Stan Palk

Palk started his career with South Liverpool when, in 1940, he was invited to train with Liverpool by manager George Kay. He scored 14 goals in 61 games throughout World War II, including one in the Merseyside derby match of April 1944, in the Liverpool Senior Cup. He spent 1944 to 1946 in Mombasa, serving in the Royal Navy. On his return to Anfield he made 13 competitive appearances, featuring in the First Division title-winning season of 1946–47, and the disappointing 1947–48 campaign. He signed for a then club record transfer fee of £10,000 in July 1948.

"I'd just come back from the States and I got the shock of my life. Tom Bush, a former centre half who was then working on the office staff, knocked on my door and said I wanted down at the ground. I turned up and standing there was Gordon Hodgson, the legendary Liverpool centre forward who managed Port Vale. He wanted to sign Mick Hulligan and myself in a double deal. I was unsure what to do at first because I really wanted to stay with Liverpool but the opportunity of first team football was too tempting and I eventually decided to go." Palk scored four goals in 42 Third Division South games in the 1948–49 campaign, scoring his first senior goal against Reading in a 2–1 win at Elm Park on 1 September. He then scored three goals in 46 appearances in 1949–50, in the last ever season of football at the Old Recreation Ground. During a 2–1 defeat at Bristol Rovers on 17 December 1949, he caused a minor dispute as his…

Palk had a son, Gary, and two daughters, Alex and Nicola. He also had four grandchildren (Rob, Rachel, Caroline and Natalie) and one great-grandchild (Oliver) before his death at Royal Liverpool University Hospital on 12 October 2009.

Liverpool

Football League First Division: 1946–47