Steve Heighway (born Dublin, November 25 1947) was a cultured footballer in the hugely successful Liverpool team of the 1970s.
Heighway's early promise as a winger was not spotted by professional clubs as he reached his adolescence and therefore, as a bright lad, he concentrated on his studies and played in the non-league game while completing a degree in economics.
In 1970, Heighway was studying for his final exams and playing for Skelmersdale United when he was spotted by Liverpool's scouting system. With manager Bill Shankly keen to rebuild his ageing, underachieving team of the 1960s completely, Heighway was signed up swiftly.
A strong and pacey left winger with two good feet, Heighway settled into top flight football with some ease after making his debut in October 1970. A month later, he scored against fierce Merseyside rivals Everton in a hard-fought 2-2 draw, and stayed in the side for the rest of the season as Liverpool's new charges finished the League campaign strongly and defeated Everton in the semi-finals of the FA Cup to reach the final at Wembley.
Their opponents were Arsenal, who were after a coveted "double" having won the League championship. Heighway played confidently in a match which was goalless after 90 minutes, and therefore needed a period of extra-time.
Just two minutes into the added half-hour, Heighway received the ball wide on his left flank from substitute Peter Thompson (ironically, the man whose place Heighway had ultimately taken) and started a run towards the Arsenal penalty area, with full back Pat Rice tracking his run but unwilling to put in a tackle.
With a swift turn outside Heighway gained a yard on Rice and hit a low drive into the net past Arsenal goalkeeper Bob Wilson who had committed the cardinal goalkeeping sin of coming out too far from his near post to anticipate a cross, thereby leaving a gap. Heighway exploited this gap and Liverpool were ahead. It was notable that despite the joy of the moment, Heighway could barely move to celebrate due to the extreme heat and fatigue and just decided to raise his arms in triumph from a standing position while his team-mates came to congratulate him.
Sadly for Heighway and Liverpool, their opponents scored two goals in response and won their "double". However, the goal scored by Heighway has (to Wilson's embarrassment) become one of the most shown goals to young goalkeepers as an example of what can go wrong if the keeper's positioning is not correct.
Heighway settled into the Liverpool team for the next decade, winning his first of four League titles in 1973, along with the UEFA Cup. He returned to Wembley for another FA Cup final a year later as Liverpool faced Newcastle United.
This time Liverpool were not troubled. Heighway scored again with 16 minutes of the game remaining to make it 2-0, latching on to a flick from John Toshack after a long clearance from goalkeeper Ray Clemence to slot a right footed shot into the far corner. The game ended 3-0.
By now, Heighway was a regular for the Republic of Ireland side and was so for the whole of the 1970s, winning a total of 34 caps. With Liverpool, he attained another League and UEFA Cup double in 1976 and then formed part of the side which came so close to the glorious "treble" of League, FA Cup and European Cup.
Liverpool won the League by single point, and again defeated rivals Everton to reach the FA Cup final, this time to face Manchester United at Wembley. With a European Cup final due in Rome three days later, Heighway and his team-mates had a great chance to make footballing history.
It never happened. Liverpool lost 2-1 at Wembley and the "treble" dream was dead. However, they went on to beat Borussia Monchengladbach 3-1 to clinch their first European Cup, with Heighway setting up both of Liverpool's outfield goals for Terry McDermott and Tommy Smith. The third was a penalty from Phil Neal.
In 1978 Heighway was on the bench as Liverpool retained the European Cup with victory over FC Bruges, coming on as a substitute for Jimmy Case. The following year he was again in the side frequently as Liverpool won another League title, but from 1980 onwards his opportunities in the side diminished.
Heighway stayed for two more seasons, appearing only occasionally in the team and missing out on two more League title medals, another European Cup triumph and a first League Cup, which was then successfully defended a year later. He left Anfield in 1982 after 444 matches and 76 goals.
He decided to ply his trade in the USA with Minnesota Kicks but the game in the States and Heighway himself got into financial difficulties. On his return from America, he was offered the chance to run Liverpool's youth academy, bringing promising youngsters up through the system until they were ready for the professional game. Among Heighway's successes are Steve McManaman, Robbie Fowler, Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen. He remains in this role.