Spirit of Shankly

This landed in my E-mail inbox with the instructions to forward it on to all Reds.

Thought it would do no harm to drop it in here...

LIVERPOOL SUPPORTERS UNION
"Sons of Shankly"
 
You may or may not have heard of us. But here's a little bit about who we are.

To do exactly as it says on the tin. A Union for all Liverpool Supporters.

A voice that represents us all. A platform for us all to stand together and fight for what we believe in.

 
It is early days, and more details of how the organisation will grow will appear over the next few weeks and months. But the catalyst for our formation.....

We want Tom Hicks and George Gillett out of our club - why?

 
THEY LIED & HAVE JEOPARDISED OUR CLUB FOR THEIR PERSONAL GAIN

 They promised that all loans would be would be secured against their own personal assets.


THEY LIED


·              They have taken out a loan of £350m. £105m has been secured against the club and £245m against Kop Holdings – which owns 100% of Liverpool Football Club and has only one source of revenue: The Club.


·              So, regardless of the smoke and mirrors, Liverpool Football Club has to pay all of the interest on all of the £350m.

 
·              The interest payments alone for this debt will be around £30m each year. All of which will be payable by Liverpool FC – more than enough to wipe out the club's operating profit.

 
·              Gillett and Hicks have only taken out this new loan over an 18 month contract. This is very unusual for a deal of this size; three years is the usual minimum term. Wall Street analysts believe that this is because they had difficulty in getting the banks to lend them the money. Which raises questions about:

 
THE STADIUM

 
·               £60m of that loan has been earmarked for starting construction of the new ground.


·              There is no funding yet in place to complete the stadium, nor has planning permission been granted for a 71,000 capacity. Existing consent is for 60,000, with any increase depending upon improvements to transport and car parking. With no underground car park, the new plans have less car parking than the original 60,000 design!

 
·              If they can't borrow again in 18 months then they cannot complete the stadium. How can they pledge now that the stadium will be built? In the same way they pledged it would be well on its way to completion twelve months ago – by misleading us.

 
·              So do they actually intend to complete the building of the new stadium?

 
·              Should Hicks & Gillett get the loan to actually build the new ground, the additional interest payments will be £25m per year.


·              This will leave Liverpool Football Club to shoulder annual payments of £55m in interest alone. Which begs the question:
   

WHERE WILL THE FUNDS COME FROM FOR TRANSFERS?

 
·           When they took over, Hicks & Gillett promised to back the manager in the transfer market.


·              From the two transfer windows Hicks and Gillett have owned the club for, Benitez has spent £48.5m on players, and recouped £33.5m in player sales. A net spend of £15m. This is the up-to-date figure that includes the purchase of Skrtel and the sale of Sissoko.
 

·              The club brought in around £30m from the run to the Champions League Final last season alone. On top of this there is the increased TV money the club's has received.

 
·              Where is the money Gillett and Hicks have backed the manager with? They've lied to us, they've manipulated the press, and some people have believed the spin. We won't.
 

·              In reality, after all the talk about money and Snoogy Doogy, the manager has spent £15m in the last two transfer windows. How is that backing him in the transfer market?


It is about time the real picture was painted for all Liverpool fans out there.

They promised to respect the club's heritage, history and traditions.

 
THEY HAVE LIED AND LIED.


They asked to be judged on what their actions. Well they have failed to make a start or produce the funding on the stadium, the major reason why David Moores looked for investment, they have failed to back the manager in the transfer market, They have not put one single cent of their own money into this club and they have undermined the traditions of the football club and the office of manager.


They have, however, managed to create huge debt for LFC to pay off without any end product.
 

How, exactly, is the football club in a better position now than it was twelve months ago under David Moores?

 
After the Sunderland game, we staged a 15 minutes stay behind protest at the end of the game. We intend to do the same again.


During the protest, Steve McManaman commented on Setanta that the Americans had backed the manager in the transfer market, secured their new loan bringing money into the club, and we should all forget about it and move on. We don't blame McManaman, a fair number of good Reds have been won over by their spin, so why shouldn't a blue?

 
So it's time to spread the message and get the real goings on from within Anfield to a wider audience.

It's about time the truth was exposed.

Hicks and Gillett have to be forced out of Anfield before they wreak more havoc.
 

Keep a look out for www.sonsofshankly.com which will be going live in the next few days. We'll be handing out flyers at the match with details of any future events.
 
We'll announce any future meetings on our website, everyone invited, all opinions welcomed.
 
Please send this e-mail on to everyone you know. And keep an eye on our website for further updates and how to get involved.
 

The next meeting is scheduled for The Olympia at 12pm on Saturday 16th February – before the Barnsley game.

 
The Olympia

99 West Derby Road
Liverpool

L6 2AF


Everybody welcome - See you all there.

 "Liverpool Football Club, Is In The Wrong Hands"


"The socialism I believe in is everyone working for each other, everyone having a share of the rewards.

It's the way I see football, the way I see life"


LIVERPOOL SUPPORTERS UNION

"Sons of Shankly"

Take it there'll be another stay behind after the Barnsley game then.

Interesting to see Parry's words yesterday at the same time this email was probably circulating.

BootleBuck mate,

Do you have the S.O.S (Sons Of Shankly) e-mail address, if you have, could i please have it?

YNWA

Matt

I'll be there! Not a cat in hells chance I'm missing that meeting!

Encouraging words from them though. They know their stuff and they're intent on letting everyone else know it!

BootleBuck mate,

Do you have the S.O.S (Sons Of Shankly) e-mail address, if you have, could I please have it?

YNWA

Matt

I haven't mate, I got the E-mail like most E-mails I get far down a long chain...... mates passing it onto mates then onto their mates etc.

Once the website goes live, which it appears not to have yet, I'm sure there'll be a contact page.

Won't be here to get there.  If somebody wants to go on our behalf and get the latest.

I cant get out that early before the match next week but the SOS has my support to a millitary degree.Did anyone hear Rogan on Merseyside the other night?He has also got my support now.Club together if youre skint-but buy these bas**rds out for the sake of our grandkids and those we have lost.I for one have no money,but I do posess history honesty and integrity.Attack,Atttack,Attack Atttack Attack.

