History
1913
Born in Glenbuck, Ayrshire, as the second youngest of ten siblings; with four brother and five sisters. Plays football for Cronberry, Twelve Miles from Glenbuck.
1932
Becomes full professional after being scouted by Peter Carruthers for Carlisle United.
1933
Joins Preston North End for £500 after 16 appearances for Carlisle.
1938
First Scotland cap in a 1-0 win over England at Wembley (Shankly played twelve times for his country, winning five official caps).
1938
Wins the FA Cup with Preston in a 1-0 win over Huddersfield. George Mutch’s penalty was the winner, being the first penalty ever to decide a Wembley final.
1942-43
Makes three guest appearances for Norwich, under the name Newman, and guests for Arsenal, Luton, Bolton, East Fife, Cardiff, Northampton and Partick Thistle. Also plays a game for Liverpool against Everton wearing the Number 4 jersey, winning 4-1.
1944
Meets Nessie when she is in the WRAF, stationed at his camp. They marry in her home city of Glasgow in 1944 and spend a week’s leave together.
1946-47
Resumes his Preston career, playing 41 games and scoring five goals over the season.
1949
Retires from playing, having made 297 League appearances and a record 43 consecutive FA Cup outings for Preston North End. He returns to Carlisle United as manager.
1949-51
With seven games remaining that season, Carlisle win one, draw four and lose two, finishing 15th in Third Division North. The next two seasons, they
finish 9th and 3rd.1951
Shankly is offered the Liverpool job for the first time, but declines as he is told the Directors pick the team: “If I don’t pick the team, what am I manager of?”
1951-54
Becomes manager of Grimsby Town. They finish as runners-up in the Third Division North in 1951-52, and 5th the following season.
1954-55
Resigns as manager of Grimsby Town in January and takes over at Workington, finishing the season in 20th place. The following season, they finish 8th.
1955-56
Hired as Assistant Manager to Andy Beattie at First Division club Huddersfield Town in December, but the team are relegated that season.
1956-59
Takes over as manager of Huddersfield Town in November 1956, leading them to 12th, 9th and 14th place finishes in the Second Division.
1959
Agrees to take charge of Second Division side Liverpool in November. Two weeks later, his final game for Huddersfield Town is a 1-0 win over Liverpool.
1959
First game as Manager of Liverpool Football Club – a 4-0 defeat to Cardiff at Anfield.
1961-62
Wins Second Division Championship to see Liverpool promoted to the top flight of English football.
1963-64
Wins the First Division Championship, just two years after promotion. Liverpool are crowned as Champions of England for the first time since 1946-47.
1964
Liverpool share the FA Charity Shield with West Ham United after a 2-2 draw at Anfield.
1963-64
Wins the FA Cup for the first time in Liverpool’s history, beating Leeds United 2-1 after extra time at Wembley.
1965
Liverpool share the FA Charity Shield with Manchester United after a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford.
1965-66
Wins First Division Championship – Liverpool’s third. League title in five years.
1966
Liverpool win their third FA Charity Shield in a row, defeating Everton 1-0 at Goodison Park.
1972-73
Wins his third First Division Championship. Also wins the UEFA Cup, beating Borussia Mönchengladbach
3-2 over two legs.1973
Crowned as Manager of the Year, receiving £1,000 from Bell’s Scotch Whisky.
1973-74
Wins the FA Cup for the second time in the club’s history, beating Newcastle United 3-0.
1974
Announces his retirement from management in July after 753 games for Liverpool, winning 393. Wins FA Charity Shield in August in his last game in charge, beating Brian Clough’s Leeds United on penalties after a 1-1 draw at Wembley.
1974
Bob Paisley becomes manager of Liverpool FC after being Shankly’s assistant during his 15-year tenure. They go on to win six League titles and three European Cups under Paisley: “Bill Shankly built the foundations and the house – all I did was put the roof on.”
1974
Awarded an OBE by HRH Queen Elizabeth II.
1981
Bill Shankly passes away on 29th September following a cardiac arrest. His ashes are scattered on the pitch in front of the Kop. The following year, the Shankly Gates – built in front of the Anfield Road end – are opened for
the first time by his wife, Nessie.
