Chris Lawler
Lawler in 2007
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Christopher Lawler | ||
| Date of birth | 20 October 1943 | ||
| Place of birth | Liverpool, Lancashire, England | ||
| Playing position | Right-back | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1960–1975 | Liverpool | 406 | (41) |
| 1975–1977 | Portsmouth | 36 | (0) |
| 1976 | → Miami Toros (loan) | 21 | (1) |
| 1977–1978 | 36 | (3) | |
| 1978 | Bangor City | 20 | (1) |
| 1980 | Raufoss IL | ? | (?) |
| 1981 | IK Grand Bodø | ? | (?) |
| National team | |||
| England U-23 | 2 | (0) | |
| 1971–1972 | England | 4 | (1) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
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Chris Lawler (born 20 October 1943 in Liverpool, Lancashire, England) is a former footballer who enjoyed much of Liverpool's success of the 1960s and 1970s.
A right-sided defender, Lawler joined his local club when he turned 17 in October 1960 and made his debut at the age of 19 in a 2–2 league draw with West Bromwich Albion at Anfield on 20 March 1963. For two seasons his progression into first team regular was gradual playing just 6 matches in each of the seasons, but by 1965 he was the first choice right back, he also scored the first of his many goals, for a right-back, during this season in the 5–1 thrashing of Burnley at Turf Moor on 5 December 1964, Lawler's timing and anticipation of turning up in the right place at the right time to score vital goals earned him the nickname 'The Silent Knight'. The 1964–5 season culminated in him being selected in the team which beat Leeds United in the FA Cup final at Wembley, earning the trophy for the club for the first time in its history.
His name was pretty much first on manager Bill Shankly's team-sheet thereafter, missing just three games in the next seven seasons. During this period, he helped Liverpool win the League championship in 1966 again beating Leeds into second spot by six clear points, three wins in the old two points for a win system. This was followed by disappointment, as Liverpool were beaten 2–1 by Borussia Dortmund in the Cup Winners Cup at Hampden Park, Glasgow, in the Reds' first ever appearance in a European final
Lawler survived Shankly's massive cull of 1970 which saw many of the older 1960s stars shipped out and replaced with younger talent. Other than Lawler, only Emlyn Hughes, Ian Callaghan and Tommy Smith were retained.
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