Liverpool FC

Dave
In the 1970's my Dad was a milkman in Liverpool. Bill's daughter was on my Dad's round but I never knew this as he was an evertonian. I was a Liverpool supporter and one night I was helping Dad collect the milk money. He told me to go and knock on this door and ask for the money. I knocked on the door and Bill Shankly opened it !! I was literally gobsmacked. My dad had seen Bill's car outside. They both had a good laugh about it and Bill gave me 50p!! A great memory of a great man.

Duncan
he was the best and no one will take his place

alan moon
I met Bill in mount pleasant after his retirement and he was critical of the midfield of the present team,and seemed a little bitter of the situation he was in. I thanked him for putting Liverpool on the world stage.

Oliver Woods
He was the greatest of all. He was the reason we became good. He even made Liverpool the colour red so they could stand out and be big and hard

Peter Rails , Liverpool
No words can explain the sheer importance Bill Shankly was to liverpool . He was a world class manager and a world class feller . I honestly believe that although there have been managers that have won more trophies than him , there has never been a manager who has been singlehandedly responsible for one clubs entire success . Bill Shankly was one in a million , there will never be another manager who will even come close to his charisma and stature ,brian clough has came the closest. Although bill is no longer with us in person , he will live on in every true liverpudlians heart .

Raymond Shakesheff
The man was a true legend, not only in his years, but still now with us all. I wolud have loved to be around watchin my team Liverpool. The stories that I,ve heard are what makes a manager so great! one in a million fella.

Tim Worrall
Quite simply, we will never see his like again. Albeit young at the time, I remember him clearly and the sense of pride he instilled in all those around him. We were blessed to have him as our manager and he will forever hold that special place in the hearts and souls of all true LFC fans.

Dave Feneron
I am a lifelong Arsenal supporter but still I regard Bill as one of the true all time greats of the game. A wit, a gentleman, a soccer philosopher, an out an out genius....Bless you Shanks!

Garry Shepherd
Before going to a West Ham v Liverpool game my mate Jeff who is a big West Ham fan said "I think we can beat Liverpool today".Just then Shankley was being interviewed by the BBC.In his broad Scottish twang he said " ee I love coming down to London to play West Ham you get a great game of football and two points". And yes you guessed it the Pool won 4-2.

Pete Holden
As a young boy I have an abiding memory of being sent to call on Bill Shankley as he was late to play football with us local kids on Barnfield (now renamned the Bill Shankly Memorial Ground) I knocked on the door and asked Nessie "is Bill coming out?". She asked me to wait inside whilst he got himself ready and whilst there noticed a pile of photos of himself by the telephone which he kept ready for doorstep callers. I still have my signed copy proudly displayed at home today. He was such a great bloke!

Spence
Thanks Bill, you did make us happy. YNWA

John Kinloch
As a Celtic supporter, who was fortunate enough to know the late Jock Stein, he always told the story of 1967. Celtic had just won the European Cup and they were all in the dressing room with the door locked..Absolutely no one in Big Jock said. THERE WAS A VERY LOUD BANGING ON THE DOOR THAT WOULD NOT STOP. Eventually the door was opened in came Shanks and declared in a loud voice, 'John Stein you are immortal" That was Shankly and Stein, I asked Stein WHY? His reply "We were both minners and that brings people together." I admired him and loved his sharp witt. HE RETIRED TOO SOON. Thanks for the memories Shanks rest in Peace. John Kinloch New York USA.

BEVERLEY YOUNG
Another example of how true legends are treated by the sport they loved so much(Bobby Moore was a forgotten man too).How football could do with the wit and verve of Shanks right now-and Liverpool FC. He was unique.

Neil S.
I remember the sunny day in July when the news of his resignation broke; the disbelief, the confusion of the grown men around me. It is one of my earliest memories. I was six years old.

Roy
I stood on the Kop in Shank's days and although we obviously supported the team, we were 'Shankly's Army' he owned us and still does.

Gerrard S Cross
When Shankly retired he made a legendary re-appearance at Anfield during a routine home win against Coventry. There was chaos as everyone on the Kop realised the great man was in our midst. How Bill ever got out alive is still a mystery. You'll always be our king.

mohammad
the greatest manager ever! he was very special and someone who us the fans admired and were in awe of!

