Sign the UK Government petition for 'Sir' Bob Paisleyhttp://petitions.pm.gov.uk/SirBobPaisley
This article is from the Liverpool Echo. There is a link at the bottom. I think a lot of you guys will agree with me that Bob Paisley should be knighted for what he done for LFC and football in general. (Mods, if this has been posted before, I apologise. Move it if you can. Thanks)
Campaign to knight Reds’ Bob PaisleyFeb 20 2007
by Ian Hernon, Liverpool Echo
BOB Paisley could finally be in line for a knighthood, more than 10 years after his death.
Tony Blair's Downing Street e-petition website is getting internet demands for a posthumous honour for the manager who steered Liverpool FC to nine European and domestic league titles.
Over the past 24 hours, 164 fans have registered their support with No 10.
Lifelong Reds fan Ian Little, who launched the petition, said: “Bob Paisley was England's best ever manager and won the European Cup three times while manager of Liverpool, yet he only ever received the OBE.
“He also won the domestic league title six of the nine years he was in charge. Alex Ferguson has only won the European Cup once, yet he received a knighthood.
“This is not equitable.”
The prime minister has already said he will “take notice” of voters who express an opinion to him online.
An aide said: “He treats this new innovation, e-petitions direct to his office, as people power in action, and if enough fans log on in sufficient numbers then he will consider it.”
Merseyside MPs are offering full support.
Knowsley North MP and Reds fan George Howarth said: “It would be a very fitting tribute, a reward not just for what he did for Liverpool FC, but also for what he did to raise the game in general.
“He was the quiet man of football, but his contribution should be recognised.”
Bootle MP Joe Benton said: “I fully endorse this, even though as an Everton fan I have very many good reasons to regret his stewardship of Liverpool.
“He was one of the most respected football managers in my lifetime, and indeed in the history of football.”
Paisley was a Liverpool player from 1939 to 1954 and succeeded Bill Shankly as manager in 1974.
Over the next nine seasons Liverpool won six league titles and finished second twice, three League cups, one Uefa cup, one European Super cup and five charity shields.
He was the only man to coach three European cup winning sides.
After his death in 1996 the club named one Anfield entrance the Paisley Gate, as they had previously done with the Shankly Gate.
You can sign the petition by logging on to
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/SirBobPaisley and completing the short form. Petitioners have until March 13 to sign up.