Steve Heighway

The dazzling winger who shook the Kop and shaped Liverpool's future.

Stephen Derek Heighway (born 25 November 1947) is an Irish former footballer who played as a winger. He was part of the successful Liverpool team of the 1970s. Following his eleven-year spell at the club, he was ranked 23rd in the 100 Players Who Shook The Kop poll. He has become immortalised in a Kop chant in recognition, for what the club's official site states, for having 'dazzled audiences the length of the country.'

Quick Facts

Full name: Stephen Derek Heighway
Born: 25 November 1947
Birthplace: Dublin, Ireland
Position: Winger
Total caps: 493
Total goals: 122

Lore & Background

Signed by Bill Shankly for Liverpool while a university student playing non-league football, Heighway won five English league championships, an FA Cup, a Football League Cup, two European Cups, two UEFA Cups, and a UEFA Super Cup. At international level he had 26 caps for the Republic of Ireland. Heighway became academy director at Liverpool in a period when the club welcomed players including Steven Gerrard, Steve McManaman, Robbie Fowler, Jamie Carragher and Michael Owen. His teams won the FA Youth Cup three times. He retired in 2007 but later rejoined the Liverpool Academy in a consulting role, which he held until retiring again in 2022.

Reader's Guide

Heighway was born in Dublin, Ireland. His early education took place in Sheffield where he attended Ecclesall Junior School (until 1959), followed by High Storrs School and latterly Moseley Hall Grammar School for Boys in Cheadle, near Stockport. He studied economics and politics at the University of Warwick in Coventry (starting in 1966), achieving a 2:1. In 1970, while playing for Skelmersdale United, he was spotted by Liverpool's scouting system and signed in May.

He made his debut on September 22, 1970, in a League Cup 2nd round replay against Mansfield Town. Heighway made 475 appearances for Liverpool and scored 76 goals. He left Anfield in 1982, then played for Minnesota Kicks in the US, later joined the coaching staff of Umbro, and then became director of coaching for Clearwater Chargers. In 1989 he was asked to rejoin Liverpool to run their youth academy. He retired from Liverpool on 26 April 2007, returned part-time in 2015, and retired again in December 2022.

Did You Know?

Heighway scored in the 1971 FA Cup final against Arsenal, but Liverpool lost 2–1 after extra time.
He scored in the 1974 FA Cup final against Newcastle United, making the score 2–0 in a 3–0 win.
Heighway set up both outfield goals in the 1977 European Cup final against Borussia Mönchengladbach.
He earned the nickname 'Big Bamber' after University Challenge host Bamber Gascoigne, due to his academic achievements.
Heighway features in the popular Liverpool chant 'The Fields of Anfield Road'.