Gary Moss
A man of the people for the people... I could listen to the stories about him all day, but one of the best I heard was about him practicing for his press conferences with Bob. If he made Bob laugh with a comment, he'd say "I'll use that one!" Absolute class and the the standard of Man I'll always aspire to being.

John Moore
I still shed an inward tear when I think about him. I have no doubt that he could soon sort out the sore-footed, over-nourished and over-paid heroes of today.

Billy Green
I wasn't born when the Great Sir Bill was managing my beloved Reds but I've been brought up on the stories of him and I'd like to say how truely greatful I am that he decided to come to Anfield when we were a mickey mouse side in the 2nd division and help make us into one of the most feared sides in Europe, which still rings truth even today. RIP Bill

Jim McCabe
There isn't much to add to what's already been said. My father started taking me to Anfield from the mid-60s onwards. Whenever I saw Shanks, whether at the game or on T.V., I was awestruck. I don't normally use the word, "legend", it's so overused. However, I don't hesitate in saying that Bill Shankly was a true legend. Of course, it's a different game today. That's why it's meaningless to compare Shanks to Rafa. However, Shankly would recognise in Benitez the same attention to detail, tactical nous & will to win that he himself so brilliantly displayed.

John D
If Everton was playing at the bottom of his garden, he wouldn't bother to open the curtains. RIP Great Man.

Red Rec
It's a shame that the hierarchy at the club didn't show him any respect after he left. No matter what Big Ron Yeats says about him turning up at Melwood, Bob P had to ask him to leave and the club never gave him the Directors post he felt he was due. He was made to feel more welcome at Belfield by EVERTON for God's sake! There's more than a grain of truth in the wind up my Blue mates give me. In a true Shanklyism: "Shanks, he died a Blue!"

Steve Jennings
I used to go the boys pen when I was a lad and even though we were right at the back I was always aware that there was a special man somehwere down there near the edge of the pitch. He was the greatest.

Lesley, York
My father, Tommy Cavanagh played for Preston North End and Huddersfield Town for Bill and along with Peter Docherty they became close friends and my dads mentors.It is true Bill never recovered from leaving Liverpool, and it was rumoured that he was asked not to go to the training ground which was close to where he lived which broke his heart. I recall visiting home in the seventies when my dad was the coach of Manchester United Saturday night was always the same- coming home from a match and watching match of the day and the phone ringing. That will be Bill dad said- he always rang to talk about the game - It was very sad and not a fitting end for someone who acheived so much

Stephen Wallace
As a massive Red who grew up in the late 70's supporting Liverpool FC, Paisley was the main man when I was a kid, i had no doubt about the legacy that Shanks left on our great club & continues on to this day. One of the first names we think of, when LFC are mentioned.

Bill
In the mid-60's ny brother was working as a floor tiler on a job at Anfield. He met Mr Shankly and asked him if some of the lads would autograph one of the tiles for him. "Aye, Laddie. Leave it to me" and off he went. The next day he returned the tile to my brother with the autographs of all the first team players on the reverse. He was a great man loved by all of us. May his soul rest in peace.

ian drysdale
A wonderful human being with a genius sense of humour, a product of his working class background. He'll be turning in his grave at the thought of the modern day 'game'. Ian Drysdale East Ayrshire

Mark Daly
Bill Shankly lived near my school and one day after he retired he came along to give a fitness trainig session in the sports field. The last thing he said was indelibly imprinted on my young mind. "Remember lads, it disnae matter what sport ye play be it fitba rugby athletics or whatever, if ye believe ye can beat the other guy then ye can beat 'em, if ye think ye cannae then ye've nae chance." The man was a true legend.

Canadain Scouser
Fondly remembered. Back in those days, a foreign player on the team was either Scottish or Irish!

