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Shankly at Bellefield

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A recent article in the Observer Sports Monthly said that following his virtual banishment from Anfield and Melwood, Bill Shankly used to turn up at Bellefield and assist Mick Lyons in coaching Everton's junior and youth teams. I wonder does anybody know whether any of the youngsters coached by Shankly went on to play a part in Everton's success in the 1980s? If so, I'd enjoy the irony!
Simon Woolfenden, Winchester     Posted 30/10/2009 at 10:50:09

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Tony Doran
1   Posted 30/10/2009 at 15:02:48

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They may have done if he hadn’t been a spy and sent them to the dark side ie. Rush, Fowler, Mcmanaman, Owen and Carragher.
Alan Wilson
2   Posted 30/10/2009 at 15:12:14

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I cannot comment on that precise question but I remember visiting Bellefield in March 1976 and Bill Shankley was having treatment in the treatment room. I seem to remember that his house overlooked Bellefield.
Keith Glazzard
3   Posted 30/10/2009 at 15:09:09

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Simon, I think you’ll find that Shankly was banned from their training ground by the club (apparently the players couldn’t stop themselves from calling him ’boss’ — odd that, isn’t it). After that — again I stand to be corrected — he never went to the RS again. There are a fair few disgraces associated with that club. Their treatment of their saviour has to be up there with their most heinous.
Michael Tracey
4   Posted 30/10/2009 at 15:14:57

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for Fowler, McManaman, Owen and Carragher he must of been spying as a ghost.
Trevor Lynes
5   Posted 30/10/2009 at 15:34:15

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Liverpool did treat Shankly badly but let's face it we had fans who kicked Catterick when he dropped Alex Young. Loyalty has always been a one-sided coin and that go’s for all types of business.

By the way, did no-one ever remember the 10-4 defeat we had at Spurs when Jimmy Harris scored all our four goals... that was our heaviest ever defeat but I did not see it mentioned when heavy defeats was being discussed.

Jay Woods
6   Posted 30/10/2009 at 15:58:48

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@ Trevor: It’s good you mentioned that 10-4 result, because there was me thinking Moyes’s list of record-breaking shit results constituted the utter depth of intolerable performances in the history of Everton FC.
Peter Bell
7   Posted 30/10/2009 at 17:26:53

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Simon.
This is a total and utter load of rubbish.
Bill Shankly retired in summer of 74 and passed away in 1981.
He frequently attended Bellfield but only as a casual visitor.
Mick Lyons remained an Everton player until 1983 before departure to Sheff Wed and was never involved in coaching any of the kids. Mick Lyons retired and went into coaching long after Bill passed away.
Who makes these stories up ???
Mark Murphy
8   Posted 30/10/2009 at 18:06:41

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Peter,
but its true that Shankley was banned from Melwood and that he did frequent Bellefield. He said publically that he was made more welcome at Everton than at Liverpool after his retirement.
I saw him at several matches including a mid week cup match at Sheffield Wednesday when he sheepishly and half heartedly, with a grin on his face, shushed a crowd of us on the way back to our coach after the match singing "Bill Shankley is an Evertonian"!
Mike Galley
9   Posted 30/10/2009 at 19:39:46

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I can remember a few years ago, being told Bill Shankly was at an EFC away game the night Liverpool played St Ettienne at anfield. I seem to recall it was Shef Wed away. I’ve no idea if this story is true or if we even played that night. Can any staticians confirm if we played that night? I’m bringing this up because of Marks comment about him being at Sheff Wed for an Everton away game.
Tony Kelly
10   Posted 30/10/2009 at 19:55:29

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Trevor Lynes, I was one of those fans who was accused of "kicking " Catterick.
I can assure you no such assault occured. I have always hated Catterick till this day. He could and should have put the record straight by telling the press the truth. What happened is that a few dozen supporters vented our feelings after the match ,about the direction the club was taking. Catterick fell over, and was immediately helped back on his feet by 2 policemen. Nobody got arrested or charged. Next day everybody who was there were shocked by the headlines in the press. Two of the fans who there got in touch with the BBC. asking could they go on the main sports programme at that time"SPORTSVIEW" with Peter Dimmock to give their side of the story,but this request was declined. The next game Everton had after Blackpool was the 3rd round of the FA cup versus Sunderland. Catterick had plenty of time to speak about the incident and tell the truth,but at his press conference before the cup game he recalled some of the big name players he dropped for the Blackpool game. He told the assembled hacks."Gentlemen this is not my team it is the hooligans team"
The "hooligans team" won the FA cup that year ! Hope I have put the record straight.
1

Colin Potter
11   Posted 30/10/2009 at 20:26:27

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Trevor Lynes,

Catterick wasn’t kicked at Blackpool, he was pushed and shuffled about.
Ste Boyle
12   Posted 30/10/2009 at 20:38:05

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I seem to recall stories that Shankly used to get treatment from Everton for his arthritis and his bad back.

