Moran pays A'Court tribute

Anfield legend Ronnie Moran today paid tribute to Alan A'Court after the former Liverpool winger passed away on Monday following illness.

A'Court enjoyed an 11-year spell at Anfield after joining the club in 1952, making 381 appearances for the Reds and scoring 63 goals.

Moran admits the news has come as a shock and described the special relationship the duo shared during their time in the Liverpool first-team.

"Myself and Alan started out together and when we were in the first team, we used to room together on away trips and there were always laughs and jokes," he said.

"I played left-back and he was just in front of me and I always said that when he went to the World Cup in 1958 with England that they had got us confused!

"But it's such sad news; our families used to go on holiday together and he was great man, who will be sadly missed by all.

"I had heard at the former players' Christmas party that he had not been well, as both Tommy Lawrence and Roger Hunt had told me but it is still such a shock."

A'Court, born in Rainhill on September 30, 1934, is the youngest Liverpool player to make 200 league appearances for the club. He reached the milestone aged just 24 years and 89 days.

Another ex-Red, Tommy Smith, added: "I never played alongside Alan in the league for Liverpool, although I did play once with him in a game in America.

"Alan was a lovely, lovely fella. He was a member of the Former Players' Association and it was a real shock to hear of his death."