Mike Fieldhouse
My uncle was a vice chairman of Liverpool in the late 60 early 70s and I met Bill Shankly a couple of times. I remember once sitting directly behind him in the Directors box at Coventry when a handball was given for a ball that was driven against Ian Callaghans arm. I ,shall we say,queried the refs decision. Well the reaction from Shanks to my comment was something I will never forget.He got up shook my hand, asked my uncle my name and told him that I clearly new something about Football. As many have said he made me feel ten feet tall in one sentence.Not surprisingly in my view a great man.

Ian - Cardiff
I was a Kopite stood on there from 8 years old till 18 I was there when it closed I unfortunatly didn't live through the Shankley years but He Built the foundations for one of the most succesful clubs in the world, A Banner I saw at the FA Cup this year is something I believe shankley would be proud of - Others can only dream of what we have achived.

Gareth Jones
The main reason that Liverpool FC is as great as it is......

N.J. Hamburg
What a modest man, thanks Bill for Liverpool

Joe RYAN
Bill Shankly was someone, but he was also part of an era. Bill Nicholson at Spurs, Don Revie at Leeds, Matt Busby at Man U, Bertie Mee at Arsenal, Ron Greenwood at West Ham, Jock Stein at Celtic and, also, Brian Clough at Derby/Nottingham Forest ... A time when teams (managers and players) were in touch with fans. Probably something that explains their success. Who do we have today ?

Howard Silverstone
I'm an Arsenal fan - but the Liverpool team under Shankley and Paisley were a delight to watch. In the days before money built great teams, managers built great teams. Great teams were made by managers who gave players the belief they could become the best and loyalty meant everything. After 25 years, the game still sorely misses Shanks!

brian Kent
His statue gives out and ore of control and demands respect of all around it. A man who gave hope to all supporters around the world

Paul - everton fan
Shankley was a great character. He goes down in Liverpool football history. Just a shame he was treated so badly after leaving the club he helped build. In fact he always got a warmer welcome on the blue side of the city.

John Evans
When I lived in West Derby many moons ago ( 1967 to be exact, I was 9) I used to go the training ground at Melwood to see the players and get any autographs. Most of the time we (me and my mates who came) got chased for climbing up on the wall, mainly by a chap called Rueben Bennett who was one of the trainers with Bob Paisley, Anyway this went on until one day, as usual we were sitting on the wall (it’s about 10ft high and it seemed like the Empire State Building, I drive passed it every now and again and it brings back memories) and Shanks came along, looked up at us with his usual glare so we started to shift quick. He shouted to us to get down so of course we started to do as we were told. Before we could jump back down he told us to jump down on to his side. We thought he was going to give us a hiding, but we did as we were told any way! I can still remember shaking as I stood there in front of him looking down at us. “I’ve seen you lads up there for the last two weeks and you’re going to get yourselves killed if you fall of the bloody wall.” We just stood there waiting for the ceremonial kick up the backside on the way out. “Do you lads want have a look round and see the players working?” he said. We all just stood there hardly believing that Shanks was talking to us. “Er, yeh ok Bill ta mate!” Or something like that anyway! Shanks then proceeded to take us round the ground, stopping to show us Roger Hunt working away in what was known as the “Sweat box”. He was kicking the ball up against a wooden fence the size of a goal and chasing after the ball to kick it against another wooden fence about 20 yards away and so on. After watching the players do their exercises we then got taken into wooden huts where they got changed. I got all the main autographs, Hunt, St John, Yeats (who was just an absolute giant to me!), Callaghan, Lawler, Strong, Stevenson, Lawrence, Thompson, Smith and the one I was desperate to get has he’d only just signed for them was Tony Hateley. The one thing I always remember was sitting next to Roger Hunt in the changing room and he was pouring with sweat, totally knackered. He looked at me, said “ ok lad, give us your book and pen” and he signed his name and his sweat dripped on to my autograph book from off his nose! You got to realise this was Roger Hunt who had won the World Cup the year before and was just my bestest favouritist player of all time! On the way out, Shankly shouted to us “ now you lads won’t be sitting on that bloody wall anymore now will ye?” “No promise we won’t Bill, honest.” I don’t know about my mates but I never went back after that. I just thought if Bill Shankly tells you to do something, you do it!

Grant
I have always loved the recollection of him going into the Celtic dressing room after they had won the European Cup in 1967 and saying to Jock Stein (using his 'Sunday name' "John - you're immortal" - Tribute indeed.

