Shankly: 50 years since his arrival

Shanklys 50th anniversary

Next week will mark the 50th anniversary of the most significant event in the history of Liverpool Football Club. On 1st December 1959 a statement issued by the club’s chairman, T.V. Williams, announced the appointment of Bill Shankly as the club’s new manager. Shankly arrived at Anfield on 14th December and took charge of his first game on 19th December, halfway through the 1959/60 season. As most fans will know, Liverpool were in the old Second Division and had been since being relegated at the end of the 1953/54 season.

In 1961/62, Shankly’s second full season in charge, Liverpool won the Second Division championship and were duly promoted to the First Division where they have remained ever since.

In 1962/63, Liverpool’s very first season back in the top flight, they finished in a very respectable 8th place and have never finished lower than that in all of the years since. That's a top 8 finish in every one of the 47 seasons from 1962/63 to 2008/09 and counting!

During this time Liverpool have won the League 13 times, been runners-up 10 times, third on 7 occasions and fourth on 5 occasions. That's a top 4 finish (or a Champions League place in today’s currency) in 35 out of 47 seasons. They finished in the top 7 (or in a UEFA Cup place in today’s currency) on 45 of those 47 seasons, finishing 8th on the other two occasions. No other English team can boast such consistency over such a long period. In fact there are possibly only a handful of teams in the world that can boast such consistent success in one of the world’s top leagues over nearly half a century.

By comparison, Manchester United have finished as low as 18th in 1973, 21st in 1974 (when they were relegated), 11th in 1987, 11th in 1989 and 13th in 1990. Those last three under Alex Ferguson.

Arsenal have finished as low as 13th in 1965, 14th in 1966, 12th in 1970, 16th in 1975, 17th in 1976 and 12th in 1995.

Chelsea have finished as low as 12th in 1973, 17th in 1974, 21st in 1975 (when they were relegated), 16th in 1978, 22nd in 1979 (when they were relegated again), 14th in 1987, 18th in 1988 (when they were relegated yet again), 14th in 1992 and 14th in 1994.

During the last fifty years other great teams have come and gone. Leeds United in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Derby County in the early 1970s. Nottingham Forest in the late 1970s. Everton in the late 1980s. But where are they all now?

Of course Liverpool’s peak period in the League was during 1972/73 to 1990/91 when they finished either first or second in 18 out of 19 seasons. The greatest League campaign of all was in 1978/79 when Liverpool achieved a total of 68 points out of a maximum 84 available (42 games played under the two points for a win system). That equates to 80.95% of the total points available. This has only ever been bettered once by Chelsea in 2004/05 (who achieved 83.33% of the total available points).

Looking at the points achieved in a season as a percentage of the total maximum points available is possibly the best way to compare the performance of teams over different seasons as it allows for variances in both the number of league games played and the points awarded for a win.

Liverpool’s second greatest league season, using this method, was in 2008/09 (yes last season!) when they achieved a total of 86 points out of a maximum 114 available (38 games played under the three points for a win system). This equates to 75.44% of the total points available. Unfortunately Liverpool still only managed to finish in second place despite surpassing every other season in the club’s history with the sole exception of 1978/79. That’s a greater points tally than in 17 of the club’s 18 title-winning seasons. So much for the myth that Benitez does not understand the Premier League.

The club’s third greatest league season was 1987/88 when they achieved 90 points out of a total of 120 available (40 games played under the three points for a win system). This equates to 75.00% of the total points available.

Following this Liverpool’s fourth and fifth best league seasons were in 1965/66 and 1968/69 (a year when they again only finished second). In both of these seasons Liverpool achieved 72.62% of the total available points.

What is again interesting is that the club’s sixth greatest league campaign came in 2005/06 when, despite only finishing in third place, they amassed a total of 82 points out of a maximum 114 available (equating to 71.93%). This represented a higher percentage than in 15 of the club’s 18 championship winning seasons. Again, Rafa Benitez was at the helm.

Liverpool have only achieved in excess of 70% of the total available points on five other occasions. In 1922/23, 1972/73, 1975/76 and 1979/80 they achieved a total of 71.43% of the total points available and in 2001/02, under Gerard Houllier, they achieved a total of 70.18% in Liverpool’s eleventh greatest league campaign (although, unfortunately, it only merited a second place finish).

The club has clearly shown incredible consistency over a period of some 47 years and counting. Liverpool might not have actually won the League title since 1989/90 but they have managed three of their greatest ever performances in a league season, in 2001/02, 2005/06 and 2008/09 despite only finishing second, third and second respectively. The problem has been that the standard achieved by the other top teams (Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea) has also been exceptionally and consistently high (especially since 1999/2000). In eight of those ten seasons (1999/2000 to 2008/09) the eventual champions achieved in excess of 75% of the total points available. The average winning points tally during those ten seasons represented 77.46% of the total points available.

