Liam Beckett
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
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.[1]
Playing career
Starting his career after a five-year plumbing apprenticeship, Beckett won an Irish League title and Carlsberg Cup with Crusaders,[citation needed] before transferring to Drogheda United in December 1973.[citation needed] In 1975 he moved to Coleraine, before re-joining Crusaders in October 1979.[citation needed] However, he only remained at the club for nine days, returning to Coleraine after buying licensed premises in his hometown of Ballymoney.[2] His playing career ended with Coleraine in 1981.
Managerial career
Beckett coached at Carrick Rangers in the early 1990s, before managing hometown club Ballymoney United, Cliftonville and Institute.[3]
Broadcasting career
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.[4]
Honours
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.[5]
References
- ^ "Under the Spotlight: Liam Beckett". Ballymoney and Moyle Times. JPI Media. 28 July 2008.[dead link]
- ^ "No deal". Belfast Telegraph. Independent News & Media. 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. Independent News & Media. 23 July 2018. Retrieved 22 September 2019 – via Belfast Telegraph.
- ^ "New Year Honours 2018: Beckett and Moss awarded MBEs". BBC Sport. 29 December 2017.
- Use dmy dates from June 2013
- 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
- Association football fullbacks
- Association footballers from Northern Ireland
- Football managers from Northern Ireland