Jim Beglin

Jim Beglin (born Waterford, Republic of Ireland, 29th July 1963) was a talented full back with Liverpool during their historic "double" year of 1986 whose career was cruelly cut short by injury.

Beglin was the last signing made by legendary Liverpool manager Bob Paisley when he joined from Shamrock Rovers in 1983. He was gradually introduced to the first team picture over the next 18 months, before being given regular games in the left back slot by Kenny Dalglish as a replacement for Alan Kennedy.

His first season couldn't have been better, as he established himself as a competent and confident, forward-thinking full back and Liverpool won the League championship and FA Cup, with Beglin picking up medals for each. He also began playing for the Republic of Ireland team, picking up the first of 15 caps.

The it all went horribly wrong for Beglin. In a League Cup tie against Liverpool's fierce Merseyside rivals Everton in early 1987, he went into a fairly straightforward 50–50 tackle with full back Gary Stevens and suffered a horrific leg break. Though the injury was very serious, nobody blamed Stevens – including Beglin himself – with the watching football world accepting that the tackle was fair and unmalicious and Beglin was just extremely unlucky.

Liverpool reached the final of that competition – they lost 2–1 to Arsenal – but Beglin could do no more than watch as he tried to recuperate from the injury. Dalglish had reshuffled his defence to cater for his absence, moving Steve Nicol across to the left flank and introducing new signing Barry Venison. As Beglin hoped to make progress the next season, local lad Gary Ablett came through the ranks to take the left back slot. Beglin tried to make a comeback in the Liverpool reserve team but only succeeded in damaging cartilages in his knee. His days at Anfield were over.

In 1989 he joined Leeds United but his form and fitness, not to mention the health of his leg, was never quite the same and he quit playing at the age of 27.

Beglin is now a respected and sought-after pundit on the game, mainly working for BBC Radio 5 Live on both club matches and Ireland internationals. He has also been employed by Liverpool as a voice-over artist for the club's official DVD and video releases.