| Liam Beckett | |
| Fullname: | William Alexander Beckett[1] |
| Birth Date: | 17 July 1951 |
| Birth Place: | Ballymoney, Northern Ireland |
| Position: | Full back |
| Years1: | 1971–1973 |
| Years2: | 1973–1975 |
| Years3: | 1975–1979 |
| Clubs3: | Coleraine |
| Years4: | 1979 |
| Clubs4: | Crusaders |
| Years5: | 1979–1981 |
| Clubs5: | Coleraine |
| Manageryears1: | 2000–2004 |
| Managerclubs1: | Ballymoney United |
| Manageryears2: | 2004–2005 |
| Managerclubs2: | Cliftonville |
| Manageryears3: | 2005–2008 |
| Managerclubs3: | Institute |
Liam Beckett MBE (born 17 July 1951) is a Northern Irish former football manager and player, who now works as a pundit and radio broadcaster.[2]
Starting his career after a five-year plumbing apprenticeship, Beckett won an Irish League title and Carlsberg Cup with Crusaders, before transferring to Drogheda United in December 1973. In 1975 he moved to Coleraine, before re-joining Crusaders in October 1979. However, he only remained at the club for nine days, returning to Coleraine after buying licensed premises in his hometown of Ballymoney.[3] His playing career ended with Coleraine in 1981.
Beckett coached at Carrick Rangers in the early 1990s, before managing hometown club Ballymoney United. He later managed Cliftonville and Institute.[4]
Since leaving management behind, Beckett has frequently worked as a sports broadcaster on BBC Radio Ulster for Northern Irish football and motorcycle racing, particularly road racing. However, since July 2018, he has focused solely on football due to a spate of accidents in road racing, particularly the death of William Dunlop, given his closeness to the Dunlop racing family. Beckett had also worked as a mechanic and served as mentor for William's father Robert Dunlop.[5]
In December 2017, Beckett was awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours list for his service to the Northern Irish voluntary sector and sport.[6]