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The mosaic.
Shortly after some of the great names from Liverpool's
past 40 years were introduced to the fans, the two Scots pipers on the pitch played
Shankly's favourite hymn, Amazing Grace. On The Kop the Kopites held up 12,000 coloured
cards. Across the top of the stand was spelt the word 'SHANKS'. Below this were two images
of Shanks' face flanking the Cross of St Andrew. Barely a minute into the hymn and the Kop
began singing - slowly, and almost in hushed tones, "Shankly, Shankly". I swear
it was one of the most moving things I've ever heard; the hairs stood up on the back of my
neck. It was difficult to hold back the tears. |
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You'll
Never Walk Alone.
The cards were then hurredly put aside and the massed
flags and banners were unfurled. This was the loudest, most passionate YNWA that I've
heard in years. It was twice as loud and twice as stirring as the CWC semi with PSG which
many rate as The Kop's greatest hour since it was seated. From my position front and
centre I could see the (truly) massive 'All Around The Ground The Kop Spirit Survives'
banner being passed back up over hundreds of heads. It brought a lump to the throat. The
anthem continued way past it's normal end point - it was if we didn't want it to end.
Which, of course, we didn't. |
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Heart
As Big As Liverpool.
After the game we made our way round to the new Shankly
exhibition at the club museum. After all our hard work we'd decided to invite ourselves
(well you've got to be pushy) in to meet the old players. JJP, Andy, Sue and myself
chatted to Cally, Big Ron Yeats, Peter Cormack, Billy Stevenson, The Saint, Chrissy
Lawler, Tommy Lawrence and wee Brian Hall. The exhibition is
called 'Heart As Big As Liverpool' after the anthemic track on Pete Wylie's soon to be
released album. It's a song title that could indeed have been written specifically for
Shankly. Pete was there and together we sank more than a few bottles of Liverpool FC vin
rouge together. He told us that the song started out from a germ of an idea about
Shankly and he agreed that it could (and may even would) make a brilliant football song.
We look forward to it Wylie. |
 
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Gob As Big As Liverpool.
After the museum 'reception' I placed my old red and
white bar scarf around Shanks' neck (the statue, that is) then JJP and I headed off into
The Albert. An almighty sing-song then ensued but I'm buggered if I can remember that much
about it. I do recall people shouting up 'requests' to us on the stage and then John and I
leading the community singing. Christ - I hope no-one had a video.I'll be getting more photos later in the
week. |
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