| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | William Alexander Beckett[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1951-07-17)17 July 1951 (age 74) | ||
| Place of birth | Ballymoney, Northern Ireland | ||
| Position | 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 BeckettMBE (born 17 July 1951) is a Northern Irish former football manager and player, who now works as a pundit and radio broadcaster.[2]
Starting his career after a five-year plumbing apprenticeship, Beckett won anIrish League title andCarlsberg Cup withCrusaders, before transferring toDrogheda United in December 1973. In 1975 he moved toColeraine, before re-joining Crusaders in October 1979. However, he only remained at the club for nine days, returning to Coleraine after buying licensed premises in his hometown ofBallymoney.[3] His playing career ended with Coleraine in 1981.
Beckett coached atCarrick Rangers in the early 1990s, before managing hometown clubBallymoney United. He later managedCliftonville andInstitute.[4]
Since leaving management behind, Beckett has frequently worked as a sports broadcaster onBBC Radio Ulster for Northern Irishfootball andmotorcycle racing, particularlyroad racing. However, since July 2018, he has focused solely on football due to a spate of accidents in road racing, particularly the death ofWilliam Dunlop, given his closeness to the Dunlop racing family. Beckett had also worked as a mechanic and served as mentor for William's fatherRobert Dunlop.[5]
In December 2017, Beckett was awarded anMBE in theNew Year Honours list for his service to the Northern Irish voluntary sector and sport.[6]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
