Joe Maloney

Maloney started his career at Liverpool, coming through the junior ranks at Anfield to sign professional forms in January 1951.[3] He took the place of Bob Paisley when making his first team debut in a goalless draw at home to Bolton Wanderers in March 1953.[3] He made a further eleven first team appearances as a central defender, but could do little to prevent Don Welsh's "Reds" from losing their First Division status at the end of the 1953–54 season.[3]

Maloney signed with Shrewsbury Town in July 1954.[3] He stayed with the "Shrews" for a further seven years, making 237 league appearances in the process. The club finished 16th in the Third Division South in 1954–55, before manager Walter Rowley took them to 13th in 1955–56 and ninth in 1956–57. They could only finish 17th in 1957–58 under the management of Harry Potts and then Johnny Spuhler, and so became founder members of the Fourth Division. Arthur Rowley was then appointed as manager, and Shrewsbury won promotion to the Third Division in 1958–59 after securing the fourth and final automatic promotion place. They posted a third-place finish in 1959–60, missing out on a second successive promotion by just one place and seven points. They finished tenth in 1960–61.

Maloney joined Norman Low's Port Vale in June 1961 and played his only game for the club at Gay Meadow on 19 August 1961, in a 4–2 defeat to Shrewsbury.[1] He was sold on to nearby Crewe Alexandra for a small fee just two days later.[1] Under the stewardship of Jimmy McGuigan, the "Railwaymen" finished tenth in the Fourth Division in 1961–62, before winning promotion with a third-place finish in 1962–63. After 26 league games at Gresty Road he left the English Football League to join Cheshire County League side Winsford United.