1,000 Liverpool FC fans expected at meeting to set up first football trade union


Feb 15 2008 by Luke Traynor, Liverpool Echo

UP to 1,000 Liverpool FC fans are expected to attend a meeting to create the country’s first football “trade union”.

New movement The Sons of Shankly (SOS) is holding a mass gathering at The Olympia club in West Derby Road at noon tomorrow.

An annual subscription fee of £10 is likely to be suggested, which could give signed up members a range of benefits.

Non-profit making development trust EDT approached the supporters union and offered to carry out administrative duties for the group.

A Paypal account will be set up, each member will get laminated cards and receive a newsletter.

Other SOS benefits for members could include cheap travel offers for Premiership away trips and flights to European fixtures abroad.

If the movements gathers pace, the group may have to register a business address, which could be at EDT’s headquarters on Great Homer Street.

Supporters groups from Everton, Manchester United, Barcelona and German club Schalke 04 have expressed support.

SOS is set to meet Liverpool University professor Rogan Taylor, who is behind the recent ShareLiverpoolFC scheme, to see if the two groups can work together.

They have called for ex-players and other Liverpool celebrities to get involved and follow the example of Peter Hooton, member of The Farm, who is already a leading voice in SOS.

SOS spokesman Nicky Alt said: “This will be a fully functioning fans’ union to get involved with the club at the highest level.

“When we set up the union, we thought just 50 might turn up at the Sandon pub and we got around 400.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if we reached the Olympia’s 1,200 capacity at the weekend.

“Our main aim is to buy back the club, or at the very least have some form of representation on the board.

“This has really snowballed and everyone can see this has so much potential.”

Link here

Is anyone definitely going down to the Olympia tomorrow? I wont be able to make it.

I'd be interested to find out more about this 'trade union' business. I thought the aim of SOS was solely LFC.

The SOS website has gone live, it looks good and professionally done.  Not much info on it yet only about the meet at the Olympia.

http://www.sonsofshankly.com/

Nice one Smiggs.

If you can get there, you should be there.

You could say you should be there to work out how we get shut of the hideous Hicks and Gillett pairing, dooming the football club to debt upon debt, mismanagement and broken promises.

You could say you should be there if you want to capture the moment when Liverpool FC's first attempt at a Socio arrangement began. You could say you should be there if you want that attempt to work.

You could say you should be there to find out how we're looking at sorting out cheaper travel to and from games; how we want to put pressure on the football club to take action over the ticket office; how if we use our collective strength we can force change for the better at our football club.

You could say you should be there to speak out about what's happening to the national game as it pursues every currency under the sun until its grassroots support squeaks.

You could say you should be there to tell us what we haven't thought of yet – ways to represent and help every Red the world over and bring the club back to the people.

There's a lot to say. There's one place to be:

The Olympia
99 West Derby Road
Noon
Saturday 16th February

Bring your banners, bring your colours but most of all, bring your voice.



I thought the 'trade union' talk and other clubs' fans getting involved might have something to do with the Premierships latest money making idea of taking games abroad.

Should be a very interesting meeting tomorrow.

Thanks for giving all supporters a chance to know what's going on at the heart of things they (the yanks) must be shown the door which for them is the airport and on to Dallas & Montreal...(One way ticket)...

ok i'd ask everyone not to verbally attack me straight away but some of the e-mail sounds like SOS spin to me. don't get me wrong i agree with the aims of SOS but an 8.5% interest rate on a loan of that size just seems ridiculous to me. like thats nearly overdraft rates!

Anyone got the latest?

Well done Sons Of Shankly GReat demo again yesterday.Surely its got to be worth £10 to support an orgaisation with the socialist beliefs of the great man himself.

Hmmm...

BootleBuck mate,

Do you have the S.O.S (Sons Of Shankly) e-mail address, if you have, could I please have it?

YNWA

Matt

Hi i work with one of the lads who runs sos - i can let you have his work email if you want - anyway let me know

Anybody know if there was another demo after the game? 

Part of me thinks we need to F**k all this stuff off now.  If DIC come in then fair enough but if they don't there isn't a lot we can do.  Paying £10 to join some union with ideas that blatantly won't work seems like someone's pockets are going to get lined further down the line.

Anyone else's thoughts? 

Thought that myself KK, would rather give the tenner to Zoe's Place, which reminds me, I need to send RED1028 some sponsor money on Thursday, payday !!  Yippee !!

A lot of me was disheartened when I heard about the £10 fee. From the slight information that's been 'leaked' it's supposed to give you discounts on away match travel funds?

It was a good notion when the focus was on nothing else than our club. And any red could really feel a part of it and get involved without having to spend a penny.

Don't get me wrong though, I haven't been to either of the publicised meetings. I want to know more. It needs to be less secretive. Does anyone else feel like that?

I've heard that DIC will be in charge of Liverpool by next season.
Hicks will sell his stake to them before this season finishes.

You heard it hear first 

So that renders the Sons of Shankly thing as a bit of a waste of time anyway.  Discounts on away match travel?

Sounds like the Supporters Club on Breck Road from a few years back kind of thing.

I've heard that DIC will be in charge of Liverpool by next season.
Hicks will sell his stake to them before this season finishes.

You heard it hear first 

I've heard that too Tommo, hope it's true, wasn't sure how much of a rumour it was though, you know how these things can get out of hand

http://www.sonsofshankly.com/

Has anyone became a member of the Sons Of Shankly on this forum, and is it worth doing so, even if you wont be meeting up with them etc?


YNWA

Matt

I haven't joined, and have decided not to.  However that is not to say that I do not fully support vast swathes of their aims and suggestions of methods.

However I don't see why we need to pay £10 to 'join' this group who's shorter term aims include:

- To institute a functioning structure for the Sons Of Shankly
and
- To improve the standard and value of travel arrangements for Liverpool FC’s supporters.

A committee of 'super-fans' is not high on my agenda - replacing the morons running our club is.