By contrast, during the previous ten years (1989/90 to 1998/99) the average winning points tally represented only 69.47% of the total points available. There can be little doubt that the standards set by Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool over the last ten years have been incredibly and historically high. All four teams, even when finishing in second and third place have done so with point tallies that would have seen them romp home to the league title in any other historical era. Liverpool’s failure to secure a 19th league title under both Houllier (in 2001/02) and Benitez (in 2005/06 and 2008/09) needs to be viewed in this context.

Of course, Liverpool have not only enjoyed phenomenal consistency in the league but have also been the most consistently successful football club in terms of silverware in general. Since winning the Second Division Championship and gaining promotion to the top flight in 1961/62 Liverpool have won a total of 35 major honours. As well as the 13 League Championships there have been 5 European Cups, 3 UEFA Cups, 7 FA Cups and 7 League Cups. Also, during this period, Liverpool have been losing finalists twice in the European Cup, once in the European Cup Winners’ Cup, four times in the FA Cup and three times in the League Cup as well as being runners-up in the League 10 times.

Between 1972/73 and 1991/92 (a golden period of 20 years) Liverpool fans never had to endure two consecutive seasons when they did not win one of the major trophies and they only finished empty-handed on four occasions in total (1974/75, 1984/85, 1986/87 and 1990/91). During those 20 years Liverpool won the League title eleven times and were runners-up seven times. They also won 4 European Cups (from 5 finals), 2 UEFA Cups, 4 FA Cups (from 6 finals) and 4 League Cups (from 6 finals). 25 major trophies in a 20 year period bookended by the League Championship and UEFA Cup double in Shankly’s penultimate season and the FA Cup win in Souness’ first.

Prior to this golden period there was the five year period between 1961/62 and 1965/66 when Liverpool won the Second Division title, the League Championship twice, the FA Cup for the first time in the club’s history, were runners-up in the European Cup Winners’ Cup and semi-finalists in the European Cup. Little did anyone know at the time that this was just a prelude to the main act that was to follow just a few years later.

Sandwiched between this 5 year prelude and the magnificent 20 year glory days were 6 trophy-less seasons. A transitional period which saw Shankly’s great team of the 1960s evolve into the great team of the early 1970s. Of course there were highpoints, runners-up in the League in 1968/69, third in 1967/68 and 1971/72. Finalists in the FA Cup in 1970/71 and semi-finalists in the UEFA Cup the same year. Nevertheless, six seasons without a trophy under the great Bill Shankly. From here on in, future transitional periods would be seamless and the club have never gone as many consecutive seasons without silverware since.

This brings us to the second barren period since the promotion and rebirth of the club in the 1961/62 season. The “dark ages” of the 1990s. Between the FA Cup win in 1991/92 and Houllier’s magnificent treble of 2000/01 Liverpool won just one trophy in 8 years, the 1994/95 League Cup win under Roy Evans. Just as no one could have predicted Liverpool’s unprecedented and unequalled 20 year period of dominance between 1972/73 and 1991/92, no one could have imagined the trophy-drought of 1992/93 to 1999/2000.

Of course, this second barren period felt a lot “darker” than the one in the late 1960s and early 1970s because of what had gone before. The weight of expectation was higher. The feeling of disappointment greater, a situation not helped by the fact that Manchester United had embarked upon a period of dominance almost on a par (domestically if not in European terms) with that enjoyed by Liverpool in their golden period.

However, success and failure are relative concepts. The 8 year period 1992/93 to 1999/2000 is comparable to the 6 year period 1966/67 to 1971/72. It too had its highpoints. As well as the League Cup win in 1994/95, Liverpool were finalists in the FA Cup in 1995/96 and semi-finalists in the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1996/97. They finished third in the League in 1995/96 and 1997/98 and fourth in 1994/95, 1996/97 and 1999/2000.

The renaissance of Liverpool Football Club began in 2000/01 with the fantastic treble of League Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup under Gerard Houllier. It was like a throwback to the glory days of the 1970s and 1980s. After 5 seasons without a trophy the fans were treated to 3 in one year.

Looking back at the 9 years from 2000/01 it is beginning to look like the treble was indeed the start of a new golden era in the club’s history. It was followed by another League Cup win in 2002/03 and a place in that competition’s final in 2004/05. There was the miracle of Istanbul, a fifth European Cup success, also in 2004/05. The FA Cup followed in 2005/06 and another European Cup Final in 2006/07 and semi-final in 2007/08.

That’s six trophies in 9 years and two other cup final appearances. I have already mentioned the great League campaigns of 2001/02, 2005/06 and 2008/09 when Liverpool achieved their eleventh, sixth and second greatest seasons ever in terms of the percentage of the total available points attained.

Liverpool may not have won the League Championship since 1989/90 (19 years and counting) but they have nevertheless continued to be one of the top teams in England and Europe throughout the last 47 years. No other team has been able to maintain such consistently high standards over such a long period of time.

Fifty years ago next week, Bill Shankly, with Bob Paisley and Joe Fagan at his side, embarked on the road to build Liverpool Football Club into a “bastion of invincibility”. Half a century later, having endured two of the worst tragedies in sporting history, Liverpool are still one of the most feared, most respected, most admired and most consistently successful sporting institutions in the world. For almost fifty years Liverpool fans have witnessed triumphant highs that most other football fans can only dream about. And, if inevitably, there have been some seasons when we have not quite reached the same peaks, then let us be thankful that we have at least always had the top of the mountain in sight and often, tantalisingly, within reach.

