The Shankly Collection – The Early Years

On the 2nd of September it will be 100 years since the birth of Bill Shankly, Here’s part 1 of our fantastic collection of Bill Shankly photos from down the years.

Bill Shankly was born in the small Ayrshire coal mining village of Glenbuck, close to the Ayrshire-Lanarkshire border.

Shankly's character such as his world-view as a socialist was born in the mining community with collectivism, with everyone working for each other and enjoying a share of the rewards.

The old Glenbuck Post Office.

Shankly's parents, John and Barbara, lived in one of the Auchenstilloch Cottages with their ten children; five boys and five girls. Bill was the ninth child and the youngest boy.

A young Bill with his wee pals.

All five Shankly brothers played professional football and Shankly claimed that "once, when we were all at our peaks, we could have beaten any five brothers in the world".

His brothers were Alec, known as "Sandy" by the family, who played for Ayr United and Clyde; Jimmy, who played for various clubs including Sheffield United and Southend United; John, who played for Portsmouth and Luton Town; and Bob, who played for Alloa Athletic and Falkirk. Bob became a successful manager, guiding Dundee to victory in the Scottish championship in 1962 and the semi-finals of the European Cup the following year. Their maternal uncles, Robert and William Blyth were also professional players and both became club directors at Portsmouth and Carlisle United respectively.

Shankly played for Scotland twelve times from 1938 to 1943 in five full and seven wartime internationals.

A proud Scot, "It's fantastic. You look at your dark blue shirt, the wee lion looks up at you and says 'Get out after those English bastards!” 

A young Bill playing for Preston North End.

Arsenal v Preston, Highbury, 1949. Shankly duels with Lishman.

Shankly had just reached his 26th birthday when the Second World War began and the war claimed the peak years of his playing career.

He joined the Royal Air Force and managed to play in numerous wartime league, cup and exhibition matches for Norwich City, Arsenal, Luton Town and Partick Thistle, depending on where he was stationed.

On 30 May 1942, he played a single game for Liverpool in a 4–1 win over Everton at Anfield.

Shankly at the end of his Preston North End career in 1948, one year before he took his first managerial job at Carlisle.

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