2 weeks ago
Geoff Twentyman was recruited by Liverpool head Bill Shankly successful 1967 to find up-and-coming shot talent. Over a play spanning 2 decades, nan revered scout helped build Liverpool’s astir successful teams of nan seventies and eighties.
Twentyman’s son, Geoff Jr, said to nan Sporting Witness podcast astir his precocious father, whom he described arsenic “fundamental” to nan “resurgence” Shankly created astatine Anfield.
Between 1967 and 1986, Twentyman was responsible for discovering a drawstring of Liverpool legends, including Ian Rush, Phil Neal, Kevin Keegan and Alan Hansen. During that time, nan nine won 9 convention titles, 4 European Cups, 2 Uefa Cups, 1 Uefa Super Cup, 2 FA Cups and 4 League Cup trophies.
Twentyman had been a defender successful Shankly’s Carlisle broadside during nan 1950s and went into guidance for a play aft retiring from his playing career. However, his boy says that nan erstwhile footballer was moving successful a occupation that progressive collecting eggs from farms erstwhile he received a telephone from his aged leader successful 1967.
Geoff Jr was 8 years aged astatine nan clip and says his begetter had small consciousness of nan “magnitude of nan opportunity,” astir to shake hands him arsenic he group disconnected connected a 240-mile information travel from Carlisle to Liverpool to meet pinch Shankly.
“Shankly liked group he knew,” says Geoff Jr, adding, “he liked group who he could trust.”
Under Shankly, Liverpool had been lifted from nan 2nd section and won nan convention title successful 1964 and successful 1966. The Reds besides won their first FA Cup successful 1965 pinch players including Ron Yeats and Ian St John.
However, arsenic Geoff Jr explains, nan broadside had “started to get old” and nan Liverpool leader realised he needed a “production line” of caller players. This was nan occupation that Twentyman was tasked pinch erstwhile he became Shankly’s caller caput scout.
After joining nan club, nan Carlisle man became a regular successful nan now celebrated ‘Boot Room’, wherever Shankly would meet pinch his lieutenants – including early managers Bob Paisley, Ronnie Moran and Joe Fagan – to talk strategies and direction.
As a scout, Twentyman, “prided himself connected uncovering players from nan little leagues”, according to his son.
In 1971, nan Cumbrian spotted 20-year-old Kevin Keegan playing for Fourth Division Scunthorpe, and Liverpool signed him for £35,000. Forward Keegan went connected to triumph 2 Ballon d’Or awards.
Twentyman's knowledge of nan Fourth Division besides alerted nan nine to Northampton Town full-back Phil Neal, brought to Anfield successful 1974 for a interest of £66,000. Neal was Paisley’s first managerial signing and went connected to go Liverpool’s astir dressed up player, winning 23 trophies successful 11 years astatine nan club.
In 1980, Liverpool paid £300,000 to prise 19-year-old striker Ian Rush distant from Third Division nine Chester. That interest was a British grounds for a teen astatine nan time.
Remarkably, Geoff Jr claims Paisley had ne'er really seen Rush play erstwhile he signed him, but was convinced by Twentyman’s recommendation. The Welsh guardant is still Liverpool’s each clip grounds goalscorer, pinch a tally of 346.
Twentyman besides recruited Alan Hansen from Scottish top-flight broadside Partick Thistle successful 1977 for £100,000. Hansen went connected to go a nine skipper and won a full of 8 convention titles, 3 European Cups, 2 FA Cups and 4 League Cups pinch nan Reds.
Geoff Jr remembers his begetter speaking astir Hansen aft a travel to Scotland. He says that Twentyman could not determine which position champion suited nan player, having seen him successful some cardinal defence and midfield.
At Liverpool, Hansen became, “one of nan first centre backs,” says Geoff Jr, who, “could travel guardant pinch nan shot and spell past nan opposing strikers.”
Twentyman near Liverpool to activity for Rangers successful 1986 and died successful Southport successful 2004 aged 74. In March this year, a plaque celebrating him on pinch nan remainder of nan ‘Boot Room boys’ was unveiled extracurricular Anfield.
