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A handsome Scot he was one of Liverpool's earliest stars, his career straddling the end of the 19th century and the start of the 20th. As captain he cut a dashing and imposing figure at centre half for club and country. Although at a precisely recorded 5ft 9¾ins he was not the tallest of men he weighed almost 13 stone and was a commanding defender, rated Britain's finest of his generation in his position. A contemporary sportswriter said of him: "A man of Raisbeck's proportions, style and carriage would rivet attention anywhere. He is a fine and beautifully balanced figure". With his fair hair and moustache Raisbeck's distinguished countenance made him one of football's first pin-up boys and he was the first Liverpool skipper to lift the Championship trophy in 1901. He led them to a further title triumph in 1906. Raisbeck was signed from Stoke City by Liverpool manager Tom Watson in 1898 for £350, then a considerable sum of money. In an era when some players were unpaid Raisbeck earned the maximum weekly wage of £4. However, the club supplemented that sum by also giving him the job of bill inspector, overseeing the public hoardings and notice boards advertising Liverpool matches! He died on March 12, 1949.
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