missing piece’ of his side, and the left-winger spent much of his career at Anfield supplying goals for Roger Hunt and Ian St John.

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During his ten years with Liverpool, Thompson made 416 appearances, scoring 54 goals. He was decribed by Bob Paisley as being ‘genuinely two footed… one of the most talented players to turn out for the club’.

Shankly said of him: “If Peter Thompson would not have taken up football he could have competed in the Olympic games — that’s how good an athlete he was.

“He could run forever, but more importantly in football he could run with the ball — probably the hardest thing to do. He could run every minute of every game, every week, every year better than anybody else. His work rate was outstanding, his fitness unequalled, his balance like a ballet dancer.”

Perhaps the most incredible compliment Shankly gave Thompson, though, was comparing him with those at the pinnicle of the game at the time.

He said: “I have no hesitation in placing Peter up among the all-time greats — alongside such players as Tom Finney, Stanley Matthews and George Best.”

Liverpool Football Club said they were ‘deeply saddened’ to learn of the passing of a former star, who won two league titles and the club’s maiden FA Cup during his time on Merseyside.

The post Former Bill Shankly favourite Peter Thompson dies aged 76 appeared first on AnfieldHQ.

Source: anfieldhq.com