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Proud Beginnings, Part 1:
Bill Shankly

Bill Shankly, Scotland and Preston North End footballer, c.1948

Scotland and Preston North End footballer Bill Shankly (1913 - 1981).

Bill Shankly was born in the Ayrshire mining town of Glenbuck. He became a professional footballer and played for Carlisle, Preston North End and gained seven caps with his beloved Scotland. His managerial career prior to taking the manager's job at Liverpool in 1959 showed no sign of what was about to happen. He took the Anfield club back into the First Division, and won the League title in season 1963-4 and 1965-6. The FA Cup was won in 1965, and Liverpool performed well in Europe.

Shankly oversaw the slow demise of one great Liverpool side, and then the emergence of another. While the previous team saw players like the Scots Ian St John and Ron Yeats - (who he once claimed "With Ron Yeats playing in defence, I could play Arthur Askey in goal.") - Shankly's next team had the likes of Kevin Keegan and Steve Heighway playing. In 1973, he took this side to a League championship win and Liverpool's first victory in Europe, winning the Uefa Cup. The next year, the FA Cup was won. Shankly retired in 1974, aged 60.

While Shankly is just as much remembered for his witticisms, he was a remarkable manager whose success in turning Liverpool around and establishing them as one of English (and Europe's) most successful sides, can be justifiably regarded as one of Scottish football's greats.

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