Liverpool are to stage an emotional parade of legends at Anfield tomorrow to mark the 50th anniversary of Bill Shankly’s first game in charge of the Reds.
Shankly Boys including Ian Callaghan, Kevin Keegan, Phil Thompson and many more will take to the pitch at half-time during the game against Wigan to pay homage to the Scot.
The game provides the nearest date to Shankly’s opening match, a 4-0 defeat to Cardiff on December 19, 1959.
The sounds of ‘Amazing Grace’ – Shankly’s favourite hymn – will reverberate around Anfield to mark the historic anniversary.
Fifteen former stars from the 1960s and 70s, along with nine members of Shankly’s family will be introduced at the interval and a mosaic on the Kop will be unveiled.
Club stalwart and former captain Tommy Smith, who played under Shankly throughout his time in the Liverpool hot-seat, says paying homage at Anfield to the man from Glenbuck is a fitting way to mark the anniversary.
The Anfield Iron admits it could be an emotional occasion for all involved – one he hopes will inspire the current squad.
Smith said: “It is something we should do every week as far as I am concerned.
“It is amazing how quickly Shanks turned things round at Liverpool Football Club and I can’t remember any other team winning as much as we did under him in so little time.
“Shanks was a great manager and I can’t say anything bad about him – the only thing was he didn’t like leaving anyone out and wouldn’t do it until the very last minute.
“He left me out of an Arsenal game and I wasn’t too pleased, but the next day it was forgotten.
“Shanks is the greatest manager football has ever produced and getting together to remember him like we are doing will be an honour for every one of us who were privileged to play under him.
“It will be fantastic to step back out at Anfield with so many great players from the club’s past – and so many great friends too.”
Other players who will once more step out in memory of their old manager will be 60s legends Tommy Lawrence, Roger Hunt, Ian St John, Gerry Byrne, Ron Yeats, Chris Lawler, Willie Stevenson, Geoff Strong, Ronnie Moran and from the 1970s, Keegan, Thompson, Steve Heighway, Gordon Milne and a member of the late Emlyn Hughes’ family.
Shankly Boys including Ian Callaghan, Kevin Keegan, Phil Thompson and many more will take to the pitch at half-time during the game against Wigan to pay homage to the Scot.
The game provides the nearest date to Shankly’s opening match, a 4-0 defeat to Cardiff on December 19, 1959.
The sounds of ‘Amazing Grace’ – Shankly’s favourite hymn – will reverberate around Anfield to mark the historic anniversary.
Fifteen former stars from the 1960s and 70s, along with nine members of Shankly’s family will be introduced at the interval and a mosaic on the Kop will be unveiled.
Club stalwart and former captain Tommy Smith, who played under Shankly throughout his time in the Liverpool hot-seat, says paying homage at Anfield to the man from Glenbuck is a fitting way to mark the anniversary.
The Anfield Iron admits it could be an emotional occasion for all involved – one he hopes will inspire the current squad.
Smith said: “It is something we should do every week as far as I am concerned.
“It is amazing how quickly Shanks turned things round at Liverpool Football Club and I can’t remember any other team winning as much as we did under him in so little time.
“Shanks was a great manager and I can’t say anything bad about him – the only thing was he didn’t like leaving anyone out and wouldn’t do it until the very last minute.
“He left me out of an Arsenal game and I wasn’t too pleased, but the next day it was forgotten.
“Shanks is the greatest manager football has ever produced and getting together to remember him like we are doing will be an honour for every one of us who were privileged to play under him.
“It will be fantastic to step back out at Anfield with so many great players from the club’s past – and so many great friends too.”
Other players who will once more step out in memory of their old manager will be 60s legends Tommy Lawrence, Roger Hunt, Ian St John, Gerry Byrne, Ron Yeats, Chris Lawler, Willie Stevenson, Geoff Strong, Ronnie Moran and from the 1970s, Keegan, Thompson, Steve Heighway, Gordon Milne and a member of the late Emlyn Hughes’ family.
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