Let us be thankful that a poor season for us is one where the team only finishes third or fourth in the league or only makes the semi-final of the European Cup or is a beaten finalist in the FA Cup. Be thankful that this is down to great managers like Kenny Dalglish, Roy Evans, Gerard Houllier and Rafa Benitez who have kept the spirit of Shankly and the power of Paisley alive. The bastion has survived the twin tragedies of Heysel and Hillsborough. It continues to stand strong and proud.

Keep things in perspective. Here’s to the next 50 years.

Click Liverpool presents '50 Years of Bill Shankly'

http://www.clickliverpool.com/sport/liverpool-fc/126822-50-years-of-bill-shankly.html

“My idea was to build Liverpool into a bastion of invincibility. Napoleon had that idea and he conquered the bloody world, and that's what I wanted - for Liverpool to be untouchable. My idea was to build Liverpool up and up and up until, eventually, everyone would have to submit, and give in” - Bill Shankly

Tuesday 1 December 1959 is a date that will forever be etched in the minds of football supporters everywhere as it was on this day that Bill Shankly was confirmed as the new manager of Liverpool Football Club.

A fortnight later, a gruff-voiced Scot walked into Anfield and set about building a football dynasty which would span three decades of domestic and European domination and leave a legacy that would make Kopites truly proud of their club.

When Shankly arrived on Merseyside, he was greeted by a general state of dilapidation from the stadium to the team, both of whom had seen better days.

He once told reporters: "If you'd seen Anfield when I came it was the biggest toilet in Liverpool. I had to bring water in from Oakfield Road. It cost £3,000. There was no water to flush the toilets."

In the 15 years Shankly spent at Anfield, Liverpool won four League Championships, two FA Cups, one UEFA Cup and one Second Division title.

His legacy has spanned even further and continues to do so to this day. A bronze statue of the Scot adorns the entrance to the Kop stand whilst the Shankly Gates, bearing the words of the club's anthem 'You'll Never Walk Alone' welcome visitors at Anfield Road.

Legendary Reds defender Chris Lawler recalls Shankly's arrival at Melwood and how he came to enter the fold at Anfield following a chance meeting with the new manager.

He said: "I had just turned 16 and was on the club's ground staff, doing odd jobs like cleaning, painting and brushing up, when I bumped into Bill Shankly in the corridor. It was his first day in the job and people were scared of him.

"But when I told him my name he knew who I was. Considering he'd only just come to Anfield it made me realise right away how incredibly thorough he was. He asked me how often I trained. I told him I did two
nights a week training with the amateurs. 'Right, son,' he said. ' From now on you train with the seniors every day'."

To mark the 50th anniversary of the man who changed the face of Liverpool FC forever, Click Liverpool will be producing a '50 Years of Shankly' series where we will be speaking about the great man with the people who knew him. Readers can look forward to exclusive interviews from ex-players, supporters and even members of Shanks's family.

We will also be previewing and reviewing the critically acclaimed Shankly Show with esteemed Merseyside broadcaster John Keith ahead of its one-off performance at the Liverpool Empire on December 14 so stay tuned to Click Liverpool for all the latest developments as well as our dedicated Liverpool FC coverage including live minute-by-minute updates from every home game, direct from the Anfield press box.

* Photograph courtesy of Stephen Hale.

Well in mate a brief history lesson to new fans, that puts our current situation into perspective.

Who is this 'shankly' chap? U telling me there was a great liverpool manager before souness?

 Without a doubt Bill Shankly was the man Liverpool Football Club needed 50 years ago to set us on the road to greatness.He signed players  who shared his vision in wanting the REDS to be the best in the world.To any of the younger posters who never saw the great man in action you do not know what you missed.

Shanklys 50th anniversary

Next week will mark the 50th anniversary of the most significant event in the history of Liverpool Football Club. On 1st December 1959 a statement issued by the club’s chairman, T.V. Williams, announced the appointment of Bill Shankly as the club’s new manager. Shankly arrived at Anfield on 14th December and took charge of his first game on 19th December, halfway through the 1959/60 season. As most fans will know, Liverpool were in the old Second Division and had been since being relegated at the end of the 1953/54 season.

In 1961/62, Shankly’s second full season in charge, Liverpool won the Second Division championship and were duly promoted to the First Division where they have remained ever since.

In 1962/63, Liverpool’s very first season back in the top flight, they finished in a very respectable 8th place and have never finished lower than that in all of the years since. That's a top 8 finish in every one of the 47 seasons from 1962/63 to 2008/09 and counting!

