Important to realise that contracts were far less restrictive

and the entire system of youth recruitment was much, much less organised (e.g. Kalam Mooniaruck)

So a young teenager could go out on trial to pretty much any club, right up until 16 or 17.

Example: A 15 year-old Kevin Beattie had a successful trial for Liverpool and made a second trip south (from his Carlisle home) to discuss terms.

Finding there was no-one at Lime St station to meet Beattie on his arrival he returned back home.

Two years later he signed for Ipswich.

Posted By: Henclrikus, Jun 20, 12:04:20