I haven't joined, and have decided not to.  However that is not to say that I do not fully support vast swathes of their aims and suggestions of methods.

However I don't see why we need to pay £10 to 'join' this group who's shorter term aims include:

- To institute a functioning structure for the Sons Of Shankly
and
- To improve the standard and value of travel arrangements for Liverpool FC’s supporters.

A committee of 'super-fans' is not high on my agenda - replacing the morons running our club is.

Totally agree JD mate, top reply, i think i'll pass for the time being then!

YNWA

Matt

Link to article

Mar 17 2008 by Nick Coligan, Liverpool Echo

HUNDREDS of Liverpool fans staged a noisy protest against the club’s American owners at Anfield on Saturday.

They converged outside the directors’ entrance, behind the Main Stand, at around 2.15pm to make their feelings known about Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

Supporters said it was the most vocal demonstration so far against the billionaire tycoons, whose running of the club has repeatedly sparked anger.

Although the protest passed peacefully and was over before the Reds kicked off against Reading, witnesses reported seeing red distress flares set off in a very visible show of discontent.

One fan said: “It was loud and angry, but it was well-behaved and well-marshalled.

“The message was loud and clear to the American owners – feelings against them are as strong as ever.

“Certainly the fans demonstrating on Saturday want them out as much as they ever did.”

Earlier in the day, hundreds of fans had attended a meeting of the Spirit Of Shankly (SOS) supporters’ union at the Olympia, in West Derby Road.

They ratified the organisation’s constitution and voted to approach legendary manager Bill Shankly’s granddaughter Karen Gill about becoming its patron.

SOS chairman Nicky Alt read out a statement from Ms Gill, in which she thanked the union’s members for naming it after her grandfather.

She added: “In these times of corporate gluttony, I am truly heartened to discover that there are still so many people who embody my granddad’s spirit.

“It’s an Olympic spirit – passionate pure and true. It’s a dream of greatness and glory which comes from dedication, hard work and integrity. In this dream, money is only a means to an end, it’s not the end itself.

“My granddad had a dream for Liverpool Football Club and you are all helping to keep that dream alive.

“We know Bill Shankly ‘made the people happy’, but I know that you would have all made him happy were he alive to see this legendary support today.

“I speak on behalf of the Shankly family when I say that we are wholeheartedly behind the Sprit Of Shankly.”



Did anyone witness the protest before Saturdays game?

It's nice to see some words from Karen Gill. I hope it keeps the Spirit Of Shankly's perspective on the aims of our club as priority.

Are they still wanting a tenner to 'sign up'?

Well as far as I see it, you don't need to pay anything to try get involved with meetings at the Olympia or any protests etc. It's the word of mouth which concerns me the most, because there doesn't seem all that much of it. And that's where the tenner probably comes in along with other 'benefits'.

Nobody who cares about the club should be excluded if they don't want to pay a tenner though.

Agree with you redkenny, word of mouth is not very effective in mustering mass support,I for one would have joined the protest if I had known about it. Why are they not posting on fans web sites such as this. For me a tenner is not an issue but I would prefer to see it used to finance anti H&G propaganda, banners etc., because one thing that we are all agreed on is the removal of those two nomarks as soon as possible.

IRWT

Agree with you redkenny, word of mouth is not very effective in mustering mass support,I for one would have joined the protest if I had known about it. Why are they not posting on fans web sites such as this. For me a tenner is not an issue but I would prefer to see it used to finance anti H&G propaganda, banners etc., because one thing that we are all agreed on is the removal of those two nomarks as soon as possible.

IRWT

A point I totally agree with.  When the protests in support of Rafa were planned (when it looked like he had one game to left to avoid being sacked) we were fully informed and published an article on the site with a map etc and there was plenty of discussion before the event on here.

This Spirit of Shankly thing, despite me agreeing with the principles of it, seems to already turning in to a cliquey group, and most match-going fans I know already think its a farce.

I've heard that DIC will be in charge of Liverpool by next season.
Hicks will sell his stake to them before this season finishes.

You heard it hear first 

tommo that is the only scenario that can happen,even Hicks cannot be that thick to hang on to a lost cause which could eventually cost him money.Also his refinance deal was for only 18 months and then he will be in big trouble.

Here's the statement issued by Bill Shankly's grandaughter:-

STATEMENT FROM KAREN GILL

First I would like to thank each and every one of you for honouring my grandfather’s name by calling this Union ‘The Spirit Of Shankly.’

For me though it’s more than just honouring his name. In these times of corporate gluttony I am truly heartened to discover that there are still so many people who embody my granddad’s spirit. It’s an Olympic spirit: passionate pure and true. It’s a dream of greatness and glory which comes from dedication, hard work and integrity. In this dream, money is only a means to an end, it’s not the end itself.

My granddad had a dream for Liverpool Football Club and you are all helping to keep that dream alive. It’s the people with dreams who achieve things in the end because they have a vision which drives them on.

We know Bill Shankly “made the people happy”, but I know that you would have all made him happy were he alive to see this legendary support today.

I speak on behalf of the Shankly family when I say that we are wholeheartedly behind The Sprit Of Shankly.

Karen Gill March 2008

It was read out by her at the last meeting of "THE SPIRIT OF SHANKLY" by Karen, who has been approach to be the groups paton.
(apologies if it has already been posted somewhere)

I think the statement is very touching.

Just wondered what's happening with this group these days?

Why was there no protest outside the Main Stand/Anfield Road post Chelsea game?

I saw the pictures in the Echo of 40 fellas 'digging' up Stanley Park as if to say 'Where's our stadium?'

Just interested to know where everybody's 10 pounds for signing up went? 

I saw the pictures in the Echo of 40 fellas 'digging' up Stanley Park as if to say 'Where's our stadium?'

I seen that too. I've got a high vis - and no, it's by no way an association to the Village People. I would have went down to Stanley Park and stood there with a shovel (if I wasn't busy.....), but I had no idea of that happening.
My point is, do you only get to know about these things if you pay that ten quid? Doesn't this point to some sort of division between fellow reds who share a common aim of getting rid of Hicks and co?

