Number 15 Stan Collymore

Position - Striker
DOB – 22/01/1971
Place of Birth – Stone, England
International Caps - 2
Debut –Sheffield Wednesday 19/08/1995
Games for Liverpool - 81 (61 league games)
Goals - 35
Achievements –

Collymore got his big break at Stafford Rangers after being rejected by Walsall and Wolves. He was sold to Crystal Palace for £100,000 in 1990. Two years later Collymore was on his way to Southend for £80,000. It was at Southend where he discovered his scoring boots and managed 18 goals in 33 games.
In 1993, Nottingham Forest splashed out £2.2million for Stanley Victor Collymore. Collymore looked at home in the City Ground scoring 19 goals in 28 league games in the First division as Forest were promoted. Collymore continued to impress in the Premier League as he netted 22 league goals and Forest finished 3rd. In the summer of 1995 Collymore made his England debut and a month later he had joined Liverpool for a British record of £8.5million. It looked almost certain at one point that he would sign for Manchester United. However the decision made by Roy Evans to sign Collymore was seen as a coup at the time for Liverpool. Stan Collymore scored on his debut for the reds against Sheffield Wednesday.
Collymore’s impact at Liverpool was frightening. He had an immediately impact as he and his strike partner Robbie Fowler, scored a combined total of 55 goals in the 1995-96 season. Collymore had a record of a goal every other game and forced aging striker and Liverpool legend Ian Rush out of the first team.
Collymore scored the winner in the memorable 4-3 win over Newcastle United in 1996. The injury time winner was voted the best moment in Sky Sports first 10 years by the channels viewers.
Collymore and Fowler scored 47 goals in their second season.
In 1997 following the introduction of Michael Owen to the first team Stan the man was sold to his boyhood team Aston Villa in a £7 million deal.

Why Stan Collymore makes it in!
Collymore makes it into the countdown because during a time when the ‘spice boy’ culture was rife at Liverpool Collymore always distanced himself from it. Although he had his off the field incident on the pitch Stan the man lived up to his reputation. His left foot was like a cannon and when he aimed it he had no problem smashing the ball into the back of the net. Another reason is that 4-3 game agasint Newcastle. Atlhough im not basicing this countdown on one game, that game is so important to me, i can’t help have a soft spot for Collymore. Also at that time Liverpool mostly a white team Stan was the only mixed race player. That made him appeal to me in a different way from the other players. I still loved them all but it felt like I could love Collymore in a different way. I wasnt sad to see him go though and the 7million we got from Aston Villa was a good deal.