Saturday, September 30, 2006

-Ye May Be Gone But Ye Shall Not Be Forgotten-

I was made for Liverpool



"Mr. Shankly, would you like to manage?" they said "The greatest club in football, the boys in Red?" "I didn't know Matt Busby had resigned," he said "But I'll wake the giant in your football hotbed."

He kept faith and continuity with the Boot Room sages Laying foundations that empires are made of. "I don't drop players", he said. "I make changes." And great changes he wasn't afraid of.

He kept Roger Hunt and brought through Ian Callaghan, As a Red Machine was carefully assembled. St John, Yeats and Thompson completed the plan, And the whole of football soon trembled.

"You're not in Division 1," said Yeats to Shankly Shanks said, "No, but with you, we soon will be!" To the press, "Take a walk 'round my new centre half, Now we could play Arthur Askey in goal, for a laugh."

In '62, as Shankly's Reds won Division Two, He led us back where we belong. And through the early Sixties Liverpool grew Into the capital of football and song.

A Red Machine is greater than the sum of its parts For individual superstars he couldn't care less. "The socialism I believe in is everyone working Together... sharing the rewards of success."

He spoke of "collective play" with "improvisation" Of the "preparation and adjustment" that came before. Quick adjustment to the top flight, and the preparation That made us runaway champions in '64.

So into Europe he led the relentless Red march And how did the Red Machine prepare? On the way to Iceland he had the lads stop off For some homespun laughs, at Butlins, in Ayr.

He was the man who put the Champions into all Red "It'll make you look like giants," he said. Every quote made you believe we were different class "It's great grass at Anfield, professional grass."

He had the "This is Anfield" sign fixed up there To make his team and their opponents equally aware Of what it means to run out in front of the Kop, Saying "Liverpool people will always come top."

When faced with jabbering reporters in Italy He refused to be given their 3rd degree He said: "Just tell them I completely disagree With everything they say."

"I'm an impatient patient man," he later said "We trained hard, so patience favoured the men in Red". So when it went to extra time in '65, The FA Cup was finally won by the fittest team alive.

For Shankly and Liverpool, brave Gerry Byrne Laid his body and soul on the line. Shanks said: "It was the most emotional day For Liverpool, in the history of time."

He made every player the best they could be, If they weren't interfering, told them they should be! He made them all feel that they were our property "That's not your knee, son, it's Liverpool's knee."

"Trouble with you laddie, is your brains are all in your head It's so simple, pass and move for the men in Red. Work hard so this city keeps the 2 great teams it deserves: That's Liverpool... and Liverpool Reserves."

At Anfield or scouting, 'til all hours of the clock. "On overtime, he'd earn a million," said Tommy Doc, Don't get me wrong, he loved his family life, But is the legend true about Nessie, his wife?

"On your anniversary you took her to Rochdale away?" "Not so, laddie, I'll tell you the reason It was Rochdale Reserves and it was her birthday. Would I have got married during the season?"

Never afraid of tough choices for his team in Red As he dismantled his old side in 1970 "If you can't make decisions in life," he said "You'd be better off becoming an MP."

He said "the best side drew" and he always knew How to gee us up when we felt a bit flat. It was every last breath, it was life and death, It was "much more important than that."

And beating Everton in the '71 semi, he said, "I'd have wanted to be here even if I was dead! When I go, prop my coffin up, and cut me a hole - I wouldn't want to miss the winning goal."

"You learn more when you lose," said the Boss "Though we don't lose many now." And that most famous photo was taken when we'd lost, With Shankly citing Chairman Mao:

"A greater show of Red strength was never seen, Even by the Chinese people's leader." (A 'Little Red Book' of Shankly's great quotes Is far more entertaining for the reader:

"Agents? The only good agent is 007" "I only wanted him for the 2nd eleven" "If Everton played in my garden, I'm certain I'd just have to get up and draw the curtain."

The lessons were learned, and in '74 He repeated our Cup-winning dream, Adding to League and UEFA the season before - Three triumphs for his new young team.

Then everyone remembers the newsagent signs: "Liverpool in shock, as Shankly resigns." He said, "It felt like walking to the electric chair." How could he do it? How would we fare?

I read the Echo that day, and through the tears I didn't think about the fifteen years, But just thought about empty years to come How could we repeat the trophies he'd won?

I was only young, though, what did I know? Nobody knew then how we'd thrive and grow From the seeds of passion that Shankly had sown To make the European Champions Cup our own.

And dominate the game for the next 15 years. If I'd only known that, I'd have saved my tears. Not for Liverpool, and its young fans like me, But for the sacrifices of Bill and Nessie Shankly

I remember his programmes on Radio City, And him still coaching young kids till 1980, With his sheer enthusiasm, shining through it all "All you need is the green, green grass and a ball."

The strongest voice of my youth, I can hear him still Broadcasting the wit and wisdom of Uncle Bill. And I remember that day, September '81 That feeling of loss - Mr Shankly has gone.

The next home game v Tosh's Swansea, He added 15,000 to the crowd. And he was there in spirit, watching LFC As we chanted his name aloud.

The one word "Shankly" had now taken the place Of all of the words to 'Amazing Grace'. He's there still in his statue, his name's on the gates But his spirit's the ethos our club radiates.

"At Liverpool from the very start I'd planned To build a bastion of invincibility." I believe that "I was made for Liverpool, and Liverpool was made for me."

"I'd like to be remembered simply as a man Who strove to make the people happy." I believe that "I was made for Liverpool, and Liverpool was made for me."





| Jabroni fought for sanity @ 1:24 PM|

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