I seen that too. I've got a high vis - and no, it's by no way an association to the Village People. I would have went down to Stanley Park and stood there with a shovel (if I wasn't busy.....), but I had no idea of that happening.
My point is, do you only get to know about these things if you pay that ten quid? Doesn't this point to some sort of division between fellow reds who share a common aim of getting rid of Hicks and co?

Good point redkenny, however, I don't think their intention is to create division between fellow reds, but surely they should have a representative contributing information to fans websites such as ours. So come on Spirit Of Shankly, live up to the meaning of your name, be inclusive to all LFC fans around the world and post info on here or at least get info to the sites moderators which they can pass on, you never Know you might even get new members, you will certainly have more credability.
IRWT
IDIC we pray.

Hello I haven't posted here for a long while, but here goes.



I don't represent the working committee of Spirit of Shankly, I'm just a member who's paid my £10 subscription. I've been to all the mass meetings, marches and protests so far, though I didn't participate in the brilliant mock ‘Dig’ in Stanley Park where Spirit of Shankly satirically began work on the new stadium 440 days after it was promised that spades would be in the ground in 60 days.”

These are the aims of the Union, as agreed and voted upon in the first mass meeting:

 
CONSTANT AIMS
•   To represent the best interests of our members and by extension the best interests of the supporters of Liverpool Football Club on both the local and international level.
•   To hold whoever owns the football club to account.
IMMEDIATE AIM
•   To rid the club of Tom Hicks and George Gillett.
SHORT TERM AIMS
•   To institute a functioning structure for the Spirit Of Shankly.
•   To create long lasting relationships with all aspects of Liverpool FC’s supporting community.
•   To improve the quality of service for Liverpool FC's supporters.
•   To improve the standard and value of travel arrangements for Liverpool FC’s supporters.
MEDIUM TERM AIMS
•   To work with any relevant agencies to improve the area of Anfield.
•   To build links with grassroots supporter groups both home and abroad.
LONG TERM AIM
•   To bring about supporter representation at board room level.
ULTIMATE AIM
•   Supporter ownership of Liverpool Football Club.


Sadly many of you seem not to know that much about the Union, the sporadic information is down to the fact that the SOS lads are all doing it part time while holding down other jobs. Much of what their doing at the moment is Ad hock and reactive, simply because of the unpredictable nature of our Club's Boardroom shenanigans. Hopefully after Hicks and Gillett are gone, the Union can focus on trying to help sort out the Ticket office/system, the travel arrangements for fans and other important issues that affect Liverpool Supporters.

 Forming such a Union is a slow process, first they had to set up a legal constitution (they cannot be a Union without one),
they have to have a bank account to deposit and process the subscriptions (they cannot have a bank account without a legal constitution). I understand that the Constitution has been ratified and that the bank account is close to being sorted. A non profit company called EDT have been appointed to administer and process the membership applications.( By law all postal membership applications had to remain unopened and the money had to stay in EDT's safe until the Constitution and bank account were up and running)
The website is also being updated and eventually expanded, I'm sure their lines of communication will vastly improve once that's completed.

MODS: Perhaps a permanent link/sticky on this site to www.spiritofshankly.com would help the members of Anfield Online who want to know more about the Union, to do so more easily and aid the flow of information  ??.


 There are also concerns where the £10 membership fee goes, that's understandable.
 I understand that EDT take a small fee to cover administration costs on behalf of the Union, when the memberships are processed , I’m told we will receive a pin badge, a membership card and a newsletter. Part of the £10 will also help the Union organise cheaper travel for fans by chartering their own coaches and Flights, instead of the extortionate prices fans currently pay out on matchdays home and abroad.
I also imagine the money for flyers, posters, possible media campaigns like newspaper ads e.t.c would come out of the membership fee. If you join any Union you usually have to pay subs, it's no different in that regard.


   It appears that Spirit of Shankly sadly don't post their statements or press releases on this site, They do on Red and White Kop, Red All Over The Land and The Liverpool Way sites. Should I try and mention Anfield Online to one of the SOS lads, so that they would post statements on here as well maybe?.  I'm sure they want all Liverpool fans to be informed about what's going on. They should make sure all forums have the same information. There have been a few teething problems and mistakes along the way but the Union is only a few months old and in a few months it will be on a much firmer footing to be able to work and communicate more effectively.


I'll leave you with some good news and a positive statement  by the Union prior to the Chelsea game:

Later on in the evening(Tuesday), representatives of SOS met with representatives of DIC, led by Amanda Staveley. We felt that as "A meeting of minds” it went very well. We had a long, thorough discussion about supporters being better represented within the football club. We came away feeling not only listened to but engaged with and we're very hopeful we will continue that discussion at a later date. We were also told DIC hold the manager in very high regard.


YNWA my fellow Reds. 

It appears that Spirit of Shankly sadly don't post their statements or press releases on this site, They do on Red and White Kop, Red All Over The Land and The Liverpool Way sites. Should I try and mention Anfield Online to one of the SOS lads, so that they would post statements on here as well maybe?.  I'm sure they want all Liverpool fans to be informed about what's going on. They should make sure all forums have the same information.

Indeed they should.  I actually contacted someone giving our support a while back.  It really doesn't take much thought to add an extra email address to an email, or to copy and paste a forum post on to another board.

This should be going on to as many LFC websites as possible.  Not just here, but worldwide.

And even on the website for instance, I can't even 'view all photos' from last weeks event without needing to sign up to a Flickr account! I mean, come on.

Indeed they should.  I actually contacted someone giving our support a while back.  It really doesn't take much thought to add an extra email address to an email, or to copy and paste a forum post on to another board.

This should be going on to as many LFC websites as possible.  Not just here, but worldwide.

And even on the website for instance, I can't even 'view all photos' from last weeks event without needing to sign up to a Flickr account! I mean, come on.

