Liverpool FC Forum

by **oldredeyes** » Sat Feb 14, 2004 1:07 pm

While the turmoil swirls around our beloved team I am consoling myself these days by catching up with some of the great work Shank's did for our club. I find it refreshing to think about a man who really did communicate with the supporters and gave me, as a kid growing up in Liverpool, a fantastic feeling of pride in the team and the City.
I know some of you like the Shanks stories that I have posted - here's one of my favourites;

During a practice match at Melwood, Shanks scored a goal. When the other players insisted it was offside, he turned to Chris Lawler, one of the quietest members in the squad. 'Was it a goal? he demanded, 'Was I offside?
'Yes, Boss, you were, replied Lawler.
Shanks looked at him in disbelief:
'Chris, you've been here for four years and have never said a word and when you do it's a bloody lie!'

Wonderful!

by **kopper** » Sat Feb 14, 2004 1:46 pm

Shanks antics always bring a smile. Cool post oldredeyes.

by **leothelion** » Sat Feb 14, 2004 3:45 pm

keep them coming

by **Stan Laurel** » Mon Feb 16, 2004 10:24 pm

Brilliant post, Oldredeye, you are genius!

Have you got anymore about Shanks?

Love to hear more about old stories of Shanks.

by **oldredeyes** » Mon Feb 16, 2004 10:54 pm

Stan, as requested here's a few more;

On hearing that Celtic's Lou Macari had turned down Liverpool in favour of Manchester United, Shanks covered his dejection by telling his squad;
'He couldn't play anyway, I only wanted him for the reserve team.

On one of Liverpools many trips to play in Europe Bill was filling in the hotel registration form, writing 'Football' under occupation and 'Anfield' as his address.
'But Sir', said the receptionist, you have to fill in where you actually live'.
'Lassie', said Bill. 'That is where I live'.

Shanks also liked to to joke about our rivalry with Everton.
One story he liked to tell was,
'Before the 1966 Everton v Sheffield Cup Final at Wembley Princess Margaret asked the Everton captain, Brian Labone, 'Mr Labone, could you tell me where Everton is please?'
'Yes Ma'am', he replied, it's in Liverpool.'
To which Princess Margaret replied,
'Oh yes of course, we had your first team here last year!'

by **stmichael** » Tue Feb 17, 2004 4:41 pm

yeah a classic example of his philosophy was when he was once asked about his thoughts on the uefa cup to which he replied:
"it doesn't bother me. i've never finished low enough to qualify"

Now those are the sort of days i wan't back at this football club i'm sure you'll agree.

by **Dom1** » Tue Feb 17, 2004 5:18 pm

I got a few good shanks qoutes:

"Football's not a matter of life and death ... it's more important than that."

"If a player is not interfering with play or seeking to gain an advantage, then he should be."

"Of course I didn't take my wife to see Rochdale as an anniversary present. It was her birthday. Would I have got married in the football season? Anyway, it was Rochdale reserves." (cracks me up that one)

(at dixie deans funeral) "I know this is a sad occasion but I think that Dixie would be amazed to know that even in death he could draw a bigger crowd than Everton can on a Saturday Afternoon."

"Yes, Roger Hunt misses a few, but he gets in the right place to miss them."

"The trouble with referees is that they know the rules, but they do not know the game."

There you go...........Dom1

Any more people...........................

by **leothelion** » Thu Feb 19, 2004 3:16 am

AS ALAN BALL WAS SIGNING FOR EVERTON THE GREAT MAN DID SAY
Don't worry, Alan. At least you'll be able to play close to a great team!"

by **leothelion** » Thu Feb 19, 2004 3:19 am

Bill Shankly on his resignation :
"It was the most difficult thing in the world, when I went to tell the chairman. It was like walking to the electric chair. That's the way it felt"

by **The Manhattan Project** » Sat Feb 28, 2004 3:19 am

"My idea was to build Liverpool into a bastion of invincibility. Napoleon had that idea. He wanted to conquer the bloody world. I wanted Liverpool to be untouchable. My idea was to build Liverpool up and up until eventually everyone would have to submit and give in."

by **The Manhattan Project** » Sat Feb 28, 2004 3:20 am

(On the 'This is Anfield' plaque)
"It's there to remind our lads who they're playing for, and to remind the opposition who they're playing against."

by **kopper** » Sat Feb 28, 2004 9:50 am

"I was the best manager in Britain because I was never devious or cheated anyone. I'd break my wife's legs if I played against her, but I'd never cheat her." Bill Shankly

by **Dom1** » Sat Feb 28, 2004 2:20 pm

kopper wrote:"I was the best manager in Britain because I was never devious or cheated anyone. I'd break my wife's legs if I played against her, but I'd never cheat her." Bill Shankly

he actually said that one,

what a funny guy!!

by **LFC #1** » Sat Mar 06, 2004 12:56 pm

"If Everton were playing at the bottom of my garden i'd draw the curtains" (Dom1 i know you'll like that one)

"Tommy smith would start a riot in a graveyard"

"Take that poof bandgae off and what do you mean you've hurt YOUR knee? It's Liverpool's knee" (speaking to tommy smith)

"I want to build a team that's invincible, so they'll have to send a team from Mars to beat us"

by **JohnBull** » Sat Mar 06, 2004 3:32 pm

SHANKS :
(1) "I once told Tommy Docherty that if we had five Bill Shanklys and five Tommy Dochertys, plus a goalkeeper we'd beat the world. Tommy said that if we had five Bill Shanklys and five Tommy Dochertys, we wouldn't need a goalkeeper."
(2)"Playing for Scotland is fantastic. You look at your dark blue shirt and the wee lion looks up at you and says ; "Get out there after those English ba#ta#ds"
(3) (about a player about to be transferred) "hes got a heart the size of a caraway seed"

The saddest quote about Shanks must be from his missus,Nessie, in 1993 .
"I'm glad he's not here now. He would have been devastated"
And we are worse now than then.

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