Profile

As a youth Ned Doig played for junior side St Helena in Arbroath as an outside right, but during his time at Liverpool he was a goalkeeper.

Recruited by Arbroath he played as a goalkeeper for about two seasons in the reserve side and played his first official game for the Maroons February 6, 1886, when 19 years and three months old.

In November 1889, Doig was lured south to play for Blackburn Rovers. However, he had a disagreement with the club after one game and returned home. As he had taken part in a professional game, Doig was no longer selected to play for Arbroath.

Sunderland were elected to the Football league in 1890 and, after losing their first two games, Doig was recruited to replace their amateur goalkeeper.

Unfortunately his first game was marred by the fact the Football League deemed him ineligible as he had not been registered with the club for seven days and Sunderland became the first club to be fined and have points deducted for this offence.

Wth Doig as an ever present in goal, Sunderland - in their second league season - won the title in 1892 and also in 1893. By this time they were titled the 'Team of all the Talents'. Further championships were won in 1895 and 1902.

Doig completed 14 years service with Sunderland, at that time a record. He played in 417 league games missing only 13 (some of which were due to international duties), 35 FA Cup games and a further 216 representative and friendly games.

Liverpool were relegated to the English Second Division in 1904. Doig was signed for a fee of £150, and on his first game became the oldest player to make a debut for the club.

The Reds promptly won the Second Division Championship in his first season, Doig being an ever present conceding only 25 goals in 34 games.

In 1905–06 Doig lost his place to future England international Sam Hardy after only eight games, when he was said to be suffering from rheumatism. He would only play nine more First Division games in the next 2 seasons.

Released by Liverpool in the summer of 1908, his last game on 11th April 1908 at the age of 41 years, 165 days is still a record for the club.

Two further seasons followed, playing for St Helens Recreationals in the Lancashire League, clocking up a further 85 games, before finally retiring in the summer of 1910.

In a career spanning 25 seasons, Ned Doig played in at least 1055 games of football, which included six full Scottish 'caps'. He died on November 7, 1919, from Spanish flu at the age of 53.

Other clubs:
St Helena (amateur), Arbroath, Blackburn Rovers, Arbroath (2), Sunderland, St Helens Recreationals (amateur)