Fair enough mate, as I said I don't speak for the SOS committee so I could'nt say why they did'nt take up your offer, strange that. That Flickr account thing is sh*te, there are quite a few things they could do better or more efficiently TBH, but as I said as an organisation its still in it's infancy and it will take time to get things right. I think We just need a bit of patience and faith JD mate.   YNWA

A few pics from todays demo.















What's everyones thoughts then? Did anyone go? Did anyone not even know about what was going on today?

Just seen them Ken, wonder if it will have much effect though?  I don't think anything will get rid of these 2 shisters !!  Think were gonna have to nuke them 

Not a bad turn out though 

If it's been repossessed have they got fan guards on the gates 24/7?  This won't do anything.  They (G&H) know we hate them.  That is the only message that is being put across.

They're all probably back at home watching the Euros with their feet up, thinking a job well done.

 

They're all probably back at home watching the Euros with their feet up, thinking a job well done.

 

You're probably right there mate.

I can totally understand why people feel the need to resort to such things. We all want our club back. But the cold hard fact is that these two knobs will only take notice by being hit hard in the pocket from the fans. But that's unlikely to happen because we'll always support our team through thick and thin. It's like a catch 22 situation.

By all means continue to send a message out, but it would be nice if a few more people could join in. It seems that there's only a select few websites or forums where you can 'search' for information. And then there's so many reds who don't have access or don't bother with the internet.

Honest to god though.  What are they thinking?  The yanks are thousands of miles away, bathing in the money WE genorated.

G&H probably haven't batted an eye lid all week to see what the club is up to.  They only send emails anyway.

So it's absolutely pointless waving around eviction notes and putting padlocks on the gates, I mean come on.  Desperate measures?  That's what it sounds like to me.

Gillette best be talking to DIC about his stake in the club.  Poor old Tom can't do a thing.  It must be driving Hicks round the bend. 

Nice one like the eviction notices too, I cant see what difference this will make as not enough publicity has been made of it on a national level.
However burning 2 effigies of Hicks & Gillet outside anfield would have had an effect along with the burning of the Texan Flag or US flag we would have got more attention that way I think..

Nice one like the eviction notices too, I cant see what difference this will make as not enough publicity has been made of it on a national level.
However burning 2 effigies of Hicks & Gillet outside anfield would have had an effect along with the burning of the Texan Flag or US flag we would have got more attention that way I think..

Why bother with effigies ?   

Not that clever in my book... a public letter putting Gillett on the spot would have been wiser... but hey all efforts count.

The club, off the park, is in a right mess lads.... wait until you hear about the club's accounts.

wait until you hear about the club's accounts.

Indeed mate. I'm not so sure I want to hear about the clubs accounts.

As I said, catch 22.

There should be more togetherness where SOS is concerned though. I feel it's on a secretive edge.

Well i for one think SOS and every fan who turned up today were spot on . Well done lads,

Its ok everyone harpin on about the yanks but when it comes down to it lads we should be doing everything we can no matter how small or even if you think its a waste of time ,
Lets get our F***ing club back before its to late.

Well in to everyone who attended today now lets keep up the pressure

Its ok everyone harpin on about the yanks but when it comes down to it lads we should be doing everything we can no matter how small or even if you think its a waste of time ,
Lets get our F***ing club back before its to late.

I think it was you who posted that post from RAWK in the takeover thread wasn't it mate?

How's your average red down the pub meant to find out about what's going on though? What about the people who only check the official site for LFC related stuff, who may not be aware of sites like this, RAWK and loads of other independent sites? What about the people who only check the Echo newspaper or listen out on Radio City news or Radio Merseyside?

Of course we all want our club back. And I'll get behind anything that's against the people who have a stranglehold on our club. But people will harp on if they don't feel they are involved.

Do you have to pay money to be inside a circle and find out all the ins and outs? I'm pretty certain that when 'Sons Of Shankly' started off, there was a lot of talk about it and a lot of people wanted to be involved. But now it just seems all too secretive. And while it stays like that, you'll only get a hundred people or so showing up for things like today. That is nothing to take notice of in all honesty, is it.

There's always leaders and followers. When SOS formed, a lot of people felt it was something to follow and be a part of because we can all relate to the cause. But the leadership from SOS when things like this are concerned is not very good.
Get the word out there! More people will be willing to spread the word then. Before you know it, there could be a thousand people as opposed to a hundred outside Anfield. It might not mean the yanks will take notice because we can only hit them in the pocket. But a lot more reds will feel a part of it.

Im the same as you though mate im not involed in anything to do with SOS and i only go on what i hear on the boards and in the echo same as you. But i make it my buissness to find out whats going on with these two bas**rds its boardering on lunacy sometimes i hate them so much.. I Saw that post on RAWK and wanted to know more so i emailed a few people an thats how i found out what was going down today.

When things are happening its usualy posted in one forum or another an everyone goes on from there or you tend to email or talk to lads from the match . I  couldnt be there today as i live down south an i was gutted that i couldnt make my voice heard , But im sure there will be other times.

I cant rest mate until these two have gone as one of the lads said today on the telly there raping our club we just cant do nothing

I was meant to be going down today, but because of working late last night I couldn't make it. But I back the idea to the halt. I'm not arsed who organises these things as long as there's a valid purpose behind it. I don't wanna waste me time standing somewhere for a cause that we're having just for the sake of it. Unfortunately I can see that happening completely. A new march or petition going over the same thing as the one 10 minutes previous will get tedious after a while.

Despite the fact I see the point and back things like this, I don't think they get the message across. The yanks know their not wanted at the club, I think even the animals at Knowsley Safari could tell you that the yanks aren't wanted here. So staying after games shouting "yanks out" or these kinda protests are water off a ducks back to them now. It's time for stronger means. I've never been a fan of boycotting the games or even the merchandise because I still think there's enough "glory hunters" or "daytrippers" to make up the difference but that's the only way I see working. At this current rate Reina, Agger, Skrtel, Gerrard, Alonso, Mascherano, Babel, Torres and Crouch will be sold just to finance another of the CLUB'S loans. I can only see it getting worse. I thought the scrapped plans of the stadium was the storm, then the Klinsmann buisness was the storm, then the DIC bollocks of Gillett selling Hicks not allowing it, then Parry being told to resign....yet he's still F***ing here, F***ing gobs***e and now this. I've had me hopes up far too much thinking "this is it, it's all gonna blow over now, we can get back to the Liverpool Football Club we all grew up with" but again disappointed because a fornight later the three (hicks, gillett, parry) are back in the press making the club look even F***ing worse. Yet the one who should be opening his mouth and explaining why he sold to those two in the first place is keeping hushed, instead of appologising to us fans. Thanks a F***ing lot Moores, glad to see your back pocket benifits from the club's disarray, you're no better than those two yanks you greedy money grabbing c**t.

