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Liverpool had been champions just one season before but the style of play in n England at the time involved d a slow build-up as the ball was passed between players s, then it went out to the wings who tried to outfox the opposing full back and cross the ball, hopefully finding the centre forward to finish. Not much else was involved.

“The South Africans played a much more direct and central game, one sprinkled with the ‘back-heel touch’ and rapid passing,” explained Williams.

They sped up the game as they “accepted passes first time without trapping or deadening the ball, as was the traditional British way”.

The Liverpool Echo were even more effusive in their praise. “We must learn our lesson afresh. They shall be our teachers,” it said of the

tourists.

After the game, Liverpool wasted no time in trying to ign players – 21-year-old oalkeeper Arthur Riley, eentre back George Brunton nnd Hodgson, who got a aat-trick in front of the Kop. They were physically ough, mature, fit … and heap.

Brunton eventually eccided not to go but oodgson and Riley did not osst Liverpool a penny – only 0 ppounds in travelling and ottel expenses.

The Liverpool minute oooks show that in April 1926, oddgson was allowed to go omme to South Africa and that e wwas ‘very doubtful’ of ever eturrning because of family robblems.

But he did come back and continued to bang in the goals, going onto set a new league record when he netted 36 times in the 1930-31 season. He was also picked to play for England, winning three caps. In those days it didn’t matter that he had already also played for

Gordon Hodgson

South Africa and he is one of football’s rare double internationals.

Riley was originally signed as cover for Liverpool’s long standing goalkeeper Elisha Scott but then when the Irishman was injured, Riley took his chance and went onto play 338 games for the club. That, almost a century later, has him 52nd on the list of all-time Liverpool appearances.

Added Williams in his club history: “Liverpool were qualifying for some kind of record with at least six South Africans on the club’s books by the start of the 1933-34 season and sometimes only two Englishmen.”

The South African recruits also include Lance Carr, a flying left wing, Herman van der Berg, who played outside-left, defender Jimmy Gray, midfielder Charlie Thompson and another goalkeeper, Dirk Kemp.

Van der Berg was also a rugby player for Western Province and like the others effectively had their careers ended by the start of World War II.