Liam Beckett
Encyclopedia
Liam Beckett is a football
manager and ex-footballer. During his football career he played most notably for Coleraine
and Crusaders
.
, where he completely transformed a team who were languishing at the foot of the Irish League Second Division to promotion to the First Division. His next mission assigned to him was saving Moyola Park F.C.
from being relegated to the Second Division with just 8 games remaining; Liam achieved this on the final day of the season.
Recognition of his success in management echoed to the heights of Irish Premier League side Cliftonville FC who appointed him as manager in June 2004. Again, he was dealt a team who were faltering near the bottom of the league and lacking in confidence, however, he rebuilt a very strong side that progressed to a mid-table position in his first year. He left in July 2005 after a fall-out with his goalkeeper Paul Straney
citing lack of boardroom support, particularly on his attempts to sign Robert Robinson to contest the goalkeeping position.
Finally, he moved on to Institute F.C.
on 22 November 2005, after the resignation of Pascal Vaudequin
, with the side sitting in 14th place in the 16-team Carnegie Irish Premier League
table. The team finished the season in 15th place. In the 2006-07 season, Beckett led the Londonderry outfit to the First Division title and promotion back into the Premier League at the first attempt. In April 2007, he was rewarded with a new 2-year contract.
Following a 3-2 home loss to Glenavon F.C.
, Beckett was involved in an altercation with a female supporter. According to the official club website, Mr Beckett was fined and warned about his future conduct. He said it was an unfortunate experience which he wanted to put behind him. Beckett resigned from Institute in March 2008 by mutual consent.
He currently holds an UEFA 'B' licence coaching qualification and is undergoing part B of the UEFA 'A' licence qualification which should be completed by the summer 2010.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
manager and ex-footballer. During his football career he played most notably for Coleraine
Coleraine F.C.
Coleraine F.C. is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club, playing in the IFA Premiership. The club, founded in 1927, hails from Coleraine, County Londonderry and plays its home matches at the Showgrounds. Club colours are blue and white...
and Crusaders
Crusaders F.C.
Crusaders Football Club is a semi-professional, Northern Irish association football club, playing in the IFA Premiership. The club, founded in 1898, hails from Belfast and plays its home matches at Seaview. Club colours are red and black. The current manager is Stephen Baxter, appointed in 2005...
.
Managerial career
He then embraced his managerial career with Ballymoney United F.C.Ballymoney United F.C.
Ballymoney United is an intermediate, Northern Irish football club playing in IFA Championship 2. The club, founded in 1944, hails from Ballymoney, County Antrim and currently plays its home matches at the Riada Stadium in Ballymoney, which is shared with Glebe Rangers. Club colours are all blue...
, where he completely transformed a team who were languishing at the foot of the Irish League Second Division to promotion to the First Division. His next mission assigned to him was saving Moyola Park F.C.
Moyola Park F.C.
Moyola Park Association Football Club is an intermediate, Northern Irish football club playing in IFA Championship 2. The club, founded in 1880, hails from Castledawson, near Magherafelt, County Londonderry, and plays its home matches at the Mill Meadow, which has an artificial "3G" surface...
from being relegated to the Second Division with just 8 games remaining; Liam achieved this on the final day of the season.
Recognition of his success in management echoed to the heights of Irish Premier League side Cliftonville FC who appointed him as manager in June 2004. Again, he was dealt a team who were faltering near the bottom of the league and lacking in confidence, however, he rebuilt a very strong side that progressed to a mid-table position in his first year. He left in July 2005 after a fall-out with his goalkeeper Paul Straney
Paul Straney
Paul Straney is a goalkeeper with Irish League side Cliftonville F.C.. He joined the Reds in June 2001, making his debut in the Intertoto Cup clash with Moldovan side Tiligul Tiraspol....
citing lack of boardroom support, particularly on his attempts to sign Robert Robinson to contest the goalkeeping position.
Finally, he moved on to Institute F.C.
Institute F.C.
Institute F.C. is a Northern Irish intermediate football club who play in IFA Championship 1.The club, founded in 1905, are based in the Drumahoe area of Derry and play their home matches at the Riverside Stadium in the YMCA Grounds...
on 22 November 2005, after the resignation of Pascal Vaudequin
Pascal Vaudequin
Pascal Vaudequin is a former French footballer who spent the most part of his career playing in the League of Ireland after meeting his wife there and subsequently, he fell in love with her and the north-western region...
, with the side sitting in 14th place in the 16-team Carnegie Irish Premier League
Irish Premier League
The IFA Premiership – formerly the Irish Premier League, and before that the Irish Football League–and still known in popular parlance simply as the Irish League, is the national football league in Northern Ireland, and was historically the league for the whole of Ireland. Clubs in the league are...
table. The team finished the season in 15th place. In the 2006-07 season, Beckett led the Londonderry outfit to the First Division title and promotion back into the Premier League at the first attempt. In April 2007, he was rewarded with a new 2-year contract.
Following a 3-2 home loss to Glenavon F.C.
Glenavon F.C.
Glenavon F.C. is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club playing in the IFA Premiership. The club, founded in 1889, hails from Lurgan and plays its home matches at Mourneview Park...
, Beckett was involved in an altercation with a female supporter. According to the official club website, Mr Beckett was fined and warned about his future conduct. He said it was an unfortunate experience which he wanted to put behind him. Beckett resigned from Institute in March 2008 by mutual consent.
He currently holds an UEFA 'B' licence coaching qualification and is undergoing part B of the UEFA 'A' licence qualification which should be completed by the summer 2010.