HOWARD GAYLE PROFILE

 
Liverpool-born Howard made his League debut for Liverpool as a substitute for David Fairclough at Maine Road in October 1980. But he didn't get a further opportunity until the end of April 1981, when an injury-hit Liverpool squad was preparing for their European Cup semi-final with Bayern Munich in the Olympic Stadium. Kenny Dalglish limped off early on after an appalling tackle and Howard Gayle ran the Bayern defence ragged for an hour despite being repeatedly fouled before being himself replaced by Jimmy Case.

It was a performance of astonishing maturity in such a big game from someone so young and his reward was to play in 3 of the final 4 League matches of the season before the European final. With key players fit again, Howard knew he would not make the starting line-up in Paris and although he never added to the four first-team games he played for Liverpool in 1980-81, he went on to have a good career with other clubs, most notably Birmingham City and Blackburn Rovers.