Your Views
( Volume 1 )

Click here for 'Your Views' - Volume 2

Click here for 'Your Views' - Volume 3

Click here for 'Your Views' - Volume 4

Click here for 'Your Views' - Volume 5

Click here for 'Your Views' - Volume 6

The North Down Tommy Smith Liverpool Supporters Club

*

Sappho The Red

I loved the article 'can we have our game back'. i am sick to death of going to anfield and being surrounded by tossers who don't care about the club. it is not fair that rich twats get to see games, when genuine fans often can't afford to go. one of the most infuriating aspects of this is the lack of atmosphere: they all turn up for their big day out to a trendy 'soccer' match but don't bother to stand or sing, and get moody with those of us who do actually make an effort. i totally agree with your viewthat the sooner the money-grabbing bastards get out of our game the better.

p.s. can you make the site slightly less sexist:
us girls are as passionate about the game as the lads!!!

*

Phil Ritson

Bill shankly was one of those managers who knew that every individual had greatness within him. At Liverpool, he did bring in a string of new coaches. He knew Paisley, Fagan, Moran and Bennett were good enough if they if they knew they were good enough. He got rid of the players who did not want to try and kept those who did. He knew self belief would make moderate talents like Tommy Smith, Ian Callaghan, Roger hunt etc unbeatable. He was like Don Revie in that way. He knew his club already had the players and coaches needed for greatness, all he asked was that the players and coaches believe it too. I think that is why we will never see his like again.

Football's too disconected from ordinary life these day's. You can't tell a young kid to "believe in yourself, you'll make it" because the highest level of the game is just so far away from an 18 year old's normal exerience that only the very talented can realistically say "yes, I will". Can you imagine a manager today telling the players that football is about a collective unit working together and shring the rewards (Alex Ferguson tells his palyers that all the time). But can you every imagine a modern manager insiring his palyers by telling them that's socialism? Talk life that would get you fired today quicker than you can say "Eileen Drewery". Bill was a unique man; but, today's game would not be able to accomodate him. The modern game is all the poorer for that.

*

Dave Threlfall

I was the great man's paperboy during the 70s for 2 years.

My house backed on to Bellefield, some other team's training ground, and opposite was what is now Shankly Playing fields. He was open with the Blue fans as he was with everyone else. He would always stop and chat with them waiting for autographs at the entrance.

Quite a few mornings he'd be out when I arrived and he'd say hello and chat a bit.

All the stories that are told about him being a man of the people are completely true.

When he retired he walked allot and would often pass my house in Sandforth Road, 2 doors way from Bellefield Training ground. He would stop and chat to the blues supporters waiting for autographs.

If you said hello to him he would always stop and talk.

*

Mark Thomason

My everlasting memory of "Shanks" was as a young boy attending an ameteur boxing night at the Pirrie Labour Club in Liverpool. My father was on the door that night and Shanks was due to do the prize giving.

When Shanks arrived my father jokingly said that he had booked Shanks in for a three round exhibition bout at the end of the night , Shanks quick as a flash in that Scottish Burr replied "My fights don't last three rounds Son".

I suppose you had to be there, but that memory and the Man will live with me forever.

Thanks for a truly great site.
All the best
Mark.

*

Tom Jones

Congratulations on a Fabulous web site worthy of the great man himself. I was fortunate enough to get a cup final ticket of Bill in 1974, after a heartfelt plea to the great man from my lovely mum who died recently.

She is up there now thanking him for the many phone calls we recieved, sparked off as a result of the thank you letter we sent for the ticket.

He actually rang our house on a number of occasions thanking my mun for birthday cards, christmas cards etc she would send him.

I will never forget the occasion i answerd the phone to him, the reds had just signed Kenny Dalglish, i asked Shanks what he thought of him GRREEAT player son, was the reply, not a bad judge was he!

