Bill Shankly (1913-1981)

Football manager

Bill Shankly played for Preston North End until 1949 and was capped seven times for Scotland. He started his career as a manager at Carlisle United, Grimsby Town, Workington and Huddersfield Town before joining Liverpool in 1959 when they were in lower half of the second division. During his time at the club he transformed the team which went on to win three league championships, two FA Cups and the UEFA Cup. He retired in 1974 as one of the most successful and respected managers. Asked if football was a matter of life and death to him, he replied: 'it's far more important than that!'. He remained in Liverpool until his death on 29 September 1981.

Birth in 1913

William Shankly was born on 2 September 1913, the son of John Shankly, letter carrier and Barbara Gray Blyth. The entry in the statutory register of births for the parish of Muirkirk in Ayrshire gives the place of birth as Manse Place, Glenbuck. The left margin refers to a clerical error in column four where the year and place of the parents' marriage have been corrected.

Birth entry for Bill Shankly (25 KB jpeg)
National Records of Scotland, 1913/607/92

Marriage in 1944

William Shankly, professional footballer (aircraftman in Royal Air Force) married Agnes Wren Stewart Fisher, slater's clerkess (aircraftwoman in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force) on 29 June 1944. The entry in the statutory register of marriages for the district of Townhead in Glasgow includes after both addresses '(now engaged in war service)'.

Marriage entry for Bill Shankly (81 KB jpeg)
National Records of Scotland, 1944/644-6/128