Liam Beckett

Liam Beckett

Personal information
Full name	William Alexander Beckett[1]
Date of birth	(1951-07-17) 17 July 1951 (age 73)
Place of birth	Ballymoney, Northern Ireland
Position(s)	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 Beckett MBE (born 17 July 1951) is a Northern Irish former football manager and player, who now works as a pundit and radio broadcaster.[2]

Playing career

Starting his career after a five-year plumbing apprenticeship, Beckett won an Irish League title and Carlsberg Cup with Crusaders, before transferring to Drogheda United in December 1973. In 1975 he moved to Coleraine, 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 of Ballymoney.[3] His playing career ended with Coleraine in 1981.

Managerial career

Beckett coached at Carrick Rangers in the early 1990s, before managing hometown club Ballymoney United. He later managed Cliftonville and Institute.[4]

Broadcasting career

Since leaving management behind, Beckett has frequently worked as a sports broadcaster on BBC Radio Ulster for Northern Irish football and motorcycle racing, particularly road racing. However, since July 2018, he has focused solely on football due to a spate of accidents in road racing, particularly the death of William Dunlop, given his closeness to the Dunlop racing family. Beckett had also worked as a mechanic and served as mentor for William's father Robert Dunlop.[5]

Honours

In December 2017, Beckett was awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours list for his service to the Northern Irish voluntary sector and sport.[6]

References

1. "New Year's Honours list 2018". UK Cabinet Office. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
2. "Under the Spotlight: Liam Beckett". Ballymoney and Moyle Times. JPI Media. 28 July 2008. Archived from the original on 28 September 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
3. "No deal". Belfast Telegraph. 5 November 1979. p. 20.
4. "Beckett quits as Solitude manager". BBC Sport. 22 July 2005.
5. "Liam Beckett: I'm putting brakes on racing after death of William Dunlop". Sunday Life. 23 July 2018. Retrieved 22 September 2019 – via Belfast Telegraph.
6. "New Year Honours 2018: Beckett and Moss awarded MBEs". BBC Sport. 29 December 2017.