*

Paul Murray

Heres quite a famous story of an incident that happened on a pre season tour to the U.S.
When the plane landed Bob Paisley asked Bill if he would like to go to the airport bar for a drink. Bill looking at his watch exclaimed "its bloody three in the morning im off to bed" When Bob tried to explain that they had crossed an international time zone and it was in fact 7 in the evening U.S. time. Bill in typical Shankly fashion pronounced that he was off to bed and no Yank was going to tell him what time it was.

*

Steve Darby

Firstly an excellent site,well produced and of course with bias, a well deserved subject. I have been a professional player and Coach for the last twenty years in various parts of the world (USA,Bahrain, Australia,Fiji and currently Malaysia) and I have always tried to instill the Shankly philosophies in my players. I was fortunate enough to go to Anfield Road School and never missed a game in the 60s. First in the Boys Pen and then in the Kop. Days you cannot forget.

I was about to embark on my first overseas professional coaching job to Bahrain and I was at Melwood watching Liverpool train to get ideas. I was early and to my shock I saw Shanks running around Melwood. I plucked up the courage to speak to him as it was like meeting "God" I asked him for advice in my career..His first words were.."the most important thing is to learn to make tea!! So go and make me one!!"

He then sat with me for about half an hour and he was just like the image. Unlike many of the Football legends I have met in my career he was truly everything he was supposed to be.My current team Johor won the 1998 Malaysian FA Cup and left the dressing room to"You'll never walk alone" Grown men are not supposed to have heroes, but if you love football and were brought up in Liverpool in the 60s you have to have shanks as a hero. His manner and lifestyle and philosophy of football proves that there are more important things in life than money.

Once gain congratulations on a great memorial.
Steve

*

Tony McCrorie

Thank you very very much for producing the Bill Shankly site; it's a real 'lump in the throat' job! I saw Shanks many times but only met him once, outside St Andrews (Birmingham City) in the 1960s when I was about 12.

The quote I always remember was when Shanks was asked what he looked for in a striker and the reply was "Apart from the obvious, a man who is not frightened to miss."

Thanks again.

*

Paul Smith

Brill site, very emotive, I doubt that Shanks would honestly believe that football was more important than life itself, but I'm sure that he would agree that it's alot more important than the cheque you take home at the end of the week! Maybe someone should tell the players this as money seems to be the only motivator! Gone are the passionate days when the red jersey meant something, or that touching the this is Anfield sign on the way to the field made you feel invincible. We are dealing with materialistic egos and the footballs just not the same, you probably think I'm some 70 year old whiner, I'm 26 years old and like all true Liverpool supporters, I can tell the difference between good and uninspired football

Cheers
Great site!

*

Vangelis Kioulafis

My name is Vangelis Kioulafis and i'm from Athens, Greece. I'm 27 and since the age of 7 i have been a liverpool supporter. I have been 12 times at anfield and 2 times at wembley (1989 fa cup final, 1992 charity shield).

I'm a great fan of bill shankly. I think bill shankly is the greatest ever man in the history of football. I will never forget when i have visited shankly house and met shankly's widow, nessie. It was tremendous for me, me and my mates from greece sitting in shankly's living room...tremendous.

Congratulation for the site...very good. One of the greatest.

*

Keith Edwards

As a 8/9 year old my dad would take me to work sometimes, and we would go in the Eaton Rd cafe for breakfast. Shanks, who had retired by then, would be sitting in there and would come right over and keep us there for ages, him talking, us listening. About 4 years later my dad jumped out his van in Old Swan. He said it was lashing down, and who ran up to him and made him take the umberella cos of the rain but Bill."You have not been in the cafe for ages" he said, again my dad protested about the umberella, but Shanks gestured for him to shut up and said "Son, you work too hard and I can go home now and dry off, you still have to work all afternoon. Besides, a few years ago you told me the only mistake I have ever made since coming to Liverpool was resigning. So you just resign yourself to the fact that I'm right again and get under the f*****g thing."

He then spent another 20 mins getting wet while talking football. My dad said he could see people looking at him thinking why he did not offer Shanks his brolley.At the end of the conversation my dad handed Bill his brolley back and an old lady, walking past at the time told my dad he should be ashamed of himself.Mr Shankly walked away laughing his head off.

