Roy Saunders
Encyclopedia
Roy Saunders was a professional footballer who played for Liverpool
and Swansea Town
. He was the father of footballer Dean Saunders
.
, England
, Saunders began his career as an amateur with Hull City
before moving to Liverpool
when manager George Kay
signed him in May 1948. His debut, which did not come for almost five years, was against Gateshead
in the third round of the FA Cup
on 10 January 1953. The match was one to forget, as Liverpool were humbled 1–0 in one of the biggest upsets in the team's history.
Saunders's only goal came on 25 August 1956 in a 2–0 league win at Gigg Lane
. It was the second goal as the Reds wrapped up both the points against Bury
by the 17th minute.
Saunders struggled to get into the starting lineup, appearing 15 times in 1953 and 20 times during the following campaign. It was not until Liverpool's relegation in 1954 that Saunders became a regular, when he was selected 32 times. That was the first year of a three year run where he held on to the left-half spot in the first team. In 1956, Saunders was chosen 42 times, which ended up being his best season at Anfield
. He followed this up with 28 appearances.
Saunders lost his place again in 1957 and did not get a run in the side until a cup match against Southend United
in January 1958. He started the next four matches but again was replaced. The 1958–59
season, was even worse for Saunders, who was eventually allowed to leave just before the end of the season in March 1959. After just four outings, he joined South Wales club Swansea Town
where he played almost 100 times. Before hanging up his boots, Saunders played for Welsh amateur club Ammanford Town
.
Saunders's connection with Liverpool did not end when he left for the Swans; his son, Dean
, was also a professional footballer who played up front for the Reds during the 1990s. Dean Saunders also played for Swansea, now City, and became a Welsh international
.
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
and Swansea Town
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
. He was the father of footballer Dean Saunders
Dean Saunders
Dean Nicholas Saunders is a former Wales international footballer who played as a striker in a professional career which lasted from 1982 until 2001. He is the manager of Doncaster Rovers....
.
Life and playing career
Born in Salford, LancashireLancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Saunders began his career as an amateur with Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
before moving to Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
when manager George Kay
George Kay
George Kay was an English football player and manager of Luton Town, Southampton and Liverpool.The highlight of his playing career was when he captained West Ham United in the first FA Cup final to be played at Wembley, the so-called White Horse Final.He was manager of Liverpool for 15 years and...
signed him in May 1948. His debut, which did not come for almost five years, was against Gateshead
Gateshead F.C.
Gateshead Football Club are a professional Association football club, based in Gateshead, England. They currently play in the Conference National, the fifth level of the English football league system.Ian Bogie is the current manager....
in the third round of the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
on 10 January 1953. The match was one to forget, as Liverpool were humbled 1–0 in one of the biggest upsets in the team's history.
Saunders's only goal came on 25 August 1956 in a 2–0 league win at Gigg Lane
Gigg Lane
Gigg Lane is an all-seater football stadium in Bury, Greater Manchester, England. Historically within Lancashire, it was built for Bury F.C. in 1885, and has been their home ever since.-History:...
. It was the second goal as the Reds wrapped up both the points against Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
by the 17th minute.
Saunders struggled to get into the starting lineup, appearing 15 times in 1953 and 20 times during the following campaign. It was not until Liverpool's relegation in 1954 that Saunders became a regular, when he was selected 32 times. That was the first year of a three year run where he held on to the left-half spot in the first team. In 1956, Saunders was chosen 42 times, which ended up being his best season at Anfield
Anfield
Anfield is an association football stadium in the district of Anfield, Liverpool, England, with a seating capacity of 45,522. It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 1892 and was originally the home of Everton F.C. from 1884 to 1892, before they moved to Goodison Park...
. He followed this up with 28 appearances.
Saunders lost his place again in 1957 and did not get a run in the side until a cup match against Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
in January 1958. He started the next four matches but again was replaced. The 1958–59
1958-59 in English football
The 1958–59 season was the 79th season of competitive football in England.-Diary of the season:August 1958: The Football League season begins with the new national Third and Fourth divisions that have been created from the old Third Division North and Third Division South.September 1958: Manchester...
season, was even worse for Saunders, who was eventually allowed to leave just before the end of the season in March 1959. After just four outings, he joined South Wales club Swansea Town
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
where he played almost 100 times. Before hanging up his boots, Saunders played for Welsh amateur club Ammanford Town
Ammanford A.F.C.
Ammanford A.F.C. is a football club from Ammanford, Carmarthenshire in Wales, formed by a merger of Ammanford Town and Ammanford Athletic in 1992. They are members of the Welsh Football League and currently play in the Welsh Football League Division Two...
.
Saunders's connection with Liverpool did not end when he left for the Swans; his son, Dean
Dean Saunders
Dean Nicholas Saunders is a former Wales international footballer who played as a striker in a professional career which lasted from 1982 until 2001. He is the manager of Doncaster Rovers....
, was also a professional footballer who played up front for the Reds during the 1990s. Dean Saunders also played for Swansea, now City, and became a Welsh international
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
.
Career details
- Liverpool F.C (1948 – 1959) - 146 appearances, 1 goal
- England capped at youth level
External links
- Player profile at LFChistory.net
- Roy Saunders obituary, South Wales Evening Post, 30 January 2009.