Career
Balmer came from a family of football players, Uncles Walter and Bob both played for Everton during the early part of the 20th century whilst Uncle Jack was an amateur at Goodison Park. After the short journey across Stanley Park, Jack flitted in and out of the starting line-up during his first season at the club, fighting for the number 9 shirt with Fred Howe. Still learning his trade Balmer would gain great experience playing in an inside forward position as well as his more accustomed centre-forward role.
The Second World War curtailed Balmer"s footballing career, as it did so many others, but in doing so it probably took away Jack"s best years.
During the title season, Jack created a League record by scoring a hat-trick of hat-tricks (no other player would score even two successive hat-tricks for the club until another number 9, Fernando Torres, did so in 2008). The record breaker came on the 23rd of November at home to Arsenal in the 15th, 61st and 68th minutes of a 4-2 triumph, Stubbins scored the other in the 78th minute bringing to an end a run of 10 consecutive goals by Balmer.
He followed this feat up with 5 more goals in his next 4 games making a grand total of 15 in 7 outings, more than 2 a game, a stunning strike rate. Balmer, who was intelligent and very skillful, was given the captaincy in the 1947/48 season and continued to score for fun along with Stubbins.
He played 313 games, scoring 111 goals between 1935 and 1952 which would have been a lot more if it hadn"t been for the Second World War.
In 1952, After playing 312 appearances for the Reds scoring 111 goals, Balmer retired from the game after averaging exactly a goal every 2.8 appearances for the Reds. He died on Christmas Day 1984 at the age of 68. Liverpool F.C (1935–1952) - 312 appearances, 111 goals - Football League First Division (level 1) championship winners medal (1947).