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]

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

Playing career

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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

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

Broadcasting career

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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

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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

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  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.