I learnt so much from legend Lawrence says

RAY CLEMENCE has led the tributes to Liverpool legend Tommy Lawrence – a pioneer of the game as a sweeper keeper in England before they became in vogue.

Lawrence, who died yesterday at the age of 77, won three major trophies at Anfield during the Sixties, when he became known as ‘The Flying Pig’ and kept Clemence, arguably the Reds’ greatest goalkeeper, out of the team for two and a half years. Clemence, above, tweeted: “Sad to hear of the passing of LFC legend Tommy Lawrence. A gentleman who I had the privilege of training with. I learnt so much about being a sweeper keeper from him. My thoughts are with his family. RIP Tommy.” A Scotland international, Lawrence was born in Dailly, Ayrshire. He graduated from being a Liverpool trainee to become a trusted lieutenant of Bill Shankly’s for eight years, having made his debut in 1962. His athleticism despite his stocky frame earned him the ‘The Flying Pig’ moniker and his ability to rush out and clear up behind the Liverpool defence led one-time England manager Joe Mercer to claim he was the first sweeper keeper.

In an interview with the club, Lawrence said: “Shankly said, ‘You know the way you’ve been playing in five-a-side, tackling and clearing it all the time, doing all the running for us at the back. We’re going to try something this week’. I had to play outside the 18-yard box and as soon as the game started all I could hear was 30,000 Kopites, ‘Lawrence! Get back in your goal!’. In the end, we conceded less goals than anybody.”

His successor Clemence was signed from Scunthorpe in 1967 despite reservations he would not play because of Lawrence’s form. Shankly told him Lawrence would not hold the spot for much longer. But he did, for a further two and a half years.

During his time at Anfield, Lawrence rarely sat out a game, missing only four league matches in the six seasons between 1963 and 1969, including three ever-present campaigns.

He played in every game when Liverpool won the title in 1965-66, reclaiming the trophy he had also helped them secure two years earlier. And in the season between those successes he was part of the club’s first FA Cup triumph as they beat Leeds 2-1 in the final.

In early 1970, Clemence came into the team and the following year Lawrence joined Tranmere, where he made 80 league