Peter McGunnigle - ( a scouser living in oxford En
I was just a teenage boy in the front row of the kop on the day the famous photograph (that the Shankly statue was modelled on) was taken. When you were close to the man he had an aura that you could not describe. He was a giant of a man who restored pride in the red half of merseyside and he will always be missed. Even writing this I have a lump in my throat thinking about that day and others when the Kop sang Shnkly to the tune of Amazing Grace - he was a one-off.

john carpenter
he simply, is liverpool football club. respect !

chris shepherd
I support Rochdale but when i was growing up in the 60s & 70s loved to watch that fantastic Liverpool team on TV. I can also remember the legendary interviews with the man, I still get goosebumps. Shankly was a true icon, a real football man & a man of the real fans.

James
Liverpool's favourite adopted son, without Mr Shankly Liverpool would still be a lower division side, the fans of Liverpool FC owe everything to the genius from Glenbuck, we know he's up their smiling down on Rafa and his revolution with Bob Paisley and Joe Fagan knowing he's doing the right things for our great club. Thank you Mr Shankly, R.I.P x

JT
Shankly laid the foundations, paisley was the brickie and king kenny was the roofer :D R.I.P Shanks, Gone but never forgotten

Alistair Walker, Zurich, Switzerland
Bill inherited the great gift of hyperbole, often used as metaphor in the West of Scotland. A week before his heart attack a reporter called at his house to be told by his wife Bill was he was playing football with the youngsters in a local park. When Bill returned reporter asked him if he didn0t think he was too old to be playing football. Bill replied "There are players in the 1st division wish they were as fit as I am" So many stories its great to read them. He will always be a hero to me

Steve
A hero in the true sense of the word. Shanks laid the foundations for the next 30+ years, his legacy lives on.R.I.P big yin !!

Pauline
If Papillion thinks that the comments made by the great Bill Shankley about Everton were serious, I think he must have had a sense of humour by-pass. Bill Shanley took the P*** out of everyone, but the man had a hard of gold and a great sarcastic, sense of humour, which is clearly absent from the game today. Shanks made Liverpool and we love him for it. A true legend.

Steve Wood
In 1968 when I was about four years old my Grandad introduced me to Bill Shankly before a game at Anfield. I still remember him making a big fuss of an avid and very young Liverpool fan. A memory that has lived with me for 38 years and will stay with me forever. He made a massive impression on me even though I only spoke with him for about 2 minutes. I think some of the top premiership managers could learn a lesson or two from him. He didn't study psychology, his man management came from a true heart and love of everything that goes with football.

FOW Hutchy
The high regard in which he's still held 30 plus years after he left the club just shows you the measure of this man. A true legend and one of the very few people from a bygone era that football fans from all teams never mind hearing stories and quotes from. A great, great man who created the one true footballing dynasty in England.

Tommy
Football is not a game of life of death. Its more important than that. As so was Bill Shankly.

ATTY
Bill Shankly is my idol.What a great manager he was. Now he can look down at ANFIELD and be proud of what you have done. The true hero of Liverpool. YNWA!

Steve White
I was walking through the car park at Anfield as a little boy and suddenly said to my uncle. "look there's god" to which 'god' came over and patted my head.

MDM
The man who put Glenbuck on the map!

colin green toxteth
he made the people happy, Shanks was Liverpool football club, i loved him like i loved my own father in the words of our song you will never walk alone shanks.

Kevin Jane
I can recall watching the 1974 FA Cup Final. Here in Australia we got limited coverage of the great game. Liverpool's 1st FA Cup win was in the year of my birth. Naturally I grew up loving the Beatles so it was an easy choice of whom I would support. Shankly and Paisley made the club what it is today. Thank you Mr Shankly. Football is more important than life or death.

Andrew living in italy
No words will ever be enough to to show what Shanks did for liverpool he gave us "hope in our hearts" god bless

Paul D
Bill Switched on the Christmas lights in Church Street Liverpool must have been 69 or 70? As he left the podium the crowd pushed forward and he missed his footing crashing into me, then just a wee boy of 5 or 6. "you okay wee man"? The legend said as he shook my hand with a vice like grip "Yes sir I stammered" and he was gone. Memories, YNWA Bill God Bless. I remember our little clash every time I walk through the gates!