Sorry for that rant on Moores, it's just part of a letter I've wrote to him. I'm an opptomist and I'm hoping that I can somehow find a way of touching the fan in him and force him to open up and appologise. Hicks and Gillet and even Parry have had enough sh*t thrown at them that anything new will be straight in the bin, but Moores has been getting away scott free from some fans so he's the one I've addressed me letter to. Hoping it rekindle that love of Liverpool Football Club within him and he can explain HONESTLY, WHY HE SOLD TO THOSE TWO.

I think it was you who posted that post from RAWK in the takeover thread wasn't it mate?

How's your average red down the pub meant to find out about what's going on though? What about the people who only check the official site for LFC related stuff, who may not be aware of sites like this, RAWK and loads of other independent sites? What about the people who only check the Echo newspaper or listen out on Radio City news or Radio Merseyside?

just concerning this on a side note, I've tried signing up for RAWK for a while and keep getting told registration is disabled. But from the clipets I've seen when browsing the place, or where other people have posted on various other forums I'm chuffed I'm not on there. It's nothing to write home about from what I can see, the worst one was where somebody was making out that Hicks and Gillett are somehow in the right and it's the fans who are in the wrong. I'm sure there's a few good people on there but by and large I wouldn't worry about that particular forum.

I cant rest mate until these two have gone as one of the lads said today on the telly there raping our club we just cant do nothing

I know mate. But can you see where there is a difference between 'we' and 'some'? It's good that you can still find out about things when you're currently down south, on the net, but old red Frank, down the Broadway Pub with a 20 minute walk from Anfield only has the Echo to try find out about what we do next....

Yeh i can see your point an i understand what your talking about until everyone is in the know mate its only gonna be a small minority who are able to gonna do something about it.

Dont let me living down south be a smokescrene though ive been goin home an away for 40 years i spend more time back home than what i do down here i just use the net to catch up on what im missin when im not there im a nosy bi*ch

Despite the fact I see the point and back things like this, I don't think they get the message across. The yanks know their not wanted at the club, I think even the animals at Knowsley Safari could tell you that the yanks aren't wanted here.

Next time I'm driving up the M57, I'll have a word with the lions about Hicks and Gillette. 

 im a nosy bi*ch

typical scouse bird, bet you love your bingo an all don't ya girl 

Dont let me living down south be a smokescrene though ive been goin home an away for 40 years I spend more time back home than what I do down here I just use the net to catch up on what im missin when im not there im a nosy bi*ch

I already knew there was no smokescreen mate.

Too right always got a dabber in me bag for emergencys

In case you were  interested like, good article by Tony B in last weekends Pink.


Red letter day for the Spirit of Shankly

Jun 14 2008 by Tony Barrett, Liverpool Echo

ON Monday, the Spirit of Shankly (SOS) will celebrate four months in existence as the country's first ever football supporters union.

It has come a long way since the day it was formed on February 16 when around 1,000 Liverpool fans packed into the Olympia on West Derby Road ahead of the ill-fated FA Cup tie against Barnsley.

That rally was followed by a march to Anfield with all present united in their desire to see Liverpool Football Club rid of American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

Despite the good turnout and the clear and vivid passion on display SOS was not without its critics and there was no shortage of Nay’sayers who wanted to know what a disparate group of fans from Liverpool and beyond could do to challenge the corporate might of a pair of American millionaires based thousands of miles away from the Olympia.

In truth, it remains a forbidding challenge and one which may never be achieved in a football world where money doesn't just talk, it shouts, screams and hollers.

That doesn't mean SOS hasn't made progress though. Far from it.

In those six short months it has established a fully operative committee comprising of a chair, vice-chair, treasurer, secretary, club liaison officer and fans liaison officer among others.

Meetings are held regularly and continue to be well attended and in the near future a city centre office will be opened to process the membership applications which continue to flood in on a daily basis and a fully operational website will also be set up.

Increasingly, the union is starting to resemble a fans co-operative with issues which concern supporters of all clubs being tackled in an age of spiralling ticket prices and related costs.

A fortnight ago, I was invited to attend their latest gathering to observe their work at first hand and found it to be as professional as any council meeting with a full agenda established at the very outset and reports and updates presented by the treasurer, secretary and chair.

There was no shortage of debate and nor should there be in a movement which was set up to represent the best interests of all Liverpool fans and not just a local clique of like minded individuals.

The debate was lively and well informed but never threatened to get out of hand and although there were occasions when agreeing to disagree was the best course of action resolutions were passed and conclusions were arrived at, much as they are in any board meeting.

The level of professionalism on show should not come as a surprise though as many of those involved come from the kind of background where such meetings take place on an almost daily basis and their experience is telling.

Equally importantly though, there are those who do not hail from a professional background and who are ready and willing to try and break through the traditional constraints which have left football fans at the mercy of profiteers for far too long.

After the recent experience of Athens and Istanbul, not to mention just about every other European trip Liverpool have been involved in, SOS are now looking at ways of making European and domestic travel more affordable to the average Reds fan.

Talks are ongoing with travel operators aimed at chartering flights for Champions League away games and a coach is likely to be laid on for the Reds forthcoming pre-season friendly against Rangers at Ibrox.

These initiatives are a small step in the right direction for a movement which has come an awfully long way in a very short time.

Should the progress they have made in their first six months be repeated in the next six then there is no telling as to how far SOS could go.

