Your Views
( Volume 2 )

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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

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Gordon Milward

Shanks was a man for the people, his love of the common man will never be repeated in football.he will never be forgotten.

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Martin F

"My idea was to build Liverpool into yer Bastion of Invincibility. Up and up and up until eventually they'd be untouchable, everyone would have to submit"

and he did.

Thanks Shanks

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Graeme Piper

Every day I'd catch a bus from Huyton to school in Widnes. But the attraction of missing it to watch the Reds train at Melwood just a mile or two sometimes proved a bit too strong. Liverpool were, and still are, everything.

One day, about the third or fourth in a row watching the Reds go through their paces, I asked Shanks for his autograph on the ball that I always took to school for the dinnertime matches. He looked at the uniform and asked why I wasn't in school. I have to say I lied to the Boss and he said: "You're no use to me or this club if you let yourself down, son. If you want to play here, then you don't cheat and you don't lie."

I never did it again, but sometime later, I did get a trial, put through my own net and nearly died.

Years after, while working for the Sheffield Star, the city's evening newspaper, I was at home in Liverpool. Shanks had passed away and the newsdesk rang to ask me to file a story. I told them that all I could hear were church bells. They never ran the piece, they didn't believe it. They never knew.

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Martyn Birchall

I now live in America and travel a lot to eastern Europe and want to thank you for creating such a wonderful web-site and one that has given me many hours of pleasure .The great man touched all our lives in some way and it is right that his memory should be kept alive for future generations.The internet provides a marvellous means of doing so and I am able to direct so many to your site. The great man himself would have fully approved of your efforts.......although not of our 5th place in the league.Mind you as my uncle who was a contemporary of Shankly and who introduced me to the game would have said,"we are where we want to be at this stage in the season".

Keep up the good work and I can tell you it is very much appreciated and a great achievement on your part.

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Billy Graves

CONGRATULATIONS & many thanks.....it is about time the great man was given the praise he deserved on a wider scale than just Liverpool.It was superb to find it.

I`ll be back on it often especially when I try to explain to some of our locals in Derby just what it was about the great man that we loved so much.

thanks once again.

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Mark Wells

Just wanted to say what a brilliant site. I don't think many people these days realise just how important Bill Shankly was to the success Liverpool enjoyed in the 70s/80s....none of it could've happened but for him. His attitude and style have defined what playing for Liverpool is all about.

I often wonder had the players we've had recently would've fared under his management.

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Paul Gill

I was born in November 1973, so I don't remember Bill Shankly managing Liverpool. Of course, I knew all the stories and had heard so much about him - but somehow he seemed to be detatched from the Liverpool I know. Being a lifelong Liverpool fan, it's been quite frustrating to know that I hadn't actually seen this man when he was in charge of Liverpool. Consequently, he seemed a distant figure, lost in the mists of Liverpool History and Folklore. Thankfully though, I found your website.

To be quite honest, the way you've put the site together is fantastic. I spent most of my time at work reading it!!! Now, Bill Shankly seems to be more real to me, and for that, I thank you. Somehow, I can't imagine a bigger compliment to make!

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Kenny Bushnell

Glenbuck Son
1913-1981

In Glenbuck he was born
From an Ayrshire mine he did rise
The man who would change so many lives
With the Cherry Pickers he played the game
With Carlisle United he first found fame
At Deepdale with Tom Finny he did play
Seven caps for Scotland he was proud to display
As a manager new tricks to learn
To Carlisle United he did return
At Grimsby he cast his net
The Glenbuck son's destiny was set
Workington and Huddersfield he did run
No to Liverpool in fifty one
Eight years down the line
An historic day in December fifty nine
All would fear the famous THIS IS ANFIELD sign
Promotion in sixty two
Champions in sixty four
The Glenbuck son, Kopites did adore
Sixty five, to Wembley in May
The Glenbuck son took the cup away
Now Into Europe he lead his team
To be Champions of Europe was his dream
Cheated in Milan, all was doom and gloom
Now back home in his beloved boot room
The Glenbuck son would sit in a huddle
Seventy-three he won a league and UEFA cup double.
May Seventy-four back at Wembley once more
Malcom McDonald, what's the score.
July, the Kopites heads are down
The Glenbuck son has relinquished his crown.
September Nineteen eighty one
Rest in peace our Glenbuck son
December 1999 we celebrate his memory
Thank you to the, KING BILL SHANKLY

( Dedicated to Ness )

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Michael

Shanks' Life and death comment is still relevant post-Hillsborough. Without undermining the tragic deaths of that day, or other days that have brought death to football at Bradford, Corsica, Glasgow and others, the richness that the game has brought to the lives of millions around the world, the context and definition that it lends to people the world over and the common humanity and fellowship that football engenders in people lend the words a significance that Shanks himself would not have dreamed of.

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David Liebovitz

I think this Web Site is awsome !!!

This will ensure that the memories of the great man will live on forever, and for the younger generations to appreciate what Liverpool Football Club meant to Shanks and the people around him during his tenure at the club.

Thanks for all the info, and insights into the life and times of Bill Shankly.

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Joy Bratherton

In December 1973 I travelled from my home in the midlands to Norwich to watch the match. Arriving there the night before I settled into my lodgings and it started to snow really heavily. The next morning I went down to the ground to see if the match was on, the turnstile gate was open and on the pitch were three men. I recognised Shanks, Bob Paisley and Joe Fagin. I was only 17 but I wasnt going to miss this chance and walked on to the ground as bold as brass. Shanks welcomed me and thanked me for travelling so far on such an awful day. We spoke for what seemed like an age but it was probably only a few minutes. The moment stays with me today. Which is more than the result of the game does.

On the day I watched his funeral procession pass by all I could think about was that big smile and that warm genuine handshake.

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Sandy

What an inspirational truly great motivator the man was. His rasping scottish voice with passion and eloquence the likes we we never see again made him the best!

In these days of pampered half hearted money grabbing so called super stars I'm only glad that the great man never had to deal with them. Not because he could not have handled them, but they are completely at odds with his foundations - HONESTY, LOYALTY AND PASSION.

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Paul Painton

Excellent site. The best I've seen in fact. Shankly was the greatest there has ever been.

Your site is a quality tribute to a great man.

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Paul Watson

This site proves that Bill Shankly was nearly as famous as Harry Catterick!!

Enjoyed the site.

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Rob O'Connor

Just a quick note to say how much I appreciated the Shankly site. I am too young to remember him as manager but from the things people have told me, and what I have read on your site he was and still is a great man and will always be remembered.

Once again, a great site and a great tribute - well done.

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Russell Green

The anecdote about Shankly arriving in the dressing room with his shirt torn and his hair ruffled after his visit to the KOP. I was a young boy sitting on the Pulpit wall on the Kemlyn Road side of the KOP. I remember getting to the ground early and watching the kop fill up. I remember looking down and seeing a large gap appear in the crowd front and centre of the Kop about half an hour before the game. It was usually somebody relieving themselves or a scuffle. But then through the smoke haze, i could make out Shanks, arms folded across his chest. I will never forget the buzz that went around the crowd and the moment when shanks raised his hands aloft to an almighty roar before heading back to the dressing room. It still sends tingles down my spine.

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Doug Stackhouse

I can't believe it! You've just made my day!

I grew up watching Carlisle United from 1964-1987 then moved to the USA. All I heard growing up was how great United were when Shanks was in charge-judging by what he did at Anfield I can see why.

My Dad is a huge fan of Bill, and will be thrilled when I tell him about your site---thanks a million mate!

All the best, Doug Stackhouse
Boston USA

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