Thursday, February 14, 2008

In Memorium: Bob Paisley - 23/1/1919-14/2/1996


"One of the things I keep reminding players is that when you're lost in a fog, you must stick together. Then you don't get lost. If there's a secret about Liverpool, that's it."


St Valentine's Day 1996 - the day a soft spoken, down to earth former WWII veteran passed on after a long & tough battle with Alzheimer's. But this shy, reluctant hero to millions of Kopites will never be forgotten.

Whilst Bill Shankly is acknowledged as the founding father of modern-day Liverpool Football Club; to many of us thirty-somethings its Paisley who filled our lives with so much joy. Watching our beloved Reds storm through the seasons collecting silverware the way Rod Stewart collects Blondes was just fooking astounding. Fer us Reds lucky enough to be fans then, it was sheer gluttony!
Me personal fave was the 1983 League Cup Final when we edged man utd 2-1. Whiteside scored fer the scum before Alan Kennedy equalised; Ronnie Whelan won it in extra time with a sublime curler from outside the box. Knowing that it was Paisley's final season in charge, the players led by Capt Souey shoved & cajoled the ever reluctant Paisley up Wembley steps to collect the trophy. I had tears in me eyes!

In nine years as manager between 1974 and 1983, Paisley took Liverpool to six League Titles, three European Cups, one UEFA Cup and three League Cups, five Community Shields and a UEFA (European) Super Cup. Yet there was no knighthood fer his incredible achievements. What the fook? (A recent campaign to get him knighted posthumously was rejected on the grounds that the title could only bestowed on living persons. So why didn't you when he was still alive, you self-serving c*%t Royals!!!)

Furthermore, Paisley was a one club man. As player (later captain), then physio before becoming gaffer, his love affair with LFC is fairy tale stuff. Looking at today's pay-me-more football culture, it is unlikely something similar ever happening again.

In fact, fook the kighthood, he will be forever SAINT Bob in me mind. Thank you, St Bob, fer giving a generation of Kopites a Golden Almanac of Memories.

ps: TQ to Malaysian Red & White Kop fer reminding me of the anniversary of this great man's passing.



3 comments:

Jon-C said...

RIP Uncle Bob. Hope there'll be some devine intervention from Bill and you to help the club go through the storm.

Kerp (Ph.D) said...

Barnsley up next. All the best, brothers.


*chief, check out SOPO sentral. FFS is now officially part of SOPOs!

Vageliser said...

How do we remmber the man who made the club. By losing to Barnsley.

31 shots to 11 and twice as much ion target.

Why do we have the habit of making opposition keepers look world class?

We are toothless without torres and stevvie.

depressing...given up!