Liam Beckett
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | William Alexander Beckett[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 17 July 1951 | ||
| Place of birth | Ballymoney, Northern Ireland | ||
| Position(s) | Full back | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1971–1973 | Crusaders | ||
| 1973–1975 | Drogheda United | ||
| 1975–1979 | Coleraine | ||
| 1979 | Crusaders | ||
| 1979–1981 | Coleraine | ||
| Managerial career | |||
| 2000–2004 | Ballymoney United | ||
| 2004–2005 | Cliftonville | ||
| 2005–2008 | Institute | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Liam Beckett MBE (born 17 July 1951) is a Northern Irish former football manager and player, who now works as a pundit and radio broadcaster.[2]
Playing career
[edit]Starting his career after a five-year plumbing apprenticeship, Beckett won an Irish League title and Carlsberg Cup with Crusaders, before transferring to Drogheda United in December 1973. In 1975 he moved to Coleraine, before re-joining Crusaders in October 1979. However, he only remained at the club for nine days, returning to Coleraine after buying licensed premises in his hometown of Ballymoney.[3] His playing career ended with Coleraine in 1981.
Managerial career
[edit]Beckett coached at Carrick Rangers in the early 1990s, before managing hometown club Ballymoney United. He later managed Cliftonville and Institute.[4]
Broadcasting career
[edit]Since leaving management behind, Beckett has frequently worked as a sports broadcaster on BBC Radio Ulster for Northern Irish football and motorcycle racing, particularly road racing. However, since July 2018, he has focused solely on football due to a spate of accidents in road racing, particularly the death of William Dunlop, given his closeness to the Dunlop racing family. Beckett had also worked as a mechanic and served as mentor for William's father Robert Dunlop.[5]
Honours
[edit]In December 2017, Beckett was awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours list for his service to the Northern Irish voluntary sector and sport.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ "New Year's Honours list 2018". UK Cabinet Office. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
- ^ "Under the Spotlight: Liam Beckett". Ballymoney and Moyle Times. JPI Media. 28 July 2008. Archived from the original on 28 September 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
- ^ "No deal". Belfast Telegraph. 5 November 1979. p. 20.
- ^ "Beckett quits as Solitude manager". BBC Sport. 22 July 2005.
- ^ "Liam Beckett: I'm putting brakes on racing after death of William Dunlop". Sunday Life. 23 July 2018. Retrieved 22 September 2019 – via Belfast Telegraph.
- ^ "New Year Honours 2018: Beckett and Moss awarded MBEs". BBC Sport. 29 December 2017.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
- Living people
- 1951 births
- Crusaders F.C. players
- Coleraine F.C. players
- Drogheda United F.C. players
- Institute F.C. managers
- Moyola Park F.C. managers
- Ballymoney United F.C. managers
- Cliftonville F.C. managers
- NIFL Premiership players
- League of Ireland players
- Members of the Order of the British Empire
- Men's association football fullbacks
- Association footballers from County Antrim
- Men's association footballers from Northern Ireland
- Association football managers from Northern Ireland
- Sportspeople from Ballymoney