Geoff Strong – SkyBlueArchive

Position

Midfielder

Nationality

Place Of Birth

Kirkheaton, Northumberland

Date Of Birth

September 19, 1937

Date Of Death

June 17, 2013 (75)

Games Played

Per Game

Games Started

1.0

Per Game

Minutes

3690

90.0

Per Game

Goals

Per Game

Assists

Per Game

Noel Cantwell signed the veteran defender for £30,000 from Liverpool in the summer of 1970 when it was clear that Roy Barry’s broken leg was going to keep him out for a long spell. After a nightmare debut Strong formed an excellent partnership with Jeff Blockley and as a result the Sky Blues conceded only 38 league goals, an all-time club record. Despite losing some of the speed of his youth Strong made up for the lack of pace with an excellent ability to read a game. Towards the end of the season he lost his place to the emerging Bobby Parker and he made a solitary appearance the following season before retiring in 1972.

Hailing from the North East Strong had joined the Arsenal groundstaff as a teenager and despite impressing for the reserves had to wait until the age of 22 before making his debut. A striker in his early days, he scored 77 goals in 137 games for the Gunners including 31 in the 1963-64 season playing alongside Joe Baker. In November 1964 Bill Shankly signed him for Liverpool and converted him to a defender. Months later he was in Red’s successful FA Cup final side deputising for the injured Gordon Milne as they defeated Leeds United 2-1. A League championship medal followed the following season and he was a stalwart of a fine Liverpool defence for six years making over 200 appearances and playing in virtually every position.

Geoff lived in Southport and although suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease still got to Anfield before his death in 2013 -he was voted as one of ‘100 Players Who Shook the Kop’ .

Football League First Division (England)

1971-1972

90′

1970-1971

2880′

2970′

0 (0)

FA Cup (England)

1970-1971

90′

0 (0)

League Cup (England)

1970-1971

360′

0 (0)

Inter-Cities Fairs Cup (Europe)

1970-1971

270′

0 (0)

Totals:

3690′

0 (0)