It was the 2nd of July 1986 and Ian Rush had just agreed a deal to sign for Juventus. While still being available on loan for the season to come, a ready replacement was needed. On January 27th, John Aldridge signed for a fee of £ 750,000. Expectations were not high, but public opinion would soon change.
Aldo’s first half season at Anfield wasn’t prolific, scoring two goals in 10 appearances. However, it was the next few years in which he truly shone.
In the opening games of the 1987-88 season, Aldridge began to show what he was about, without receiving media attention. He netted in the first nine games of the campaign. The local lad seemingly flew under the radar with John Barnes receiving the majority of the plaudits. As the season progressed and the goals kept coming, the opinion of the press began to change.
While not having exceptional ball skills alike some of his team mates, Aldo’s lethal finishing and work rate were beginning to receive recognition. Aldridge went on to net a total of 29 goals in all competitions, linking fantastically with Peter Beardsley and John Barnes. At the close of the season, Liverpool finished first, nine points clear of Manchester United. Aldridge scored both goals in a 2-1 FA Cup semi-final win against Nottingham Forest – one of which a volley that completed a superb team move. Aldo finished as top goalscorer of the First Division.
YouTube: Liverpool 2-1 Nottingham Forest (1987-88) FA Cup semi-final
As Rush failed to impress the Old Lady, a fee was agreed to bring him back to Anfield. With Rush’s looming return, many thought Aldridge wouldn’t feature. However, that wasn’t the case as they played alongside each other on many occasions. As Rush was slowly beginning to become his old self, Aldo was still firing, scoring hat-tricks against Charlton and Luton in August and March. He finished the season with 34 goals in all competitions, 22 of them coming in the league.
But his goal record most likely isn’t what he remembers most about that year. On April 15th, 96 Liverpool supporters were crushed in the Hillsborough disaster. This had a strong impact on Aldridge as a local Liverpudlian. He even publicly stated that he thought about retiring from the game. In the wake of the disaster, Aldridge committed himself to attending every funeral he possibly could. He did eventually play in the rescheduled match against Forest, netting in a 3-1 win at Old Trafford. Liverpool would go on to win the cup, beating rivals Everton 3-2.
After Arsenal came and snatched the league at Anfield, Aldridge was left in a dejected heap. An embodiment of every Liverpool supporter at that exact moment. In his final game for the Reds, he made a substitute appearance scoring a penalty in front of the Spion Kop, ecstatically throwing his shirt and boots into the crowd. He was later unwillingly sold the next day to Real Sociedad, for a fee of £1m.
YouTube: Liverpool 3-1 Nottingham Forest, FA Cup S/F 1989 (Old Trafford)
Aldridge will ultimately be remembered as someone who truly adored the club, as a local boy who got to wear the number of his hero on his back.
Aldridge is currently a regular feature on Radio City 96.7 and is a member of the Liverpool Legends squad.
YouTube: Liverpool FC Legends 4-0 Australian Legends Highlights
