Speakman Sam Image 1 Liverpool 1913

Description

Huyton, Lancashire born full back Sam Speakman played junior football for Prescot Athletic before joining Lancashire Combination club Colne in 1909. He was signed by First Division Liverpool from Colne in September 1912, making his Football League debut at Everton in September 1913. made 14 League appearances at full back in the 1913-14 season which saw the club finish in 16th place, just above the relegation zone. Although The Reds did also reach their first FA Cup Final that year, Speakman deputised for right back Ephraim Longworth in the last game before the Final but made way as Longworth was ready for action on the biggest occasion in the club’s history.

Despite the outbreak of the First World War, the 1914-15 League season was completed but Speakman was only selected seven times during that campaign. He did continue to represent Liverpool in the regional leagues that replaced the national ones for the next four years, making 25 wartime appearances, and was still at Anfield when the Football League resumed at the end of August 1919, playing the first four matches of the late summer in August and September 1919 before moving to non league South Liverpool in 1920 after 26 appearances for The Reds.

Speakman was the olderer brother of outside left James Speakman, who was also on Liverpool’s books from 1909 to 1913, making 8 appearances for The Reds.