The first episode of BBC Radio Merseyside’s A to Z of Liverpool focuses on defender Gary Ablett, who played for both Merseyside clubs, John Aldridge and the Ataturk Stadium in Istanbul.
Striker Aldridge was signed in January 1987 to replace Ian Rush, who was leaving at the end of that season, and won the league title and FA Cup in his two and a half years at Anfield – becoming a cult hero and scoring 50 goals in 83 league games for Liverpool.
“He came to Liverpool and didn’t have a moustache but he grew it back and I think that helped in him replacing Ian Rush,” said Radio Merseyside’s Carl Woodward.
“What a goalscorer he was. I was gutted when he left. I didn’t want him to go because he was so good. The goals he would score. He was just in the right place at the right time all the time.
“He could score with his head, score from two yards out, score some decent goals from the edge of the area.
“He was just a great striker and he did replace Rush really. He was in that 1987-88 team which was arguably Liverpool’s greatest ever.”
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