Phil Chisnall, the last player to move directly from Manchester United to Liverpool, revealed that his wife was the only person who hated the transfer. He later made history by being the first player to kick the ball on the inaugural episode of Match of the Day.
A Promising Start at United
Chisnall came through United's youth team and was seen as one of Sir Matt Busby's future talents as he looked to rebuild the club following the Munich Air Disaster. Liverpool legend Bill Shankly and England boss Sir Alf Ramsey also saw his talent, with Ramsey describing him as "probably the best passer of a ball in the country."
Chisnall overcame an early knee problem before turning professional at Old Trafford in November 1959. He made his senior debut at 19 against Everton in December 1961, played nine consecutive games, and scored in a win away at Manchester City.
The Controversial Move
Despite contributing 10 goals in 47 appearances, Busby decided not to keep Chisnall, instead signing the more experienced Graham Moore. Chisnall was sold to Liverpool for £25,000 in 1964. Shankly said: "Phil can do unusual things with the ball, he might be something special."
Chisnall said he didn't receive any negative reception from either set of fans. He told the Echo: "No one else said much, even though I was moving between two big teams. Back then it was just a footballer moving from one club to another. I was able to go to Old Trafford and play for Liverpool and get a good reception from the crowd. The only person who was bothered was the missus. I told her I was going to play for Liverpool and it meant she had to take all the curtains down, pack up and move down the East Lancs Road. She wasn't too pleased."
Match of the Day History
Chisnall played in Liverpool's first-ever European game against KR Reykjavik in Iceland, scoring in the 5-0 win. He made his league debut five days later in a 3-2 win against Arsenal, where he became the first player to kick the ball on the inaugural episode of Match of the Day on August 22, 1964.
However, Chisnall was rarely seen in a Liverpool shirt, playing just a handful of times before joining Southend United in 1967. He moved to Stockport County in 1971 but was forced to retire the following year due to knee trouble at just 29.
Reflections and Later Life
Reflecting on playing under three iconic managers, Chisnall said: "In the space of a year I played under Matt Busby, Bill Shankly and Alf Ramsey. At United we had Busby, who was the quiet type, and Jimmy Murphy who was the passionate Welshman. At Liverpool it was the other way around, with Shankly the passionate one and Bob Paisley the calming influence. Ramsey was different again, quite prim and proper."
Chisnall returned to Manchester after retiring, running two betting shops before working as a plant operator and in a bakery. He died aged 78 in March 2021 after suffering a stroke in October 2014. Both Manchester United and Liverpool paid tribute to him.