Paul Callow
They dont make 'em like Shanks anymore, along with Busby,Docherty,Mercer, Revie,Nicholson,Mee,Clough etc these were real legendary managers who had a passion for football.. Shanks words still ring true "football is not a matter of life or death - its much more important than that" !

John Adkins
Shankly led liverpool into the first divsion and unparalleled success at the same time as The Beatles shook the world. To be a scouser in those years was something none us will ever forget. Liverpool beating Inter Milan 3-1 in 1965 after winning the FA Cup for the first time was his finest hour. I have never known such an atmosphere at a football match, Anfield was incandescent with passion. A unique and great man.

Norry Hodder-Canada.
Bill's testimonial at Anfield is the only testimonial I've attended. I attended because he was such an inspiration in his time with his humility,Knowledge and sense of humour

kennedy
He was simply, awsome he created the giant that is liverpool fc

David Matthews, Scunthorpe
Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan, Kenny Dalglish, Graeme Souness, Roy Evans, Gerrard Houlier & Rafa Benitez. Add on the legendary boot room boys such as Ronnie Moran and more recently Sammy Lee and Phil Thompson and you have a list of great people who would never have graced Liverpool Football Club if not for the arrival of Bill Shankly. Great people with Liverpool in their hearts forever all because one man arrived in the great city and made the connection with them. We owe him everything and more for making the people happy....and he still is.

Gavin Begg
Bill Shankley was a man of such passion you couldnt fail to be touvhed and energised by it. If he said something you believed it, so I can only imagin this is what made his players play the way he did and for him to be the catalyst for making Liverpool FC into one of the worlds most historic and successfull clubs. As a scotsman and a football fan he led me to support Liverpool because of what he stood for ie passion, will to win and sportsmanship. He is a true legend and a person who will be foundly remembered by people and football fans alike.

brian cullen
Always remember the story of a disputed goal in a 5-a-side training game. Shanks said "Lets ask Chris Lawler... as honest a man as ever I have met. We'll go with Chris. Lawler said yes boss it was a goal!! Shanks said Your a cheat you have always been a cheat and can't be trusted!! What a great guy Bri a true BLUE!!

GAZMO
Not just a passionate love for the worlds greatest ever football club but a sportsmanship and love for the game itself is what made bill the the legend he still is today.The clown at old trafford should take a leaf out of his book and learn about spotsmanship and dignity.

Gavin
"THE GREATEST" ENOUGH SAID .

Bill Holden
Had it not been for Bill Liverpool wouldn’t have the history they have.....

ellis
i wasnt alive when he was but im a red and i think he is a legend !

Riaz Ahmed
Always remember - YNWA!

Papillon
Despite his bitterness towards local rivals Everton, Bill was, and still is, held in high esteem by everybody in the city of Liverpool. It's a shame that the same respect isn't shown today.

CHERYL DODGSON (IRELAND)
GREAT MAN LIVERPOOL WILL ALWAYS BE ON TOP WHILE HE WATCHES OVER US GOD BLESS THE BEST MAN EVER TOO COME TO LIVERPOOL

eddie harvey from liverpool
bill shankly will always be "Sir bill" to me how that man was never given a knighthood i will never know a great manager...a true man of the people. I grew up watching L.F.C. during the shanks era and remember as a young boy standing in the kop just after he retired and there standing next to me was bill himself he said he wanted to watch a game amonst his own people on the kop, everybody was coming up to him and shaking his hand, what a man!.

Ian Roberts
Bill Shankly is someone the whole city has had heard of.He is an icon not only to Liverpool Football Club,but to the city as a whole.Could you imagine Rafa or David Moyes having a kick around in the local park with some of the kids.NO NOT A CHANCE..Just about say's it all. God bless the legend

James Cummins
I used to sometimes "bunk off" school to spend the day in the Anfield car park waiting to get autographs from the players,Bill Shankly always gave me his autograph ,usually accompanied by the words "Shouldnt you be at school son?"