I bet you can't walk into the Sandon and tell that shower how disgracefully they treated their ’saviour’, you’ll be lynched.

Phil Bellis
13   Posted 30/10/2009 at 21:08:53

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Trevor... absolute bollocks. As Colin says, it was an angry group of lads getting in his face and shouting abuse — he stumbled, that’s all. I know, ’cos I was there.

"Oh we don’t kick our manager when we lose..." — Another scurillous, kopite myth perpetuated.

Phil Bellis
14   Posted 30/10/2009 at 21:12:53

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Jay... which is worse, 10 minus 4 = 6
or 7 minus nil = 7?
Dave Wilson
15   Posted 30/10/2009 at 21:21:34

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Mike Galley

I’m not sure if Shankly was there but we definitely played at Hillsborough the night Liverpool played St Ettienne

It was against Villa in the old league cup final (1st replay)
If Memory serves me right Roger kenyon bundled one over his own line and The Latch equalised with virtually the last kick of the game
Keith Glazzard
16   Posted 30/10/2009 at 23:15:11

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Dave - that was 1977 then. I was there, and at Wembley and Old Trafford. Gordon Lee was the manager. Billy Bingham had brought Andy King, Bruce Rioch and Duncan McKenzie to Everton. Lee had no idea what to do with them.

But I think this belongs on a thread about Everton managers, not Shanks, as Evertonians will respectfully remember him.
Paul McGinty
17   Posted 30/10/2009 at 23:42:52

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That League Cup game against Villa was great. I seem to remember Micky Bernard playing on one leg for half the game the Latch’s equalizer at our end was memorable. With all the depression of the last 3 games I have been delving back into what remains of my memory thinking about better moments from the past.

The 3-0 League Cup win at Old Trafford in 1976; the 1-0 defeat at Villa in 1984 that still got us through to the League Cup Final,when the boys came back out 30 mins after the end to celebrate with the fans on the pitch, the Latchford goal from a perfect Ronnie Goodlass cross at Bolton in 1976 that got us through to Wembley (had to be to play Villa). All wonderful nights.

John Andrews
18   Posted 31/10/2009 at 01:41:28

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I was at that Spurs game and went home in tears! But the bug had bitten me and I have followed the mighty Blues ever since.
Vijay Nair
19   Posted 31/10/2009 at 02:11:04

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From Shankly’s page on Wikipedia:

"His home in West Derby was opposite Everton’s former training ground in Bellefield, where he was always a welcome visitor after his retirement."
Mike Galley
20   Posted 31/10/2009 at 03:16:10

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Dave, thanks for the info regarding the shanks/away game query. As I said, I’ve no idea if this story is true, but if you knew my dad and uncles like I do, you could understand how such a story came about!
Dick Fearon
21   Posted 31/10/2009 at 05:21:47

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The other lot were having a bad spell, the Kop was calling for Shanks head.

I was at Anfield when Bill strode to face the Kop and with arms stretched wide unsuccesfully tried to pacify the crowd.Very selective in their memories are that mob.

As for the Catterick ’incident’, I too was at Bloomfield Rd and can vouch for what Tony Kelly has said about it.The weather could have contibuted to his fall. It was wet windy and cold and miserable. The squad was in a hurry to reach the warmth of their waiting coach. Harry slipped and that was all.

We were not happy with the team he put out that day and were letting him know in no uncertain terms. My memory of the game was how a very young red-head named Ball had taken us apart.
Andy Codling
22   Posted 31/10/2009 at 13:31:37

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Wow, Evertonians venting their frustration at poor team selection, that's unheard of nowadays, as long as you finish in the top ten.
Ian Tunstead
23   Posted 31/10/2009 at 15:27:31

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It just goes to show how foolish and deluded many fans can be regarding great managers such as Catterick and Shankly. Looks like Moyes is no different. When will people ever learn?
Roy Coyne
24   Posted 02/11/2009 at 20:42:22

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Tony Kelly, I was there as well, mate, and you're the first person to put the truth in print, thank you. Trevor Lynes, I was also at the 10-4, it was my first away game... my Dad took me and I need little reminding about the day except I thought we deserved better.

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