I now live in Australia, and the footy team I play for has a trainer/coach who has been at the club for years. He is a mad red, 65 years old and everyone knows him by one name only. SHANKS.

This is a legend that will never die.

You have a great site. Keep up the good work.

Regards
Keith.

*

John Gregory

Great website Derek worthy of the man it portrays.I have been connected with football all my life and although I am not a Liverpool fan I can remember being at Anfield just prior to the Shankly era and during it,what a transformation.I knew a bit about Bill from his days at Huddersfield,the five a side games went on forever or until his team were victorious whichever was the sooner.Shanks was the greatest manager of all time,sure he had success but his appetite for the game,his outstanding personality,his humour,his great knowledge of the game a voice that just commanded your attention.He was the most loved and respected manager of his time,by everyone,he did not have an enemy in the World and if ever a club and manager were made for each other then Liverpool and Shankly were the ones....

...Although I never met him I feel a close friendship with him somehow, I guess its because I so loved his attitude,not only toward the game but to life itself and above all his great wit.Also we should never forget how honest he was,a genuine and sincere man,a players man and a supporters man also.I myself am now 67years of age,a young 67 I believe and I have both played and followed football for 62 of those years,I would have to say that whenever I think football which is often,Shanks always comes to my mind and how there will never ever be another one like him. Rest in peace Bill we love you and miss you and will never forget you

*

Gary Lord

Keep on telling the world about Shankly. This man made Liverpool Football Club.

I remember seeing him standing on the Kop not long after he retired (I was sitting in the Main Stand). He was clearly visible from a distance because the crowd had made space for him, forming a circle around where he was standing. The respect was immense.

His achievements and charisma will always be remembered as long as Liverpool Football club exist.

*

Colm McCrory

Just writing to say what a great site. Im a dj and i finish every night with 'You never walk alone', dedicated to Shankly. Its great to see 1000 people sing along with every word every week. Shankly is the greatest, I wish Liverpool had him now.

*

Chris

when i woke up from a coma 3 years ago after nearly dying of meningitis, i had time to think and read...since then i have re-read my copy of shankly by shankly several times ..and now whenever i think i am off-line i read extracts to myself, or if i am unsure, it helps me to remember whats important - to believe in the right things and do the right things to avoid pettyness and have hope, and i never walk alone...

*

Bill Osborne

My greatest memory of sayings about Bill Shankly was when he was manager of Grimsby Town. He had one of his many disagreements with the Chairman who stated "That man is not cut out to be a manager and he will never succeed"!

*

Hugh Guthrie

... It is my view that Bob Paisely was a better manager than Shankly. I say this without taking anything away from Shanks' achievements. Bob Paisley was one of the greatest ever British managers but never really seemed to get recognition for this and was certainly not shown the affection given to Shanks. This remains the case today when people still immediately think of Shankly and Liverpool as 'one'. This situation has always puzzled me, perhaps because I missed the Shankly years. I do not know if the reasons behind this affection can be logically explained or communicated fully to someone trying to undertand it.

Am I correct in thinking that towards the end of his life the relationship between Shankly and the club or the management at the time was a bit stained? It would have been sad if that was the case. I just wish that the current Liverpool side had a manager the quality of Shankly, Paisley or Dalglish ...

Thanking you for a great site,
Hugh Guthrie.

*

'Cogarden'

Please accept my greatest wishes and thanks to you for a magnificent website dedicated to the "legend" himself.

*

Thot Zakariassen

Hello Derek!!! I'm a Norwegian Liverpool-fan and have just started to create my own Liverpool-page. I've been searching for stuff like this. Shankly is THE GREATEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Many thanks!!!

*

Bill Bradford

Derek, I just looked at this site - excellent ... Walk on - BILL.

*

Derek Werrett

I wonder what Shankly would have made of the Internet ? He would probably have said something like 'if it does'nae play fitba it's nae use to me'.

*