During this time Liverpool have won the League 13 times, been runners-up 10 times, third on 7 occasions and fourth on 5 occasions. That's a top 4 finish (or a Champions League place in today’s currency) in 35 out of 47 seasons. They finished in the top 7 (or in a UEFA Cup place in today’s currency) on 45 of those 47 seasons, finishing 8th on the other two occasions. No other English team can boast such consistency over such a long period. In fact there are possibly only a handful of teams in the world that can boast such consistent success in one of the world’s top leagues over nearly half a century.

By comparison, Manchester United have finished as low as 18th in 1973, 21st in 1974 (when they were relegated), 11th in 1987, 11th in 1989 and 13th in 1990. Those last three under Alex Ferguson.

Arsenal have finished as low as 13th in 1965, 14th in 1966, 12th in 1970, 16th in 1975, 17th in 1976 and 12th in 1995.

Chelsea have finished as low as 12th in 1973, 17th in 1974, 21st in 1975 (when they were relegated), 16th in 1978, 22nd in 1979 (when they were relegated again), 14th in 1987, 18th in 1988 (when they were relegated yet again), 14th in 1992 and 14th in 1994.

During the last fifty years other great teams have come and gone. Leeds United in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Derby County in the early 1970s. Nottingham Forest in the late 1970s. Everton in the late 1980s. But where are they all now?

Of course Liverpool’s peak period in the League was during 1972/73 to 1990/91 when they finished either first or second in 18 out of 19 seasons. The greatest League campaign of all was in 1978/79 when Liverpool achieved a total of 68 points out of a maximum 84 available (42 games played under the two points for a win system). That equates to 80.95% of the total points available. This has only ever been bettered once by Chelsea in 2004/05 (who achieved 83.33% of the total available points).

Looking at the points achieved in a season as a percentage of the total maximum points available is possibly the best way to compare the performance of teams over different seasons as it allows for variances in both the number of league games played and the points awarded for a win.

Liverpool’s second greatest league season, using this method, was in 2008/09 (yes last season!) when they achieved a total of 86 points out of a maximum 114 available (38 games played under the three points for a win system). This equates to 75.44% of the total points available. Unfortunately Liverpool still only managed to finish in second place despite surpassing every other season in the club’s history with the sole exception of 1978/79. That’s a greater points tally than in 17 of the club’s 18 title-winning seasons. So much for the myth that Benitez does not understand the Premier League.

The club’s third greatest league season was 1987/88 when they achieved 90 points out of a total of 120 available (40 games played under the three points for a win system). This equates to 75.00% of the total points available.

Following this Liverpool’s fourth and fifth best league seasons were in 1965/66 and 1968/69 (a year when they again only finished second). In both of these seasons Liverpool achieved 72.62% of the total available points.

What is again interesting is that the club’s sixth greatest league campaign came in 2005/06 when, despite only finishing in third place, they amassed a total of 82 points out of a maximum 114 available (equating to 71.93%). This represented a higher percentage than in 15 of the club’s 18 championship winning seasons. Again, Rafa Benitez was at the helm.

Liverpool have only achieved in excess of 70% of the total available points on five other occasions. In 1922/23, 1972/73, 1975/76 and 1979/80 they achieved a total of 71.43% of the total points available and in 2001/02, under Gerard Houllier, they achieved a total of 70.18% in Liverpool’s eleventh greatest league campaign (although, unfortunately, it only merited a second place finish).

The club has clearly shown incredible consistency over a period of some 47 years and counting. Liverpool might not have actually won the League title since 1989/90 but they have managed three of their greatest ever performances in a league season, in 2001/02, 2005/06 and 2008/09 despite only finishing second, third and second respectively. The problem has been that the standard achieved by the other top teams (Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea) has also been exceptionally and consistently high (especially since 1999/2000). In eight of those ten seasons (1999/2000 to 2008/09) the eventual champions achieved in excess of 75% of the total points available. The average winning points tally during those ten seasons represented 77.46% of the total points available.

By contrast, during the previous ten years (1989/90 to 1998/99) the average winning points tally represented only 69.47% of the total points available. There can be little doubt that the standards set by Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool over the last ten years have been incredibly and historically high. All four teams, even when finishing in second and third place have done so with point tallies that would have seen them romp home to the league title in any other historical era. Liverpool’s failure to secure a 19th league title under both Houllier (in 2001/02) and Benitez (in 2005/06 and 2008/09) needs to be viewed in this context.

Of course, Liverpool have not only enjoyed phenomenal consistency in the league but have also been the most consistently successful football club in terms of silverware in general. Since winning the Second Division Championship and gaining promotion to the top flight in 1961/62 Liverpool have won a total of 35 major honours. As well as the 13 League Championships there have been 5 European Cups, 3 UEFA Cups, 7 FA Cups and 7 League Cups. Also, during this period, Liverpool have been losing finalists twice in the European Cup, once in the European Cup Winners’ Cup, four times in the FA Cup and three times in the League Cup as well as being runners-up in the League 10 times.