But as long as they continue to have the best interests of fans at heart then no-one should bet against them achieving their objectives, even if their avowed determination to rid their club of a pair of owners they have no time for does remain the tallest of tall orders.




http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2008/06/14/red-letter-day-for-the-spirit-of-shankly-100252-21071196/

A statement about co-operation and unity between Spirit of Shankly and Reclaim the Kop:


RTK & SOS

The People's Front of Judea? The Judean People's Front? Questions have been
raised lately asking why there are two separate fan groups at Liverpool FC.

To make it clear to everyone - there are not.

A meeting was held 2 weeks ago between those involved in the Reclaim The Kop
(RTK) campaign and the Spirit Of Shankly (SOS) Management Committee, a
committee which incidentally, includes people involved in RTK since it's
inception. The meeting was held to explore ways in which the two groups
could not only co-exist, but also work together to achieve our aims. In all
theses respects the meeting went extremely well. It became evident that both
groups can compliment each other and work together in addressing the key
issues that affect all LFC supporters.

RTK has always been about addressing the issue of the match-day atmosphere
and experience; working on it, improving it, and hopefully returning it to
the days when opposing teams feared a visit to Anfield even before they had
set foot on the pitch itself.

RTK are still working with the club on all issues related to the atmosphere
at Anfield. There are lines of communication in place to discuss such issues,
the latest result being the expansion of the vocal section at the back of
The Kop.

Before the formation of SOS, RTK were the only recognised and active
Liverpool FC fan's group. This meant that RTK were often looked upon to
provide leadership at times when fans deemed it necessary. Issues such as
the Athens Ticket protests became RTK tasks. RTK arranged an open Q&A
session with Rick Parry last year to discuss the fall-out from this debacle
and ways in which similar occurrences could be avoided in future. This is
obviously something that would now fall under the jurisdiction of The Union.
Both groups can now work together to hopefully arrange a follow up
session.


Since the formation of SOS, there has been no need for RTK to step
forward as it did in the past, hence the lack of public visibility RTK has
had over the past few months. RTK does not represent all fans. It exists
purely to improve the atmosphere on match-days. RTK recognise that there is
now a new body that represents vocal and non-vocal fans on a much broader
range of issues; a body speaking for us AS ONE. The Union have been active
on these and other fronts, and will continue to be so, leaving RTK to
continue its work on the Anfield atmosphere and experience.

RTK will fall under the umbrella of The Union, reporting fan related issues
into the wider body. RTK fully supports all of the SOS agendas, both short
and long term, and will continue to wholeheartedly support the aims of SOS.

The Union now has a Management Committee in place. The bank account is open
and all the hard work in setting up The Union is finally coming to fruition.
Online memberships will be available sooner rather than later. All the
pieces are starting to fall into place. RTK are now going to form part of
that structure for fan / atmosphere related issues, leaving the wider issues
to the Management Committee and membership of The Union.

There can be no division between Liverpool supporters at this time. This
summer the threat of falling even further behind our main rivals, both
financially and on the pitch, is starker than ever. Throughout the next
fortnight we shall be in touch further; outlining our broader aims in
general and taking the fight to the ownership in particular. We would also
like to restate the importance of ALL of us speaking with ONE voice.

We are all in this together. Strength in numbers.

Spirit Of Shankly and RTK

Sorry I don't post on here very often, all this may be old news, but as honest, passionate reds I'm sure you like to know whats going on,  just trying to help. If you really want to know the information is not hard to find. YNWA   

The Impending summer, George Gillett and fancard farce.
By The Spirit of Shankly    7/6/2008


Week by week it’s becoming clearer that Hicks and Gillett are holding the club back and hurting its support. We’ve got a manager who (according to yesterday’s Liverpool Echo) is unable to go for a terrific young prospect in Aaron Ramsey because he’s got to concentrate on the first team on what is, relatively speaking, a shoestring. There can be no signing for the future. Liverpool FC is likely to be outspent this summer by more than Manchester Utd and Chelsea (the benchmark in at home and in Europe and the target to catch) but also by Manchester City, West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur. There’s no Daniel Alves, there’s Philip Degen. Degen may be a good player or he may not, but he does not have a strong shout to be the world’s leading right back. He is available for free, however.
 
Let’s remember why David Moores wanted to sell in the first place – to keep the playing side strong while a new stadium could be built for Liverpool FC.
 
We can only presume he didn’t sell it to watch Liverpool supporters get fleeced in this eternal chase for elusive cash. This week we discovered that fancards are getting replaced. You know fancards, the things described in the club’s own charter as “the only card that you will need with Liverpool Football Club”. A one off payment of £3.50. They are getting replaced by a card which will have to be paid for on an annual basis. Liverpool FC being Liverpool FC, they haven’t released all the information yet but we rang today and got some answers. This isn’t set in stone but we were told it will be an annual charge of £29 for adults and £20 for children. Fan cards will run concurrently with this scheme, that will include a ticket exchange, for one season and then it’s the annual fee or nothing. The scheme will be confirmed before July 1st. Do we expect any greater efficiency or is it simply a matter of wringing every last penny out of supporters? Let’s phrase it this way, for an adult and two children to even be in with a chance to buy a ticket for a league game prior to the new stadium hopefully opening in 2012 (we understand anyone raising their eyebrows), it’s £207. £207. That’s before you’ve seen a ball kicked. Looking at that, and given that Hicks and Gillett need every penny, we suspect it’s the latter.
 
 
Is George Gillett still looking for every last penny? Well, why is he still here? Gillett is happy enough to give the impression he wants to sell. Well, SOS has been told he can sell whenever he wants. The opportunity is there to get out of our club. Why hasn’t he? Remember, George Gillett also said it was “about the fans and the winning tradition”; he said he “wasn’t someone who goes and hides” and he said “our job is to be custodians of this franchise, not owners of this franchise.” Well the fans want him out and he can’t supply the funds required to carry on that winning tradition. He has actively looked to hide away from the glare of the fans – that stops today. The pressure on George Gillett starts now. George: Either start explaining why you aren’t selling or sell.
 
