The Shankly Gates

There has probably never been a more beloved and praised manager at Liverpool F.C. than Bill Shankly. Even though he was born in Scotland, many can only associate him with Liverpool. When the team had dropped to the Second Division from the First Division, Shankly took over and the rest is, in fact, history. He laid the ground work for the club and set them up to become one of Europe's most feared and dominant teams. He collected 10 trophies with Liverpool from 1959-1974 before retiring as manager of the club. His legacy is honored with a gate that leads to the entrance of Anfield.

Above the gates is the motto "You'll Never Walk Alone." The saying comes from the the same named song by Gerry and Peacemakers. Fans have been singing the song ever since it hit the airwaves and the club naturally adapted it as their anthem and motto since it was a fan favorite. The lyrics which are here: https://genius.com/Gerry-and-the-pacemakers-youll-never-walk-alone-lyrics are about facing adversities and overcoming whatever is thrown at you in life because in the end it will all turn out to be okay.

The song is played over the P.A. system at Anfield before every home game and it is sung by the fans as well when traveling for an away game. The lyrics can hit home for many fans. The club is no stranger to tragedy and has fallen victim to a corrupt judicial system by being blamed for the deaths of their own fans. A failure in police procedures and accountability led to 96 lives (all Liverpool supporters) being lost in a human crush in 1989 which is now known as the Hillsborough Disaster. Full details of the event are here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillsborough_disaster


What was once next to the gates was the Hillsborough Memorial which has since been moved to a different location at the stadium due to construction. There are always flowers and scarfs present no matter what time of year it is. Engraved on the two sets of stone are the names of the 96 victims of the tragedy. In between the two stones burns a sole flame. An eternal flame. Even though Liverpool boasts about its great successes within the game, the club never forgets its tragic past. The Shankly Gates with the motto on top of it, honors one of the clubs' great leaders and the four simple words that unite the fanbase, while at the same time remembers those who went to a game to see their team play only to never return. All of the clubs' history is one, not a series of separate events and moments.