Between 1972/73 and 1991/92 (a golden period of 20 years) Liverpool fans never had to endure two consecutive seasons when they did not win one of the major trophies and they only finished empty-handed on four occasions in total (1974/75, 1984/85, 1986/87 and 1990/91). During those 20 years Liverpool won the League title eleven times and were runners-up seven times. They also won 4 European Cups (from 5 finals), 2 UEFA Cups, 4 FA Cups (from 6 finals) and 4 League Cups (from 6 finals). 25 major trophies in a 20 year period bookended by the League Championship and UEFA Cup double in Shankly’s penultimate season and the FA Cup win in Souness’ first.

Prior to this golden period there was the five year period between 1961/62 and 1965/66 when Liverpool won the Second Division title, the League Championship twice, the FA Cup for the first time in the club’s history, were runners-up in the European Cup Winners’ Cup and semi-finalists in the European Cup. Little did anyone know at the time that this was just a prelude to the main act that was to follow just a few years later.

Sandwiched between this 5 year prelude and the magnificent 20 year glory days were 6 trophy-less seasons. A transitional period which saw Shankly’s great team of the 1960s evolve into the great team of the early 1970s. Of course there were highpoints, runners-up in the League in 1968/69, third in 1967/68 and 1971/72. Finalists in the FA Cup in 1970/71 and semi-finalists in the UEFA Cup the same year. Nevertheless, six seasons without a trophy under the great Bill Shankly. From here on in, future transitional periods would be seamless and the club have never gone as many consecutive seasons without silverware since.

This brings us to the second barren period since the promotion and rebirth of the club in the 1961/62 season. The “dark ages” of the 1990s. Between the FA Cup win in 1991/92 and Houllier’s magnificent treble of 2000/01 Liverpool won just one trophy in 8 years, the 1994/95 League Cup win under Roy Evans. Just as no one could have predicted Liverpool’s unprecedented and unequalled 20 year period of dominance between 1972/73 and 1991/92, no one could have imagined the trophy-drought of 1992/93 to 1999/2000.

Of course, this second barren period felt a lot “darker” than the one in the late 1960s and early 1970s because of what had gone before. The weight of expectation was higher. The feeling of disappointment greater, a situation not helped by the fact that Manchester United had embarked upon a period of dominance almost on a par (domestically if not in European terms) with that enjoyed by Liverpool in their golden period.

However, success and failure are relative concepts. The 8 year period 1992/93 to 1999/2000 is comparable to the 6 year period 1966/67 to 1971/72. It too had its highpoints. As well as the League Cup win in 1994/95, Liverpool were finalists in the FA Cup in 1995/96 and semi-finalists in the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1996/97. They finished third in the League in 1995/96 and 1997/98 and fourth in 1994/95, 1996/97 and 1999/2000.

The renaissance of Liverpool Football Club began in 2000/01 with the fantastic treble of League Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup under Gerard Houllier. It was like a throwback to the glory days of the 1970s and 1980s. After 5 seasons without a trophy the fans were treated to 3 in one year.

Looking back at the 9 years from 2000/01 it is beginning to look like the treble was indeed the start of a new golden era in the club’s history. It was followed by another League Cup win in 2002/03 and a place in that competition’s final in 2004/05. There was the miracle of Istanbul, a fifth European Cup success, also in 2004/05. The FA Cup followed in 2005/06 and another European Cup Final in 2006/07 and semi-final in 2007/08.

That’s six trophies in 9 years and two other cup final appearances. I have already mentioned the great League campaigns of 2001/02, 2005/06 and 2008/09 when Liverpool achieved their eleventh, sixth and second greatest seasons ever in terms of the percentage of the total available points attained.

Liverpool may not have won the League Championship since 1989/90 (19 years and counting) but they have nevertheless continued to be one of the top teams in England and Europe throughout the last 47 years. No other team has been able to maintain such consistently high standards over such a long period of time.

Fifty years ago next week, Bill Shankly, with Bob Paisley and Joe Fagan at his side, embarked on the road to build Liverpool Football Club into a “bastion of invincibility”. Half a century later, having endured two of the worst tragedies in sporting history, Liverpool are still one of the most feared, most respected, most admired and most consistently successful sporting institutions in the world. For almost fifty years Liverpool fans have witnessed triumphant highs that most other football fans can only dream about. And, if inevitably, there have been some seasons when we have not quite reached the same peaks, then let us be thankful that we have at least always had the top of the mountain in sight and often, tantalisingly, within reach.

Let us be thankful that a poor season for us is one where the team only finishes third or fourth in the league or only makes the semi-final of the European Cup or is a beaten finalist in the FA Cup. Be thankful that this is down to great managers like Kenny Dalglish, Roy Evans, Gerard Houllier and Rafa Benitez who have kept the spirit of Shankly and the power of Paisley alive. The bastion has survived the twin tragedies of Heysel and Hillsborough. It continues to stand strong and proud.

Keep things in perspective. Here’s to the next 50 years.

Thanks For This.

It just reminds us of who we are and what we are.

I had the privilege to stand on the Kop in the sixties and started supporting the Reds the year we won the old second.

( Back then, every year, we all thought we had a shout for the title if we were 5th or above in the league at Christmas.)


It reminds us that what we are going through is only temporary.

