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Red of the Day - Terry McDermott

written by Chris Wood

 

Kirkby-born Terry McDermott supported Liverpool as a boy but his first professional club was Bury, from where he moved to Newcastle United in February 1973. He played in 56 League matches for the Magpies and was one of two of their players (the other being Alan Kennedy) who played against Liverpool in the 1974 F.A. cup final and who later moved to Anfield.

 

Terry returned to his native Merseyside in November 1974 when he was a few days short of his 23rd birthday as one of new manager Bob Paisley's earliest signings.

 

Although Terry played in six successive First Division games soon after his arrival, it was a frustrating time for him to be in and out of the team as he settled in at his new club. In 1975-76 he was selected for the opening 7 League games but after that was only called on twice more that year, both times as a substitute.

 

It began to look as if a change of club would be the only way to resurrect his career but thankfully he stayed patient and his reward finally came in the memorable 1976-77 season when he was finally accepted not just as a good squad-player but an important member of the side itself. He made 26 First Division appearances that year and picked up the first of 4 championship medals. He only scored once in the League but the goals would come as he became known not just as a creative midfield player whose passing was so accurate but also as a 'runner' from deep who would often end up in or around the opposition penalty-box to finish what he or someone else had started. 

 

The disappointment of again finishing on the losing side in an F.A. cup final was soon forgotten as a typical run into space to collect Steve Heighway's pass saw him fire the Reds ahead in the 1977 European cup final. Terry would add two more winners' medals to his collection in the world's most prestigious knock-out competition and many other team and individual honours would follow, including being named "Footballer

of the Year" by the Sportswriters in 1980.

 

In four seasons when he was at his peak, he contributed nearly 50 League goals as well as many more vital strikes in cup competitions. He became a regular member of the England squad and was capped over 20 times. Even in 1981-82 as he passed his 30th birthday and when his position in the side was being seriously challenged by younger men, he recorded his highest total of League goals in a single season for Liverpool (14) from only 29 appearances. 

 

His long-range shooting became a feature of his game to add to his vision and tactical awareness and his chip in the F.A. cup semi-final with Everton in 1977 was voted 'Goal of the Season' by the BBC. Another awesome strike dumped Spurs out of the F.A. cup in 1980 but perhaps his most memorable goal had came against the same opposition at Anfield two years earlier when a sweeping move from one end of the pitch to the other saw him race 70 yards to powerfully head Steve Heighway's cross past Barry Daines, the final blow of Tottenham's 7-0 humiliation on that late-Summer's day.

 

He also scored a stunning hat-trick in only 16 minutes when Kevin Keegan returned with Hamburg for the second leg of the Super Cup in 1977 and another European hat-trick when the Finns from Oulu were trounced 10-1 in the Champions' cup of 1980-81. 

 

By the start of the 1982-83 season, it was clear that Terry would finally have to look elsewhere for first-team football and after a farewell substitute appearance against Southampton at Anfield on 25th September 1982, he returned to St. James' Park. After two short spells in Ireland and Cyprus, he signed for Newcastle for a third time and linked up again with Kevin Keegan, who had returned to England after an 8-year 'exile' in Spain to take up the demanding role of manager with the North-East club.

 

Patience was the key to Terry's eventual success as a player. He wanted to play so badly for the club he had grown up supporting and when he finally left Liverpool after over 300 games and nearly 80 goals, he had probably surpassed his wildest dreams by achieving as much as he did during the 8 years he was at Anfield.

 

Date of Birth: 08/12/51

Postition: Midfield 

Games: 329

Goals: 81

ClubHons: League Championship 1976/77, 78/79,79/80, European Cup 1977, 1978, 1981, League Cup 1980/81, 81/82

Int Hons: 25England caps

Other Clubs: Bury,Newcastle Utd (twice), Apoel, Cork City

mcdermott_terry_profile.jpg
Terry McDERMOTT 1975-82

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Great great player and scored some of the greatest red goals...

Goal of the season against Spurs in the F.A.Cup

The classic length of the pitch header against Spurs again ...

And my favourite against Fergie's Aberdeen at Pittodrie in the European Cup....a chip from an impossible angle...

Left the chip out against the bitters as it was only David Lawson and he was stood on the penalty spot.

Can't put any of them up sorry.

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Three reds there, all legends in my eyes, one with Parkinson’s, one with dementia and another who recently passed away with cancer.
It’s horrible seeing your heroes suffer, losing Bowie, Lemmy and Ray Clemence really affected me, loved those fellas for all my life.9DCF0BAD-E263-4579-ADDF-6CDAF400E8F1.jpeg

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Just seen the report on the BBC website, gutted, fucking dementia is an evil bastard!

