Shankly star talks about golden career

A former Liverpool and England footballer is to speak at a charity dinner after a chance meeting at a railway station.

Peter Thompson made over 400 appearances for Liverpool during Bill Shankly’s golden era in the 1960s, scoring 54 goals as a midfield player.

The 75-yearold, who now l i ves i n the Ashford area, also gained 16 caps for England.

He started his career at Preston, making 120 appearances and scoring 20 league goals, and impressed the Liverpool boss during an FA Cup match.

Mr Thompson was signed for £37,000, and went on to appear in the FA Cup final winning team of 1965 and the European Cup Winners’ Cup team of 1966. He also earned two league title medals in 1964 and 1966.

Charity spokesman Graeme Dutch said Mr Thompson agreed to appear at the evening dinner for Find a Voice – which supports people with speech and communication difficulties – after he got on the wrong train.

Charity manager Debbie Burden and her husband had also made the same mistake, so they got chatting to him while huddled in a platform rain shelter at Westenhanger.

Mr Dutch said: “It was a meeting of complete chance, and after Debbie got talking to him, she learned about who he was and his career.”

“The evening will be a question and answer session.

“He was a hugely successful player in the 1960s and 1970s, and we couldn’t believe we have someone like that living in Ashford.”

The evening is at Sandyacres in Sandyhurst Lane from 7pm to 11pm on Friday, April 21.

Tickets cost £30 per person or £250 for a table of 10, which includes a two-course meal.

To book tickets call 01233 640443 or email admin@findavoice.org. uk