We will get through this because at the end of the day we are


LIVERPOOL FOOTBALL CLUB.

Thanks For This.

It just reminds us of who we are and what we are.

I had the privilege to stand on the Kop in the sixties and started supporting the Reds the year we won the old second.

( Back then, every year, we all thought we had a shout for the title if we were 5th or above in the league at Christmas.)


It reminds us that what we are going through is only temporary.

We will get through this because at the end of the day we are


LIVERPOOL FOOTBALL CLUB.

And what a fantastic place the Kop was in those days.There was not a thing that could compare with it for atmosphere.I reckon progress took a step backwards when they put the seats in the Kop.On top of all that we had Shanks  and a president (T.V.Williams) and directors who also believed in the great man.

And what a fantastic place the Kop was in those days.There was not a thing that could compare with it for atmosphere.I reckon progress took a step backwards when they put the seats in the Kop.On top of all that we had Shanks  and a president (T.V.Williams) and directors who also believed in the great man.

It was a fantastic place Billy, wasnt it?

All we have to change at the moment are the owners.

Next week Shankly Week

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N166624091127-1528.htm

We've got a bumper five days lined up for you next week on Liverpoolfc.tv as we combine live football showcasing the stars of tomorrow with a series of special tributes and features to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Bill Shankly's Anfield arrival.
After Sunday afternoon's derby showdown at Goodison Park - which you can listen to online from 1.30pm - we'll be launching into another week of must-see content on the club's official website.
 
'Shankly Week' kicks off on Monday morning as we begin our celebration of Bill Shankly's Anfield career.
 
He was the man who changed Liverpool Football Club; the man who set the foundations for the our glorious history and the man who is still revered by all Kopites today.
 
It was 50 years ago when Shankly first set about his challenge of turning the Reds from a club going nowhere fast into one of the most feared outfits in the game - and we'll be celebrating his Anfield life with a series of interviews, features, columns and tributes from those who still treasure his legacy.
 
e-Season Ticket holders will also be able to tune into a wide-range of exclusive LFC TV programmes, often before they appear on the club's channel.
 
As well as our 'Shankly Week' celebrations, we're also pleased to announce we'll be showing live football exclusively online on Monday night when Liverpool's youngsters begin their FA Youth Cup campaign.
 
The young Reds entertain Wolves at Anfield and you'll be able to watch every second of the action online.
 
The FA Youth Cup has provided Liverpool fans with many great memories over recent years - so make sure you tune in on Monday to see if the current generation of Reds' youngsters can take the first step on the road to Cup glory.
 
And, as we move into the month of December on Tuesday, we'll be launching our online video advent calendar - and giving you the chance to win some incredible prizes.
 
It promises to be another great week of compelling content on the club's official website - so make sure you log on and enjoy.

Click here http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/eseason/Features/FREE-Thommo-on-15418.php3 for a FREE preview to Shankly Week as we hear from former skipper Phil Thompson>>

When I first found out who Shankly was I could not believe that this kind of man existed in football! Such a great man and so in loved with football and Liverpool FC, a man who actually lived for football something that you can not see nowadays and one more thing that makes me soo proud to be a reds fan and so proud of our history! I think that this is the man from whom managers these days can learn a lot! I believe that there are very few managers today that maybe have 30% of Shankly's passion for the game and the team they lead. In regard of his relationship with the fans I don't think that we'll ever see any other manager who has such a special bond with the fans. I am really proud that this man is part of our history!!

Pass and move, yeah those were the days

Jesus that's gone quick

Interesting interview with Toshack and his views on Shanks.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballnation/football-news/2009/11/30/wales-boss-john-toshack-pays-tribute-to-liverpool-mentor-bill-shankly-91466-25288065/

Who is this 'shankly' chap? U telling me there was a great liverpool manager before souness?

Nice one

Just got to watch the Liverpoolfc.tv tribute to Shanks.Brought back some wonderful memories.There is an old saying that you should never look back in anger,well I don't,I look back with pride, in those days the kop didn't just rule Anfield,they took over every ground we visited.Now the media are trying to make us pay the price for that dominance,but they will never succeed, because the legacy of Shanks lives on within the important parts of the club.

Shanks, a true legend.  I remember arguing with my dad as a kid in the 70's about who was the better manager, Shanks or Sir Bob.  I was going purely on results and was in favour of Sir Bob, but my dad, who had supported us through the 2nd division days was unreservedly in favour of Shanks.  And now I'm more educated about our history I really do appreciate the role the great man played in making our club THE club it was.

And now, 50 years later, we are on the brink again with another manager with Shank's vision and passion.

Thank you Bill Shankly for all you did for us, the environment you created, the winning mentality you installed, the belief,  thank you for everything.  Sorely missed, You Will Never Walk Alone.

