After the Everton members voted to abandon Anfield, William Barclay and John Houlding (the owner of Anfield) set about creating a new team - Liverpool Football Club.

Barclay was actually the 'Secretary-Manager' of the club during its initial formation and was involved at Anfield before John McKenna (who was the joint manager with Barclay during the clubs early years).  Barclay's contribution to the club should not be overlooked, as it was his organisational skills that created the great 'Team of the Macs' and laid the foundations for the early successes of the club.

A well respected and well liked man throughout the city, Barclay would later go on to a career in teaching.