1932 - 33

Bill's uncle was a director at Carlisle United and this family connection undoubtedly helped Bill make the decision to go to Brunton Park in the summer of 1932. Preston were also showing interest but they were a division higher and Bill thought it best to make a start in professional football a rung lower down the ladder. Even so, by the time Christmas 1932 had come round, he was already forcing his way into the Carlisle first team. His displays as a hard running, gritty right-half, brought him much praise and credit and he was earmarked as a key young player capable of taking Carlisle on to greater things.

So dedicated to the game was Shankly, that during the summer of 1933, after completing his first season as a pro, he returned to Glenbuck where he continued to do his own training. Being an early exponent of the long throw-in he would practice by throwing balls over a row of houses and getting the small boys of the village to fetch them back for him.