Cod Almighty | Article

by Simon Wilson

11 November 2002

When Town bought Steve from Chelsea in 1993 he was supposedly a prime example of your achetypal English forward - physical, difficult to nudge off the ball, good in the air, an eye for a scrappy poached goal - a bit of beef that could hit the bully. And this in the days when 150,000 notes was a lot of money to a division one club.

Short on pace, a less-than-succesful return on winning the high ball, and an unparalled ability to miss when it's easier to score, Livvo plays with his heart on his sleeve tirelessly running (if not sprinting) around making a nuisance of himself. However, when the ball is played into the big man below neck height he shows a surprisingly subtle first touch and holds the ball up diligently. And don't discount his eye for a pass, most going forward and usually finding a fellow Town player scampering off the shoulder of a defender.

Seemingly plagued by injuries during his nine year Town career, Livvo continues to be lauded and lambasted in equal measure. Inexplicably the club's saviour as baited breath awaits his latest return from injury. Or the team's undoing as they resort to long ball after ineffectual long ball when he does return. (not that it's his fault.)

Livvo's stepped into the breach as an emergency centre-back in the past (with expectedly brave, if not always succesful, results) but it looks like he's going to continue bruising defenders with those flapping elbows for the time being. He's not perfect, but he'll do for Town.

Most remembered for
Oct 1997 - knocking reigning Worthington Cup holders Leicester City out as a shot ballooned magnificantly off his arse, sealing a mighty reversal for the Mariners
Apr 2000 - dubbed "goalkeeper killer" as he goes in for the ball against Tranmere - with their goalie grimly still holding it
Aug 2002 - the fifteen minutes of stoppage time incured at the end of the first half against Derby as a result of Livvo's sickening head injury