A Heath, tower hill Kirkby
What a legend is the great shanks always remeber being a youngster with the biggest crush on shanks for some reason the funny thing was i used to have to sneak to anfield and the training gronud to get a glimpse of this hansom man as all of my family including myself were massive evertonians although iam still a blue today i still have them same loving feeling for shanks so to the love of my LFC R.I.P big man i love you x

Craig Stewart from Melling Mount - Kirkby
Being a true red myself, just wanted to say Shanks for everything you have have done for this wonderful club, You'll Never Walk Alone

Craig Stewart
i love rafa but he still has alot to prove to even come close to BILL SHANKLY for what he done for the best club in the world. LFC FOR LIFE

Rob
nothing less than a legend has been missed but never will be forgotten

Andy Heath
am an everton but admire what bill shankley done for football never was shy of speaking great things about the greatest club on merseyside Everton of course and so got to admire him for that maybe one day we'll be talking about the moyesih in the same breath

Keil Gordon
Bar Howard kendle could possibly be the best manager merseyside has come across although sometimes bitter against us blues still a great man shame he couldnt of full filled his dreams and managed the biggest club on merseyside (everton) only god knows what could of been

Gary Sando
The man was football through & through, what he done for Liverpool fc will live in history for ever.

david liverpool
shame shame shame gone but never forgotten we still remember him and i know he looks down over anfield.

Shubhankar Nayak
What a man - a legend in the annals of Liverpool FC History forever...I wish I visit the Anfield some day to get a feel of the Bill Shankly Gates...

paul moran, liverpool
we owe him everything. a genuine man who loved the club and its supporters. still missed greatly. it still brings goosebumps remembering the deafening sound of the crowd singing his name.

David Struminger
The only other mananger in England who can be called a legend in terms of his genious, is Bob Paisley, need I say more. Thank-you for your devotion and loyalty in LFC, your always be remembered.

big john
ha ha

david waterman
my father went in the lfc shop as it was in the 1960's to buy a badge, they did not have any but bill was there at this time and took his badge off and said"here son have mine!"

Stig Myklebust, Oslo
I was fortunate enough to meet Bill Shankly back in -74, just weeks before he announced his retirement. Bill must surely be the greatest football manager of all times - and also the one with the greatest successor! What a man, what a character, what a gift to football and Liverpool FC in particular!!

Mark Tidborough
He was the best

Craig Stewart
I admire the work bill has done. he has put liverpool on the map. that why i will be red until i die, thanks for the memories the great one. LFC Forever

ken wooldridge
I had the privilege of meeting Bill Shankly on several occasions. The first time I met him he was in the canteen drinking tea at a formica topped table along with the apprentices and the young players. The first team squad and the second team squad were in their respective lounges having lunch. Bill Shankly invited myself to have a cup of tea and a long chat.

Andrew Heath
OBE Bill Shankly, what a legend. Unfortunately I wasn't born when OBE Bill Shankly in charge of liverpool fc. But as i've grown up supporting liverpool and i've bought books, video's and also dvd's regarding the past glories but it was in my eye's and many other liverpudlians eye's **SIR Bill Shankly** who stood out from the rest. The way he turned around the clubs fortunes was nothing short of AMAZING, that word AMAZING is how i would describe Obe Bill Shankly (SHANKS)

johnny from Grangemouth
Shankly, Busby, Stein, Ferguson, Dalglish. Yes certainly in the best of company of Football Legends.

tim davies
the man is a legand

Steve Mcgurgan
I recently celebrated my Silver wedding at the Bill Shankly Suite at Anfield. The picture gallery is outstanding the history of his great achievments are all around you. We all felt he was there watching all of us and for many his memory is teasured as a father figure we could all look up too. I would reccomend that you book this suite and enjoy a terrific atmosphere with so many memories.

Peter Maher
I'm a Manchester United supporter but but I do remember him as someone I used to (begrudgingly)love listening to. No tribute I can think of would be too great for Bill Skankly. A legend and a great man. While Liverpool will, rightly, claim him as their own supporters of every other club in England should take a moment to remember Bill as a hero in the truest sence of the word.