Heads Or Tails?

A coin toss is normally used in football to decide who kicks the game off. Also, to decide who plays in the Euro 1968 final. But it has also been used to help a player decide which team to join.

In 1946, league football was returning following the end of the Second World War. Nowadays, fans couldn’t cope with about 8 weeks of no competitive football. Fans in 1946 had to endure 8 YEARS without it. A new start for football, and also for Albert Stubbins. In the summer of 1946, Stubbins reportedly submitted a transfer request to Newcastle United because he wants to join a First Division team. He then submitted another transfer request in September. During WWII, he scored over 200 goals for the Magpies, including 23 hat-tricks. Understandably, he was on a lot of teams’ radars. Newcastle reportedly placed a £15,000 price tag on Stubbins, which would make him a British record signing – £1,000 more than Bryn Jones joining Arsenal in 1938. Teams including Sheffield Wednesday, Blackpool, Tottenham and former team Sunderland were linked with him but it ultimately came down to two – Everton and Liverpool.

Everton first had their eye on Albert Stubbins in 1938 when he was 18. They seemed to have ended their interest in the Tyneside teenager after Hunter Hart gave him a bad report. But they renewed their interest 8 years later as they were desperate to sign a striker following the departure of Tommy Lawton who joined Chelsea in order to be closer to his ill wife. Everton and Newcastle agreed on a £13,000 transfer for Stubbins, which was double Everton’s club record fee for Lawton and Torry Gillick. However, Newcastle also agreed on a £13,000 transfer for him with Liverpool. The £15,000 price tag may have been whittled down, but £13,000 was still a lot of money in those days.

On the evening of 12th September 1946, representatives of Everton and Liverpool, including Theo Kelly and George Kay, entered the St James’ Park boardroom waiting for Albert Stubbins for talks, but they ended up waiting for three and a half hours. During that time, they played cards and smoked cigars. A taxi was originally sent to his home in Wallsend but when it returned to the ground, it was empty. However, before the taxi returned, a neighbour said that Stubbins was watching a film at Newcastle’s News Theatre (now called Tyneside Cinema) with his wife. While he was there, a message appeared on the screen saying, “Would Albert Stubbins please report to St James’ Park?”

Upon arrival, Newcastle manager and director Stan Seymour asked Stubbins which team he wants to talk to first. Stubbins replied, “Let’s flip a coin. Heads, Liverpool. Tails, Everton.” The coin was tossed and it was heads. Albert Stubbins had a chat with George Kay and Liverpool chairman Bill McConnell and was very impressed with what Liverpool had to offer. Because of that, he decided to join Liverpool without even talking to Everton.

In Albert Stubbins’ debut season, he formed a formidable partnership with former Everton apprentice – and nephew of Everton players Billy and Bob Balmer – Jack Balmer. The Everton signing that wasn’t to be and the Everton apprentice that got away scored 48 league goals between them (24 each) and helped Liverpool win the first post-war First Division title, ending Everton’s 8-year reign as champions. Stubbins eventually scored 83 goals in 178 appearances for Liverpool in all competitions and became a Liverpool legend.