The Lad is going to be a superstar
Article by Craig Muncey
The Stockport born player was loaned back to Oldham for some experience, but injuries curtailed that option. Harrison was involved in an incident which was almost fatal, falling through a greenhouse.With local ambulance crews on strike at the time Harrison almost died through loss of blood, until the back-up army medics were able to get him to hospital.
Other lesser injuries followed but still serious to a young footballers hopes, a double hernia operation, knee and shoulder injuries. It seemed that every time that Harrison was getting close to being in the first team squad there would be another setback. The youngster who was a natural finisher just seemed to never have a consistent run of games to show his abilities.
In 1988, at the age of 20, he was loaned out to Crewe Alexandra where he played 3 games and scored 1 goal. In the following season he scored 17 goals in 28 games for Liverpool reserves, finishing as top goal scorer and helping Liverpool to win the Central League. It seemed that finally Harrison was going to achieve his dream and play for the first team, however, during the last game of the season for the reserves against Bradford City, he collided with the opposition goalkeeper, tearing his cruciate ligament in the process.
After 23 operations, but not 1 first team game for Liverpool, he was forced to retire in 1991 due to his knee injury. Wayne Harrison was just 22 years old. Liverpool set up a testimonial game for the player between Liverpool and Oldham, but unfortunately Harrison was not able to play due to the damage to his knee.
The third player I want to look at in this instalment, is a young striker by the name of Wayne Harrison.
In 1984, at the age of 16, Harrison made his league debut for Oldham Athletic, becoming the club’s youngest player. Prior to making his league debut he played for Oldham youth team against Liverpool youth, and scored twice, impressing the Liverpool set up in the process.
In 1985, Joe Fagan, the Liverpool manager at the time, made a bid for Harrison of £250,000 which was accepted, making him at the time the world’s most expensive teenager player. Fagan had fended off Everton, Nottingham Forest and Manchester United to acquire the services of the player. Fagan was quoted when asked by the press, as saying that Harrison was a “special player”. Liverpool believed they had their replacement for Kenny Dalglish in a few years time.
In 1984, at the age of 16, Harrison made his league debut for Oldham Athletic, becoming the club’s youngest player. Prior to making his league debut he played for Oldham youth team against Liverpool youth, and scored twice, impressing the Liverpool set up in the process.
In 1985, Joe Fagan, the Liverpool manager at the time, made a bid for Harrison of £250,000 which was accepted, making him at the time the world’s most expensive teenager player. Fagan had fended off Everton, Nottingham Forest and Manchester United to acquire the services of the player. Fagan was quoted when asked by the press, as saying that Harrison was a “special player”. Liverpool believed they had their replacement for Kenny Dalglish in a few years time.
The Stockport born player was loaned back to Oldham for some experience, but injuries curtailed that option. Harrison was involved in an incident which was almost fatal, falling through a greenhouse.With local ambulance crews on strike at the time Harrison almost died through loss of blood, until the back-up army medics were able to get him to hospital.
Other lesser injuries followed but still serious to a young footballers hopes, a double hernia operation, knee and shoulder injuries. It seemed that every time that Harrison was getting close to being in the first team squad there would be another setback. The youngster who was a natural finisher just seemed to never have a consistent run of games to show his abilities.
In 1988, at the age of 20, he was loaned out to Crewe Alexandra where he played 3 games and scored 1 goal. In the following season he scored 17 goals in 28 games for Liverpool reserves, finishing as top goal scorer and helping Liverpool to win the Central League. It seemed that finally Harrison was going to achieve his dream and play for the first team, however, during the last game of the season for the reserves against Bradford City, he collided with the opposition goalkeeper, tearing his cruciate ligament in the process.
After 23 operations, but not 1 first team game for Liverpool, he was forced to retire in 1991 due to his knee injury. Wayne Harrison was just 22 years old. Liverpool set up a testimonial game for the player between Liverpool and Oldham, but unfortunately Harrison was not able to play due to the damage to his knee.
Sadly, Wayne Harrison passed away in 2013 due to cancer, at just the age of just 46. An age too young for a life to be lost. it seems luck was just not part of Wayne Harrison’s life.
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