Listen to Shankly's memorial service
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."
Listen to Bill Shankly‘s memorial service (play with Real Player) "A service of Thanksgiving for the life of Bill Shankly" that was broadcast on BBC Radio Merseyside from Liverpool's Cathedral on 22nd November 1981.
A number of Shanks' favourite hymns are sung; Amazing Grace, Onward Christian Soldiers, Lord I Trust Thee and the Battle Hymn of the Republic.
Three of Shanks' friends take the podium to talk about the attributes that Shanks prized the most; Kevin Keegan on integrity, Tom Finney on enthusiasm and Bob Paisley on inspiration.
Ian St John addresses the congregration and Gerry Marsden concludes the proceedings by singing You'll Never Walk Alone.
Note there are short sound disruptions that occur on occasion in this hour long recording.
Copyright - BBC - made available for download from BBC's website
Shanks quote
"He would phone me up every Sunday morning. Each call followed the same ritual, with Shankly eulogising over his Liverpool players. Every player would be praised, including the substitute who would have contributed to the victory even if he had not played. To Shankly, every player in that red strip had everything; a right foot, left foot, tackling, heading and stamina. No player had a weakness, they were each the best player, position for position in the world. When I managed to get in a mention of one of my own players, he would just say, 'a fair player, nae bad,' leaving me wondering how Leeds ever managed to win a match with no great players, not even good ones for all that Bill would admit to."
DON REVIE - Leeds United manager in the 60s and 70s
