It’s no straightforward feat to go practically a full skilled profession with out ever being proven a card of any color from the referee, however Liverpool’s file look holder practically did simply that.
Now, disciplinary motion within the type of both a yellow or crimson card was solely launched in England in 1976 after they made their debut within the 1970 World Cup.
Beforehand, referees would dish out verbal warnings to gamers and managers, and a participant may very well be despatched off solely by being advised – as you possibly can think about, gamers have been fast to lose their listening to.
The introduction of the yellow and card system modified the sport and now we will barely watch a match with no flurry of warnings and sendings off.
However that was not one thing Ian Callaghan needed to readily concern himself with having been proven only one yellow card all through his Liverpool profession, which spanned 873 video games over 18 years.
And whereas his time at Anfield could have largely proceeded the introduction of bookings, he was by no means despatched off and he was solely ever proven one yellow card, towards Nottingham Forest in 1978.
The League Cup remaining replay, after a 0-0 draw the primary time round, was the exception to an in any other case unblemished file for Callaghan.
Referee Pat Partridge was liable for exhibiting the warning throughout the 1-0 defeat to Forest after Callaghan’s problem on Peter Withe.
Reflecting on the incident with The Liverpool Method, Callaghan mentioned: “I bear in mind it nicely. It was the replay within the league cup towards Nottingham Forest.
“We’d drawn at Wembley and the replay was at Outdated Trafford. Pat Partridge was the referee, and he’d give a penalty towards Phil Thompson, which was an terrible choice.
“He tackled the man a couple of yard exterior the realm. The man fell inside the realm and he gave them a penalty, which upset us.
“Then I simply went for a ball with Peter Withe, a Scouser. Anyway, the 2 of us went for a ball and he was a tall lad and I caught him within the chest. I believe everybody was stunned when he took my title.
“It was unlucky, and it’s been a speaking level ever since. I believe on the time Liverpool tried to get it scratched off, nevertheless it wasn’t.”
It stays on file and subsequently Callaghan is since famously remembered for receiving just one reserving all through his profession, however, in fact, his legacy extends nicely past his disciplinary file.
An expert and a gentleman, the Scouser is the membership’s all-time file look maker with 857 video games and lifted 13 items of silverware throughout his storied 18-year spell at his boyhood membership.
