Bill Shankly - The Legend that Arrived at Anfield 50 Years Ago

Trinity Mirror has now republished the book in a unique 50th Anniversary Edition. The title is Shankly my Story. Trinity Mirror has bought the book completely up to date by adding comments at the end of chapters. The original manuscript has not been altered and is written from the heart.

In the book Bill begins his story by writing about Glenbuck - the Scottish villiage where he and his family lived. He then talks about how he got into football and eventually management, learning his trade at clubs such as Carlisle and Huddersfield. Bill in fact did try for the Liverpool job in 1951 but did not get it. He was approached again 1959 and arrived at Anfield on 1st December 1959. He goes on to write about some of the players he bought into the club and what he thought of them even putting into detail some of the arguments that he had with them.

One of the things that I found extremely interesting was how he installed it into the players that winning was the only thing that mattered. As we all know this worked and the honours came very quickly. In his book Bill said that it got to the point where he could predict the results of each game. I must admit - I can understand that - I seem to have that knack as well.

Bill retired in 1974 and I believe quickly began to regret the decision. He still turned up at Melwood for a while. Unfortunately it was felt that Bob Paisley was being undermined as the players still called Bill boss, so he was asked to stop going. Bill sought solace by going to train at Everton who made him extremely welcome. This seemed to start what appeared to be a type of feud. He felt that he was being left out in the cold after all the years of service that he had given the club. There was no directorship, no offer of working for the club in an advisory capacity and certainly no offer of match tickets. Bill used to get tickets from other clubs for games after it became apparent that Liverpool Football Club preferred him to make his own arrangements. He was now a man who felt betrayed which I think may well have led to his early death in 1981.

Liverpool was plunged into mourning when Bill Shankly died in 1981. As the news spread around the city people went into shock - their hero had gone and life it appeared would never been the same again. Thankfully, Bill had left a great legacy behind and the club still stands by some of the principles that he put in place today.
The book concludes with a list of his honours, every Liverpool game under his management and details of the events during his fifty years at the club. There is also a section with quotes from people connected to the club, some of which I repeat here.

Bill was one of the greatest managers there has been - Bob Paisley
He was a great man. You could not talk to him, you listened. His motivation could move mountains - Ron Yeats.

You pick up experience from all the people you work with - but Shanks set the standards - Roy Evans

Any praise for Bill Shankly cannot be too high. For me he was a great manager and certainly the best motivator - and he was so funny with it as well. One minute he would give you a roasting and the next he would be telling you that you were the greatest player in the world. But he never let any outsiders do that to his players. As a man and a manager, he is just in a class of his own. There is nobody else like him and there never will be - Emlyn Hughes.

Bill Shankly made Liverpool FC. Before he became manager they were a very ordinary club. With Shankly in charge they became a gr4eat club, winning everything worth winning. Shankly was an honest man, a decent man. He believed in himself and he could make players believe in themselves and discover unexpected levels of skill and effort. He was a tough man to deal with but very straight. He loved his players like a father, but perhaps a Victorian father, because if they let him down he could be very tough. He certainly knew how to manage men. - Sir John Moores

Everyone knows what Bill Shankly was to Liverpool Football Cub. It's obvious to us even now what he meant to the club and the fans - he set the standards which are still working towards today. - Steven Gerrard
I don't want to compare myself with Shankly because what he did was massive. He changed a lot of things and created the dynasty of Liverpool. he created the mentality of winning. - Rafa Benitez

The most potent weapon in any leaders armoury is an ability to make his men feel impregnable, and the greatest exponent of this art was Bill Shankly - Brian Reade - Daily Mirror Journalist

I have decided to add my own comment although of course it is not in the book.
Bill Shankly was a man that I learnt to look up too. He was the man who captured the heart of an eleven year old girl and started her on a journey that is still taking place. From that first day in 1965 when my father introduced me to Liverpool Football Club to now and beyond my support for that great club will never wain, due I am sure to Bill Shankly and the way he made everyone feel part of one big family, players, managers and most importantly us the supporters. His charisma was amazing and as I said I am sure it still hangs over Anfield today.- Faith Fulcher

Also in the book are a very good selection of photographs and will bring back many