Bill Shankly - This website is a part of LFCHistory.net

Manager - Huddersfield

10th December 1955 - 1st December 1959

Shankly's initial interest in a position at Huddersfield was fuelled by his connection with their manager Andy Beattie. Shankly and Beattie had played together at Preston and had remained friends so when, in 1955, Beattie had approached Shankly, with a view to asking him to help out at Leeds Road, Shankly accepted. His initial position at the club was as coach to a reserve team that included several promising youngsters.

The improvement in the fortunes of the reserves was in direct comparison to that of the first team who were promptly relegated from the first division. Thus, in season 56-67 several of Shankly's reserve side found themselves in the first team as Huddersfield adapted to life in the second division. On 5th November 1956, Shankly became first team manager after Beattie resigned his post and on Christmas Eve 1956, he gave a full first team debut to one of the rising stars of the club, 16 year old Denis Law.

Future superstar, Denis Law, signing for Huddersfield

During his time at Huddersfield, Bill took part in a kickabout every Sunday with the locals on a field in Crosland Road near where he was living. He would play whatever the weather and would go in as hard on a ten year old boy as he would on a grown man, never holding back or altering his style for anyone!

Shankly became increasingly frustrated at the lack of ambition shown by his board of directors. They were constantly urging him to sell his best players (Ray Wilson was sold, and Matt Busby was keen on Law), whilst at the same time failing to sanction the purchase of any possible replacements. In November 1959, T.V. Williams, Chairman of Liverpool, offered him the Liverpool job, and after 13 years in management, much of it at basement level, Bill Shankly had found a club that shared his own ambitions about the game and were prepared to give him full backing to achieve them.

On leaving Hudderfield to become Liverpool's manager, Shankly told his players: 'I'm going to a place where they live, eat sleep and drink football. And that's my place.'

Managerial Record:

League Matches: 129
Won: 49
Drawn: 33
Lost: 47

1956/57: 12th in Division 2
1957/58: 9th in Division 2
1958/59: 14th in Division 2
1959/60: resigned on 1st December 1959

Shanks quote
"Bill would often make visits to the local children's hospital at Alder Hey. Some of the children were terminally ill and when he arrived home in the evening after visiting them he would break down in tears. It was because he didn't have the ability to make them better. I did suggest to him that perhaps he should think about taking a break from his hospital visits, and he would get angry and say, 'I've said I'll visit the children and I'll go on visiting them.' and that was that." NESSIE SHANKLY - Bill's dearly beloved wife

Shanks quote

"Bill would often make visits to the local children's hospital at Alder Hey. Some of the children were terminally ill and when he arrived home in the evening after visiting them he would break down in tears. It was because he didn't have the ability to make them better. I did suggest to him that perhaps he should think about taking a break from his hospital visits, and he would get angry and say, 'I've said I'll visit the children and I'll go on visiting them.' and that was that."

NESSIE SHANKLY - Bill's dearly beloved wife

Site News
30 years since Shanks died 29.09.2011 Liverpool's greatest, Bill Shankly, died on Tuesday 29th September 1981 after suffering a heart attack. The front page of Echo read: SHANKLY IS DEAD. It recorded the official hospital statement: "Mr Shankly suffered a cardiac arrest at 12.30 am and was certified dead at 1.20." Shanks had been battling for life since he suffered a heart attack early on Saturday morning. He had been making good progress until his condition deteriorated yesterday morning and he was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit. His wife Nessie was by his side when he died." On 22nd November 1981 "A Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Bill Shankly" was held at Liverpool Cathedral. Here you can download and listen to Bill Shankly‘s memorial service (play with Real Player) that was broadcast on BBC Radio Merseyside from Liverpool's Cathedral.
50 years of Shankly 18.12.2009 Several honours have come Shankly's way as in December 50 years had passed since the Scottish legend signed his contract to become manager of Liverpool Football Club. On the 16th Anfield was the stage for an emotional parade of legends along with nine members of Shankly’s family. The sounds of ‘Amazing Grace’ – Shankly’s favourite hymn reverberated at half-time during the game vs Wigan Athletic. A "SHANKS THE LEGEND" mosaic was unveiled on the Kop prior to kick off. The following day Shankly was awarded an Honorary Citizenship of Liverpool in recognition of the 50th anniversary of his arrival as manager of Liverpool FC and his dedication to the region. The award was presented by Lord Mayor Mike Storey on stage during the Shankly Show at the BT Convention Centre in Liverpool.
Download two original songs about Shankly! 11.09.2009 Paul Wilkes is a singer/songwriter from Liverpool who is a big fan of Bill Shankly. He wrote two great songs in Shankly's honour as 2009 is the 50 year anniversary of when Shankly became Liverpool's manager in 1959. George Sephton, 'The Voice of Anfield', has already given his thumbs up and calls the songs 'gems'. Download the songs here.
Paul Tomkins on Bill Shankly 23.08.2009 Paul Tomkins' book, Dynasty, is a reassessment and an in-depth analysis of every manager of the club over the last 50 years. Shankly.com offers you an exclusive look into an abridged version of Dynasty's chapter on Bill Shankly. Read Paul Tomkins on Bill Shankly.