This, these vagaries over the “custodianship” with one indicating he wants out but malingering, the other constantly looking to place the club into further debt, the shortage of a transfer budget, the desire to bleed fans dry to make up for the financial shortcomings, this is Liverpool FC today. This is your club in the summer of 2008. What are we all going to do about it?
 
We’re repossessing the club. Sunday. You’ve seen the other statement. If you haven’t, it’s easy - Anfield, Sunday. It’s time we said enough is enough. It’s time we repossess before someone else gets the chance. It’s our club after all. We feel every part of it. The manager’s limited budget is our limited budget. The plans for the new ground are the plans for our new ground. And the massive debts are definitely debts we’ll be repaying if Hicks and Gillett have their way.
 

Spirit of Shankly.




I went on that sunday morning, I thought The mock Reposession went brilliant, abar 200 turned out , The photie of the eviction notice posted here is mine that I had posted on RAWK. You've seen from Gilly's photies posted on this thread, A padlock, banners and eviction notices were tied on to the gates.

We sang, we showed flags, we showed our continued distrust and contempt toward Hicks and Gillett, Passionately but peacefully.

Jay Mc spoke to the various media, though admittedly It did'nt get the amount of coverage I thought It would have.

more negative PR for the "custodians", good work by SOS orginizeing. People may think its pointless, fair enough but I'd rather be doing something, anything to try and get the Custodians out before they can ruin the club further. Police and stewards took measures to prevent more post match protesting toward the end of last season. The strategy had to change, TBH I think satire and negative publicity against Hicks and Gillett is the way to go. We can do that ourselves, without having to rely on the goodwill of others in taking part in a boycott of Matches, merchandice and the like.

Curiously I'm told that the banners we put up that said "Yanks tell lie$" and "Repossesed"  and were cable tied to the gates, were'nt taken down by the club until late into the evening. The Protest had broken up by abar 2pm. Strange that.

Just to clarify I'm only a rank and file member of Spirit of Shankly, NOT a committee member or anything like that, just thought maybe you wanted to know how things are goin.

Can I ask Is there a desire for more Information Re: SOS actions and statements ? Because i have my own archive of them if anyone wants more info. If it were availible would people on here look to take part or not really ?  Don't know why they dont post updates on here, they should like.

All the best
YNWA - SOS

First of all, thanks kingjari for keeping your word about posting info as much as you can where SOS is concerned mate. I was glad to see you'd posted.

There can be no division between Liverpool supporters at this time. This
summer the threat of falling even further behind our main rivals, both
financially and on the pitch, is starker than ever. Throughout the next
fortnight we shall be in touch further; outlining our broader aims in
general and taking the fight to the ownership in particular. We would also
like to restate the importance of ALL of us speaking with ONE voice.

We are all in this together. Strength in numbers.

Spirit Of Shankly and RTK

I just feel this last statement contradicts everything else that's been mentioned - but it's the most important notion!!
And then there's also the comments from Tony Barrett about a colourful debate that makes me wonder...

It's totally right that there should be no division between Liverpool supporters at this time. We should all be as one. But why does it feel like that's not the case.

My personal view is that the aim and focus with which SOS was created should be the only one. Getting our club out of unsafe hands. A union for other clubs fans and less expensive travel etc can wait when you look at what's happening to LFC these days. Because that wont mean anything to us or make a difference if we continue with these yanks. That's not priority.

What is priority is that the communication should not be lost on ALL Liverpool supporters in the next fortnight. Let's have a red army, rather than a red group.

Let's have your old kopites down the pub, first in the know. Because so far, it seems you have to go searching really hard for information on the internet, or rely on an article from Tony Barret. There's many Liverpool fans to spread the word...

First off no problem Kenny , I think its very important your all kept in the Loop. Getting Hicks and Gillett out is an Immediate aim of SOS, at the moment its the important one. But the Union isn't a single issue group like Evertons KEIOC for example, while it was born out of the need to remove the yanks it does intend to embrace a whole gamut of important fans issues. Things we as supporters have been saying need to be changed for years.
The Priority ATM is to try and Remove the 'custodians', but god willing, once their gone the Unions real work will have only just begun.

If you want me too, I will try and post some more regular Information on here.

YNWA-SOS

If you want me too, I will try and post some more regular Information on here.

YNWA-SOS

That would be great, cheers mate.

Redkenny please check your PM's brother.

Keep the updates coming jari.  There are certainly enough reds on here who for one reason or another can't get to these SOS meetings and the like.

Thanks kingjari for your posts, any info about SOS activities is welcomed.As we have Redmen from around the world visiting this site, I believe that keeping them up to date with fan group activities, includes them in the ownership protests. Some like myself who cannot get to the rallys find our own ways to protest and this forum gives us all a chance to vent our anger/ frustrations over the way our great club is being abused. keep up the good work mate YNWA.

http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_4133980,00.html
GILLETT ARRIVES IN TIME FOR FANS` PROTEST
Timing is evidently not George Gillett's forte. Having not watched a match at Anfield for over a year, the Liverpool co-owner is expected to attend tomorrow's game with Manchester United - on the day that a fans group will march in protest against the club's American owners.

Acclaimed as Liverpool's saviours when they bought the club in January 2007, the takeover by Gillett and Tom Hicks has since proved to be something of a disaster. Already aggrieved at their reputed undermining of Rafa Benitez and refusal to fund his transfer plans, the antipathy of Liverpool supporters towards the two Americans has hardened in recent weeks after it was confirmed that development of the club's proposed new stadium has been downscaled and delayed.

Thousands of fans are expected to march in protest before Saturday's match - "a march of passion, a march of anger, a march of red solidarity", according to fans group Spirit of Shankly - and feelings are likely to be inflamed if Gillett makes a rare appearance in the directors' box. The Times reports that 'The situation is so sensitive that senior club officials said last night that, for security reasons, they would not confirm or deny whether either of the American tycoons would be at the game, but, barring a late change of heart, Gillett is expected to fly to Liverpool today and attend the game.'

Come on Sos, you will hunt down gillet on saturday and pls the kop sing Yanks out & Sheikh in.