Shankly Stories

[New York Red]

I think it is time for a laugh and a reconnect with what we are all about. What better than to tell some stories about the great man himself.

 

Brilliant, funny, principled, eccentric, combative, a truly unique man.

 

One of my favourites was when LFC were on tour in North America and they were in Chicago. He made the team visit Soldier Field and play keepy-up in the middle of the field because that was where the boxing ring was where Jack Dempsey fought.

[Redray]

Chris Lawler

 

 

"It happened at the end of training, I was going to the bus which took us back to the ground and passed a five-side game being played between the boss and his assistants and some of the young lads. They were playing without goalposts and a crossbar, just short poles stuck in the ground. One of Shanks' team fired in a shot which seemed a bit high to me. There was quite a debate going on and then Shanks said, 'There's Chris Lawler, he's an honest man. Was that a goal, son?' "I wasn't quite sure what to say. Shanks was notorious for playing as long as necessary to win and I thought it might help everyone, including the kids, who I had been among so recently, if I said it was a goal. But I decided honesty was the best policy. I said the shot would have gone over a bar.

 

"Shanks was outraged. He said, 'Jesus Christ, you haven't said a word for three years and the first time you open your mouth you tell a lie.'"

 

 

 

[Maldini]

Bought this the other day, haven't had a chance to listen to it yet though.

[Nerik]

Same tour on which he refused to switch his clock to American time and went down for breakfast at the hotel at something like 2am!

Edited June 17, 2010 by Nerik

[barnesology]

When my Dad gets together with his childhood mate Dave Godwin, his Shanks story always seems to gets a mention. They were both born and raised in the streets off Penny Lane, and it was Dave who happened to meet Shanks when he was about 10.

 

Dave didn't like football, still doesn't, it was his father with ambitions a Godwin might represent LFC one day. After one particularly wet and thoroughly unenjoyable school football training he was was wandering home, not taking too much care of the casey he never wanted and he let the ball wander into the road. It caused a car to brake sharply and an angry driver shouted some stern words through the car window regards where the ball belonged. At this point Dave must have cut a pretty forlorn figure.

 

The next words he heard were shouted in his direction from behind, not unkindly, but he was in no doubt who this stranger was speaking to.

 

Dave was asked by this random guy out for a walk why he intentionally let his ball roll into the street? and gave some non reply young kids do when confronted.... er I dunno....

 

The guy asked him to sit down on a garden wall and over the next 15 minutes ascertained why the young Godwin didn't like football, how he could improve his technique if he wished, but most importantly he drilled into him how important it was to be your best, even if you weren't any good, or didn't like the game, 'just try your very best and you can hold your head high and look other men in the eye, with pride in yerself'.

 

Dave still didn't like football, but he remembers those words and the passion with which they were spoken.

 

Legend.

[Tommy Cockles]

I always liked the story, I think it was about Ian St John (or it might just have been him telling the story), when he first came to the club he was a bit lightweight so Shanks put him on his steak & Guinness diet.

 

He comes in a couple of months later (after eating steaks) to get a day off training.

 

When Shankly asked what he needed the time off for the boy said he needed to get married.

 

Shanks said "What do you mean you NEED to get married" The boy says, well. my girlfriend is pregnant.

 

Shankly opens the door and shouts ,"Bob, Joe, Rueben, We've created a monster"

Edited June 19, 2010 by Tommy Cockles