Taken from another forum, I thought this was a great story about Shanks by Tommy Smith:

TOMMY SMITH - Liverpool 1962-1978 (on the unfortunate guinea pig, Jimmy Melia)

"Known to the lads as Bald Eagle, Jimmy always looked older than he was. He had this ritual of coming in for a rub-down every day, whether he was injured or not. Shanks, of course, would always be keeping any eye on Jimmy to see if he was actually carrying an injury. I was on the groundstaff at the time and in on the Sunday, as usual, to help brush the dressing-rooms and terraces as well as generally tidying things up at Anfield with the other younger lads. As usual, Jimmy was in the treatment room for his rub-down. As groundstaff boys we didn't go anywhere near the dressing room or any of the inner sanctum areas without knocking on the door and asking permission. This day, Shanks came out, wearing a beaming smile. 'Boys, put your brushes down and come in here. I want you to see the latest in football technology.'

Now he used to be proud if the toilets were given a lick of paint. Can you imagine what he was like with a new piece of equipment that had been designed to treat injuries and shorten the recovery period? He was full of praise for the German manufacturers. 'Great inventors, the Germans, amazing bit of gadgetry this. Cost us two thousand pounds, but it will be worth every penny, won't it, Bob?' Bob Paisley gave us a knowing look. He was from the old school of treating players and clearly wasn't as enthusiastic as Shanks.

'Aye', said Bill. 'It will nullify injuries. Marvellous invention.' He was clearly desperate to try it out. 'Who's in Bob?. Jimmy Melia is here again! He'll do.'

The next thing, Jimmy is sitting on a table alongside this machine and Bob is fitting the electrodes to his legs. The logic was simple. The machine sent out an electric impulse. This worked the muscle which in turn helped the flow of blood. All very straightforward. The kind of thing Bob would do with his experienced hands. But Shanks was in full flow. He had his audience, ten groundstaff lads, and we listened as he explained the way the various dials worked.

'It's marked one to ten. It's a low on one, high power on ten. Go on, Jimmy son, we'll leave it to you to take the pain strain. See how far you can go.' Jimmy turned it on to number one. No effect. He turned the dial two more notches. Nothing. He got to five and was still telling the boss that he couldn't feel anything. 'Bob', said Shanks, beginning to get annoyed, 'perhaps these bloody Germans aren't as inventive as I thought. Either that or Jimmy is immune to pain.' Melia pressed on... six, seven, eight. 'Still nothing, boss.' Suddenly the dial was all the way to ten and Jimmy was just sitting there, shaking his head, 'No, nothing.'

Shanks was furious, 'German crap', he was screaming. 'They haven't got a clue. You can send this back to Munich and tell them they can stick it up their backsides. Two thousand pounds? Get your sponge out, Bob. You might need it.'

Bob just stood there, wearing this little light brown coat that made him look more like a grocer than a medical expert. We were all dying to laugh. You could see one or two shoulders shaking as we tried to stifle our mirth. We began to back towards the door, when Shanks suddenly said, 'Christ, Bob, you haven't even turned it on!' He flicked the switch and poor Jimmy, still on a maximum setting of ten, nearly hit the ceiling. Sparks were coming out of his ears. His hair would have stood on end if he'd had any. We all ran out, exploding with laughter. As we headed down the corridor, Shanks was right behind us and shouting, 'That'll teach the Bald Eagle to come in for a treatment on a Sunday.'



Boss that

50th anniversary today, thanks Bill you were a great man who set up the foundations for this club to be one of the biggest clubs in world football. You were a visionary a true legend amongst men, heres to a happy 50th and thank you Shanks may your soul rest in peace. Y.N.W.A

Introducing Shankly week at Liverpool FC

Why does the mere mention of Liverpool Football Club strike fear into some of the greatest names in the world game?
Is it because of the famous Spion Kop and the mythical spirit of Anfield's 12th man?
 
Or is it the trophy-laden history that has seen the likes of Emlyn Hughes, Kevin Keegan, Kenny Dalglish and Steven Gerrard secure glory both home and abroad?

The answer, of course is never as simple as that, but one thing is certain; without the arrival of one man in particular the incredible success story of the past 50 years would never have made its way onto the Anfield scriptures.
 
In December 1959, a Liverpool side languishing in the doldrums of the Second Division moved to install Huddersfield Town's Bill Shankly as their new man in the dugout.
 
The Scot would go on to have the type of impact that has quite rightly immortalised him as what many still believe him to be to this day; the greatest manager the club has ever seen.
 
Indeed, it says much about Shankly's standing in the game, that legends of the past have been eager to recall their memories of one of the sport's great icons as Liverpool Football Club celebrates the 50th anniversary of his Anfield arrival - both online and on LFC TV.
 
The website has put together an extensive range of articles, from the views of those who knew him best through to an insight of how his influence still affects the current regime.
 
LFC TV has also been busy and a 'This is Anfield' special at 10pm GMT is the highlight of a Monday evening dedicated to the great man himself.
 
And that's not all. Past players and important figures of the past will all have their say every night this week as 'What Shankly means to me' airs immediately after LFC Now.
 
There's also a Kop 10 Shankly signings at 6.30pm on Tuesday and a special show, 'Shankly: He made the people happy' at 9pm.
 
