No. 82 – Roger Hunts Testimonial

No. 82 – Roger Hunts Testimonial

On the 11th of April, 1972, the Kop bid a fond farewell to an Anfield hero, ‘œSir Roger’ Hunt. Hunt made his debut for Liverpool in September 1959 and soon developed an incisive attacking partnership with Ian St John. The Kop will never forget his single season total of 41 goals in 41 league matches, including 5 hat-tricks during the 1961-62 Second Division promotion campaign. Hunt was Liverpool’s top goalscorer 8 years in a row from 1962-1969 and after winning two League titles and an FA Cup winners medal Hunt moved on to Bolton.

Hunt scored a total of 286 goals in 492 first team games for the Reds, an outstanding achievement. Hunt was a given an emotional send off in April 1972 when a full capacity crowd of 55,214 came to Anfield. Hunt had spent 11 years at the club but returned to a heros welcome for his testimonial.

Torrential rain hit Anfield that night but it didn’t keep the crowd away as the gates were locked half an hour before kick off with reports of thousands of fans still outside who had been hoping to bid a fond farewell to Hunt. At the time it was the highest ever recorded crowd to attend a testimonial match in England.

The Liverpool team consisted of every player from the winning 1965 FA Cup Final side -Lawrence, Lawler, Byrne, Yeats, Smith, Stevenson, Strong, Peter Thompson, Callaghan, St John, Hunt. The opposition were an International XI, most of whom from Englands 1966 World Cup winning team.

It became a special night at Anfield, 14 goals were scored on the night with Hunt hitting a hat-trick.

Liverpools Team : Lawrence, Lawler, Byrne, Yeats, Smith, Stevenson, Strong, Peter Thompson, Callaghan, St John, Hunt

Liverpools Goals : Roger Hunt (3), Tommy Lawrence (pen), Tommy Smith, Ian St John, Peter Thompson, Martin Peters (own goal)