Sunday, November 22 – 1981
Two thousand soccer fans, players and friends filled Liverpool Cathedral yesterday to pay a final tribute to Bill Shankly, the city’s legendary football hero.
They sang his favourite hymns – The Lord is My Shepherd and Onward Christian Soldiers.
A long piper played Amazing Grace, and England’s Kevin Keegan was one of the those who read the lessons.
The Gary Marsden (remember Gerry and the Pacemakers?) sang You’ll Never Walk Alone – and everyone joined in.
Shankly, for so long the much loved and respected manager of Liverpool FC, would have appreciated particularly the blue and white scarves of Everton supporters who joined in the service, along with his own team’s fans.
Former Scottish international Ian St. John, who knew him better than most, said in an address: “He was a man who could inspire you to follow him without question.”
Nessie Shankly, Bill’s widow was smiling through her tears afterwards as she said: “It was a lovely service. Bill would have been so proud.”
(Daily Express, 23-11-1981)
"Play Up, Liverpool" 