the other in the 78th minute bringing to an end a run of 10 consecutive goals by Balmer. He followed this feat up with 5 more goals in his next 4 games, making a grand total of 15 in 7 outings, a strike rate of more than 2 per game. Balmer, who was intelligent and very skillful, was given the captaincy in the 1947/48 season and continued prolifically along with Stubbins. He played 313 games, scoring 111 goals between 1935 and 1952 which could have been a lot more if it hadn't been for the Second World War. It was during the 1939–45 war that he gained his only international recognition playing for England in a wartime match verses Wales at the Recreation Ground in front of a crowd of 17,000 on 18 November 1939, England won 3–2 with John Balmer scoring one of England's goals. In 1952, after playing 312 appearances for the Reds scoring 111 goals, Balmer retired from the game after averaging a goal every 2.8 appearances for the Reds. He died on Christmas Day 1984 at the age of 68. Career details Liverpool F.C (1935–1952) – 312 appearances, 111 goals – Football League First Division (level 1) championship winners medal (1947) References External links Official player profile at Liverpoolfc.tv Player profile at LFChistory.net 1916 births 1984 deaths Footballers from Liverpool English footballers Association football forwards Liverpool F.C. players English Football League players England wartime international footballers