 

My ma has got what was diagnosed as mild cognitive impairment but me, my sister, my dad, my wife, my brother in law all know she's getting worse - we know she's got dementia! She was complaining of feeling cold the other day when I was round there, and she went to switch her curling tongs to make herself warmer, scared the fuck out of me. It's fucking horrible, you see them just disappearing in front of you!

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4 minutes ago, Creator Supreme said:

Just seen the report on the BBC website, gutted, fucking dementia is an evil bastard!

 

My ma has got what was diagnosed as mild cognitive impairment but me, my sister, my dad, my wife, my brother in law all know she's getting worse - we know she's got dementia! She was complaining of feeling cold the other day when I was round there, and she went to switch her curling tongs to make herself warmer, scared the fuck out of me. It's fucking horrible, you see them just disappearing in front of you!

My mother lived near my sister in Didsbury and about year 2007 we had noticed things slipping (sorry Im not trying to put the frighteners on here) , anyhow she went missing 1 day, for about 24 hours, I drove all round South Manchester looking for her having notified the police, and then about 2am she pitched up at my sisters, with an empty handbag and obviously having had a slap. I drove back from Chester having just got home and we took her to Wythenshawe Hospital. The doc examined her and asked her a few questions ( name, age etc etc). She was looking at him as if to say "what are you asking me these stupid fucking questions for?". Then he said "what year is it?" My Mum said ( as confidently as you like ) "1987". "Whos that?" ( Doc pointing at me") " My son, hes 30" ( I love you Ma I was 48) and that "My daughter, shes 32"....he sort of went "Ok" and we suggested we look at help, we couldnt do it alone, and we got a formal diagnosis. Shes gone now, been gone 4 years, and this happened probably 10 years before that. But we got help and as it turned out she was good for her remaining years. It was like she had built a virtual reality, it was Waterloo in 1972 not Didsbury in 2008, we asked closed questions of her, we never asked her to think stuff through, it confused and worried her, just questions with a yes or no answer, and she was happy enough. Havent meant to bother you CS and apologies if I have, but get a further assessment if you can.

 

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21 minutes ago, redinblack said:

My mother lived near my sister in Didsbury and about year 2007 we had noticed things slipping (sorry Im not trying to put the frighteners on here) , anyhow she went missing 1 day, for about 24 hours, I drove all round South Manchester looking for her having notified the police, and then about 2am she pitched up at my sisters, with an empty handbag and obviously having had a slap. I drove back from Chester having just got home and we took her to Wythenshawe Hospital. The doc examined her and asked her a few questions ( name, age etc etc). She was looking at him as if to say "what are you asking me these stupid fucking questions for?". Then he said "what year is it?" My Mum said ( as confidently as you like ) "1987". "Whos that?" ( Doc pointing at me") " My son, hes 30" ( I love you Ma I was 48) and that "My daughter, shes 32"....he sort of went "Ok" and we suggested we look at help, we couldnt do it alone, and we got a formal diagnosis. Shes gone now, been gone 4 years, and this happened probably 10 years before that. But we got help and as it turned out she was good for her remaining years. It was like she had built a virtual reality, it was Waterloo in 1972 not Didsbury in 2008, we asked closed questions of her, we never asked her to think stuff through, it confused and worried her, just questions with a yes or no answer, and she was happy enough. Havent meant to bother you CS and apologies if I have, but get a further assessment if you can.

 

No bother mate, sorry you had to go through that. We're trying to get a further assessment sorted, but the GP is not worth a light at the mo. Doesn't help that my dad is 11 years older than her and not in the best health himself, so it's tough for him to help her. My sister is great and I get round at least 3 times a week. She still knows how to get to my aunties house and back so she's still got some independence. Sometimes she's fine, almost like her old self, other times she's a right cow (especially to my poor arl fella) and you could bloody swing for her!

 

Life is fragile, and fucking scary.

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Really sad news one of my favourite players as a kid, did he ever score a tap in ?

Case, McDermott Souness, and Kennedy, is not only our greatest ever midfield but arguably the best this country has ever seen 


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I love Terry McDermott. Definitely one of my favourite ever players. Any number of wonderful moments and goals to remember. The one at Aberdeen and finishing off ‘that move’ against Spurs at Anfield. 
 

My own favourite moment came when he was a Newcastle player. My dad was a Geordie and passionate Newcastle fan so regularly took me to St. James Park when I was younger. I can’t remember who they were playing but I was right at the front, near the corner flag. At one point the ball rolled out of play and towards me. Terry Mac jogged over and looked directly at me, indicating that I should throw him the ball, which of course I did. He nodded his thanks and got on with the game.

 

I’m pretty sure he had more memorable encounters in his footballing life, but I’ve never forgotten it.

 

Good luck with the battle ahead Terry. We are with you. 

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