Monday will mark the 100th anniversary of Shankly’s birth and many tributes will feature in the papers and on radio and television this weekend.

I had the pleasure of meeting the great man when he returned to Borough Park in 1980 and, as you can imagine, it was a fantastic experience. It must have been amazing to have Shanks as your manager working alongside him every day.

Bill became Workington manager in January 1954 spending just short of two years with the club. He pulled a struggling side up the table upon his arrival then, in his first complete season, guided Reds to 8th in the Football League’s Third Division (North) when crowds at Borough Park averaged 7,025.

Virtually unknown at the time, Shanks went onto achieve so much in the game, particularly with Liverpool, and was eventually awarded an OBE for services to football.

The great man is pictured on his final visit to Workington alongside his good friend, former Reds’ groundsman, Billy Watson.

SD