These are just a taster of what's to come, so if you are unfamiliar with how our great club transformed its fortunes, or simply want to immerse yourself in the memories of the 'good old days', then stay tuned to the official website and LFC TV for what promises to be a fitting tribute week to one of football's most charismatic figures.

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N166515091130-1219.htm

Carragher: Shanks is Liverpool's number one

Throughout Shankly week players and important figures from the past will have their say on one of the greatest managers of all-time. Here the Reds' current vice-captain explains what the name Bill Shankly means to him.

Bill Shankly was obviously a long time before me, but I think the thing about him was that he wasn't just a great football manager. He was a very funny one with a reputation for some brilliant one liners.

He would have been a real character to have been around, that's for sure.
 
You can read all the famous sayings and quotes in books and magazines, but I always remember the one about football being more important than life or death and that he'd break his wife's leg in a match if he had to!
 
Someone once told me I had to take football seriously because if Bill Shankly had said that, then it must be right. That's how much people valued his opinion.
 
There's a lot of talk about which manager is the best the club has ever seen, whether it's Shanks or Bob Paisley...
 
No matter what you think, it's a fact that if Bill Shankly hadn't come in and done what he did, we certainly wouldn't be the club we are now.
 
For me, Shankly is the number one when you think about Liverpool. There have been a lot of great players and managers, but he was the man who started it all.
 
When you walk around Melwood you can see things with his name on and I think that's right because it's important for people to remember him.
 
It's good that the foreign lads come in and want to learn about our history too. I think Fernando (Torres) is on record as saying that he used to watch DVDs about the club and how things had progressed.
 
It's great that they realise the history of the club and want to know how it all started.
 
The game has changed a lot, but I still think we try to play the same way now. Pass and move is what we are renowned for and I think that's the philosophy we will always be associated with.
 
He started that and had great success. Now we are trying to build on it. Hopefully it will still be the same in 20 or 30 years time and Liverpool will continue to play the Bill Shankly way.

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N166618091130-1425.htm

Ronnie Moran, how Bill Shankly changed my life

Throughout the week players and figures from the past will pay tribute to the great Bill Shankly on the 50th anniversary of his Anfield arrival. Here Bootroom legend Ronnie Moran, a man with over 60 years service to Liverpool FC, pays homage.

To put it simply, Bill Shankly set the foundations for Liverpool Football Club to go on and win trophies.
  
I first met Shanks when he joined us in December 1959. I had been at the club since 1949 and signed as a professional in 1952.
 
Shanks changed my life and I learned so much playing and working for him. If he had not come to Liverpool FC you don't know what would have happened. He changed the club for the better and he changed it forever.
 
I remember his first game in charge when we played Cardiff at Anfield and we lost 4-0. I walked off the pitch at half-time with Alan A'Court thinking we'll be in trouble here. I quickly realised he was never the type of bloke to give a rollicking.
 
He was just brilliant and he didn't like losing any game, even in training when we were playing eight-a-side games. There was one game we were losing 2-0 and someone said to him it's 12.15pm boss it's time we finished, and he said we are not finishing until we are winning! We played on and luckily enough we got three goals by 1pm!
 
Everyone enjoyed playing for him. You knew you would always have to put the 110 per cent into every game.
 
When I came to the end of my playing days I was in the reserves and he brought me onto his staff. He called me into his room one day at the end of the season and I thought he was going to tell me my days at Liverpool were over. You would usually find out by a letter posted through your door back then. It would tell you whether you were going to be kept on or not.
 
I went in and he said: 'Sit down son! How would you like a job on my staff working with the youngsters?'
 
I said yes, that wouldn't be so bad but can I let you know tomorrow? He had no problem with that. I went home and spoke to the wife and she didn't want to go anywhere else so the next day I told Shanks I'd take the job.
 
I was working with the kids for three years and Joe Fagan was in charge of the reserves then. He asked me to help him with that. Joe then moved onto the first team staff in 1971 and I took the reserve team. In 1974 I joined the first team set-up when Bill retired to work with Bob and Joe.
 
One of the reasons he was so popular with our supporters was because he told the truth all of the time.
 
He just loved football. His house overlooked Everton's training ground and he used to tell the staff how he watched them train and how they were doing it all wrong!
 
He taught us all to think about what we are doing, where we are and what we want to achieve. If the players were not prepared to work hard and do that then they would be out of the team.
 
You could always go and talk to him and he would always make time for his players.
 
Shanks had people he could trust on his backroom staff like Bob, Joe and Reuben Bennett and he trusted every one of them. He was just a great man.
  
http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N166604091130-1440.htm

Well said Ronnie and your truly a great man yourself who will always be remembered fondly by the kop.

Wow 50 years since the great man began his quest to make a run down second division side the best in Europe and by God he did.

Look what we've done in 50 years.Only for Shanks it wouldn't probably couldn't have worked out that way. December 1st 1959 is the most important footballing date in Liverpool FC's history 

December 1st 1959 is the most important footballing date in Liverpool FC's history  

Without a doubt!

"He changed the club for the better and he changed it forever." Thank you Shanks.