' BILL SHANKLY WAS A BLUEBIRD '

LOOKING BACK: SHANKLY WAS A BLUEBIRD

14th October 2015

by Richard Shepherd

Bill Shankly is known as one of the finest managers in the history of the game, and the man who built Liverpool into a major force in world football.

He is remembered every bit as fondly by Saturday’s opponents Preston North End too, having represented the Lilywhites for the vast majority of his playing career - famously winning the FA Cup in 1938.


Shankly has been immortalised by both Liverpool and Preston with a statue outside Anfield (below), while his face is etched into the Bill Shakily Kop at Deepdale as seen above.



However, you may not have known that the midfielder also pulled on a Cardiff City shirt...

Shankly’s career as a footballer spanned either side of the Second World War, during which time players stationed in the Armed Forces could make guest appearances for local Clubs.

As a result, the Scotland international turned out for several sides in war-time regional league football – including Liverpool’s arch rivals, Everton.

Reds manager Shankly leads out Liverpool against Don Revie's Leeds United before the 1965 F.A. Cup Final



In October 1942, Cardiff City manager Cyril Spiers heard that the 28 year-old Shankly was based at St Athan RAF station in South Wales.

The City boss got in contact and invited him to play for the Bluebirds at Ninian Park in a regional League West match against Lovells Athletic, a factory-sponsored side based in Newport.

So, on October 3rd 1942 in front of 4,000 spectators, Bill Shankly played for Cardiff City and helped the side to a 3-1 victory.

Next up for City was another fixture away to Swansea. However, Shankly wasn’t to be involved – as he switched sides to play for Lovells Athletic the following week. William Shankly's legacy as a player and manager is fondly remembered by the footballing world each day - including his 100% win record as a Bluebird!

If only we got him as manager we would be what Liverpool are.

If only we got him as manager we would be what Liverpool are.

Are you suggesting that Slade won't be able to lead us to Champions League success Rydog?

Surely he's not as good as Slade or is your support for the bald Mourinho slipping?

If only we got him as manager we would be what Liverpool are.

Are you suggesting that Slade won't be able to lead us to Champions League success Rydog?

Surely he's not as good as Slade or is your support for the bald Mourinho slipping?

Now we have got Slade we will be like Real Madrid never mind Liverpool.

If only we got him as manager we would be what Liverpool are.

Are you suggesting that Slade won't be able to lead us to Champions League success Rydog?

Surely he's not as good as Slade or is your support for the bald Mourinho slipping?

Now we have got Slade we will be like Real Madrid never mind Liverpool.

Fair play to you.

If only we got him as manager we would be what Liverpool are.

Are you suggesting that Slade won't be able to lead us to Champions League success Rydog?

Surely he's not as good as Slade or is your support for the bald Mourinho slipping?

Now we have got Slade we will be like Real Madrid never mind Liverpool.

Fair play to you.

I was 9 at the time and went to that match, the story at that time stated that he went to Lovells athletic because they paid more money for appearances then the city, he got about 6d more with them, in todays money that is two and a half pence.

I'm sure that Lovell's Athletic were effectively a professional side back in the day and I seem to remember my uncle telling me they paid more than the Bluebirds to some of their players!

I'm sure that Lovell's Athletic were effectively a professional side back in the day and I seem to remember my uncle telling me they paid more than the Bluebirds to some of their players!

They did pay more than city, there ground used to be just behind Malpas road in the Shaftesbury area of newport, think it is now a housing estate called The Turnstiles, their ground was called Rexville after Rex toffees made by Lovells.
During the war Newport County did not play any games, you hear about 1000 in rochdale on a wet tuesday night, here we would get about 2000 for a home game and some of the players used to play just one game, the results used to be comical as well, we lost at home to Lovells 8-4 one week then beat them away the following week 3-1, or bristol city lost 9-1 then the following week it was 0-0, most of the time you played the same team home one week away the following week