 |
| Chris Pile:
Goalkeeper |
| Nickname: |
| Date of
Birth: 04.04.1967 |
| Squad:
number: |
| With the Reds:
1984-1987 |
| Height: |
| Weight: |
| Bought from:
Local |
| Signed for LFC:
0 Professional - 04.04.1984 |
| Debut: |
| Debut goal: |
| 1st team
league games: |
| 1st team
league goals: |
| Total 1st team
games: |
| Total 1st team
goals: |
| Contract expiry:
1987, transfered to Tranmere Rovers |
| International caps: |
| International
goals: |
| International debut: |
| Characteristics: |
| Former
clubs: Tranmere Rovers, Bury, Waterside Karori (New Zealand), Southport |
| Birth
Place: Huyton, Liverpool, England |
| Honours: |
| Personal Honours: |
| Fact: |
| Website |
|
|
Total LFC
and other club games/goals
|
League |
FA Cup |
FL Cup |
Europe |
Other |
Total |
| Seasons |
App |
Gls |
App |
Gls |
App |
Gls |
App |
Gls |
App |
Gls |
App |
Gls |
| 1984-85 |
|
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|
|
* |
|
| 1985-86 |
|
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|
|
|
| 1986-87 |
|
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|
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|
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| Total |
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A more detailed look at the player's appearances
| Total |
started/substitutions |
|
Total |
Competition |
| 0 |
Started |
|
No appearances found... |
| 1 * |
On the bench |
|
|
|
| 0 |
Substitute |
|
|
|
| 0 |
Substituted |
|
|
|
Career Milestones for Chris Pile:
Appearances in all competitions
|
Date |
Against |
Result |
Venue |
Competition |
| Didn't find any games |
Goals in all competitions
|
Date |
Min |
Against |
Result |
Venue |
Competition |
| Didn't find any goals |
Total LFC
club games/goals for Reserves
|
Reserves |
|
League |
LS Cup |
Total |
| Seasons |
App |
Gls |
App |
Gls |
App |
Gls |
| 1984-85 |
3 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
| Total |
3 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
Update 15.04.2007 |
PROFILE
Goalkeeper who was on the bench in the 1985 European cup final, only 18-years of
age, in the absence of injured Bob Bolder. Chris has been living in New Zealand on and off
since 1989, working for Soccer New Zealand as a goalkeeping coach for kids aged 15-20
Exclusive: Goalkeeper makes history
Chris Pile could have been a more familiar name among the Liverpool faithful, had
it not been for injuries which curtailed his Anfield career. He was the youngest player
ever to be involved in a European cup final when he had just turned 18. Pile was close to
getting his breakthrough into the first team fold, when picking up an injury which meant
Mike Hooper was bought and became 2nd choice. Lfchistory has been in contact with Pile who
is now living in New Zealand. Chris Pile told us his story.
Coming from Liverpool, being a Liverpool fan, watching from The Kop as a kid, to
come out and be part of the team, money could not buy that. Straight away things changed,
training with the first team trying to save every shot from Rushie, Kenny etc., then on
saturday hoping every shot they make goes in.
Bob Bolder broke his leg playing in the 2nd team with about a month to go of the
1984-85 season so I was told by boss Joe Fagan I would be in the squad for Heysel there
and then. As a fan it was going to be a dream come true. The chance to see Liverpool win
the European Cup Final for a fifth time and get a gold winners medal. Something a lot
of the great goalkeepers never got close to and I was only 18. I think at the time I was
the youngest ever to be involved in a European Cup Final, that still might be today. I was
18 years, 1 month and 25 days.
I can recall as if it were yesterday our changing room was at the end were the
trouble was. We could hear that there was trouble from some of the players who were
warming up, then BANG a large sound of the wall falling. You could hear it right around
the dressing room, then the rumours started.. 10, 20, 40, 60 died. All this before what
was meant to be the greatest sporting day of your life. I remember sitting in the dressing
room with Ronnie Moran and Roy Evans trying to keep spirits up but the damage had been
done. The players went out and tried their best, but whatever happened we would have never
won.
Although I did not play any 1st team games as Bruce never got injured, the most
asked question I get asked today is: "Do you wish you played today, for the
money?". The answer is no although the money would be great :-)
In my four seasons there we won the European Cup, League Championships, the FA Cup
and League Cups. The club was a family club. We all won together and lost together. There
were no super stars, they were just ' the lads'.
I am a believer in what happens on tour stays on tour, but one of the best stories
which is clean and true happened to my oldest brother Simon. He worked at LFC in the 1990s
as the catering manager. When Kenny took over he brought in lunches for the lads, cheese
toastie, beans on toast etc.. When Graeme Souness came in, things changed. Sports foods
were starting to come in, so Simon was called in and told that the toastie would stop and
be replaced with pasta, fish, rice, chicken etc.. This did not go down to well with the
lads so the question went out to Souness why had the toasties stopped? The answer came
back to help us play better in which Rushie replied, But boss we won the double on egg
and chips.
When I started at Liverpool I was fifth in line. Bob Wardle retired due to injury
which took me up a place. Then Billy Stewart left, so there was Bruce, Bob Bolder and
myself at the time I signed on my 17th birthday for 3 years. Joe Fagan was great with the
youth team and said Son you have the chance to be the next Ray Clemence. You can
imagine how great that would make you feel. After Heysel Bob wanted 1st team football and
left to play for Charlton leaving Bruce and myself with a kid playing in the A team.
Things were going well until I got injured in training. A simple injury of my studs
getting caught up in the grass and I slipped a disc putting me out for two months, in
which the club went out and signed Mike Hooper within days. I served out the rest of my
contract but although I played a few 2nd team games Mike never got injured.
Pile on the bench (far right) vs. Juventus at Heysel 29 May 1985.
When I left LFC I spent time at Tranmere Rovers when Frank Worthington was manager.
I played as a non-contract player in the 2nd team for about 6 months. They could not offer
me anything so I moved to Bury were Martin Dobson was in charge. In October 1987 I was
offered a contract but on the morning of signing I broke my wrist for the 2nd time. An
injury I had at Liverpool about 18 months earlier. In February 1988 I got a call from an
agent looking for overseas players to Australia and New Zealand.
The chances of getting a contract at this time of the season were slim so I thought 6
months playing anywhere would do, so I went to New Zealand on 1st April 1988, were I to be
a fool or not. I played for a team in Wellington called Waterside-Karori. After a few
weeks there was a story from Scotland that Celtic wanted to talk but I was happy down
under. We won the league in my 1st season.
After playing in New Zealand for a year or two my girlfriend, now wife Kay, wanted
to go to the UK so I needed to find a club and ended up at Southport under Brian Kettle.
Things went well until I broke my hand for the third time. This time a specialist told me
to look for another career so I came back to New Zealand with Kay in 1992 and made the
move a permanent one. I was sponsored by Mitsubishi Motors to play in my early days in New
Zealand and was offered full time employment on my return. I get back to the UK as often
as I can. I was home in August 2003 to see the opening game of the season against Chelsea.
Now I work for New Zealand Soccer coaching under 15-20s. Also a friend of mine Ken
Cresswell, who played for NZ in the 1982 World Cup in Spain, and I run the Umbro soccer
academy in Wellington. I pass on all the good work I was taught from Bruce, Bob and the
coaching staff at Liverpool.
(With site LFC History net - http://www.lfchistory.net) |
