Only a small part of Bill Shankly's professional career was spent at Carlisle, but it was an important part nevertheless, and it is well documented in Tom Darby's book of his life and times.

The young Shankly, brought up in the Ayrshire coal mining village of Glenbuck, arrived in Carlisle as a young aspiring footballer at the very start of his career. His mentor in the early days at Brunton Park was United's trainer of the time, Tommy Curry. Curry was to prove very important in the long-term development of Shankly not only as a player but as a manager. The youthful Scot was keen to learn the tricks of the trade and Darby notes this in the book's second chapter, entitled "Joining the Pro ranks":

Curry had played alongside Shankly in the trial match, quickly forming an opinion that the lad's skill and high standard of fitness would carry him through reserve football and into the first eleven in a short period of time.

Becoming a father figure to the youngster, Curry encouraged Shankly in training and helped him build a confidence in his abilities which would propel him into first-team selection. Shankly had learned another lesson in life: those who encourage youth, those who care about the well-being and development of young footballers, will gain the gratitude and respect of those youngsters trying to break through.

Curry's contribution to the development of youngsters at Carlisle was soon noticed by Matt Busby who encouraged the trainer to join Manchester United's coaching staff. Later, Shankly was deeply upset on hearing Curry had perished in the Munich air disaster.

The book goes on to describe Shankly's contribution to Carlisle's Division Three (North) side in that first season. Back in 1932, when Shankly was at the club, United were still struggling to make ends meet and at times there were doubts as to whether they would survive as a league club. Inevitably, as Shankly caught the attention of the scouts, he was set to move on to bigger things. Preston came in for him and there was much disquiet around the town when he left to join the Deepdale club. I suppose there was no standing in the way of a talented youngster and it serves as a reminder that things were little different at Carlisle then to what they are now. Darby notes that Preston offered Shankly the then massive signing on fee of £40 and his wages were to be increased by ten shillings (50p in new money) to a whopping £5. How times change.

By chapter eight of the book, Shankly's footballing days are over. The best part of his career was arguably lost to World War II, but the more mature Shankly wasn't going to mope over that. He left Preston in March 1949, officially retiring as a player and took up the vacant manager's position at Carlisle. Ivor Broadis, the previous incumbent, had just sold himself, as the player-manager, to Sunderland for a big sum (then) of £18,000. Shankly set about transforming Brunton Park and started to put in place the fundamentals of his managerial ethos. Darby describes his early weeks in charge:

Brunton Park stadium was in the same state of dilapidation as it was when Shankly left all those years ago. If the club was to become a focal point for Carlisle citizens, then a tidying-up operation was needed. From the terracing to the dressing-rooms, players and volunteer supporters, led by the new 'gaffer', embarked upon a spring cleaning and refurbishment of the stadium.

Shankly led this industrious workforce as it set to with brooms, paint brushes, hammers, nails and saws. The door of the new manager's office was always open. Supporters were encouraged to come along and discuss club affairs. It was also at this juncture that Shankly's relationship with the media began to develop.

'Transparent management' had arrived. Shankly firmly believed that accessibility to the inner sanctums of the club by the common people and the press would engender a feeling of togetherness, all having a responsibility for the well-being of the operation at Brunton Park.

This image of Shankly the moderniser rings rather heavy with irony when you consider the current state of affairs at Brunton Park. Perhaps they could learn a thing or two by reading this excellent book?

Shankly's reign as manager of United saw one of the most famous games in the club's history when they travelled to Arsenal to take on the Cup holders at Highbury in January 1951. The battling Cumbrians, still a Third Division (North) outfit in those days, pulled off a great 0-0 draw and forced the Gunners to come north for the replay. Alas, Shankly's boys ran out of luck and mighty Arsenal went through with a 4-1 victory. Success in the Cup was one thing, but league form was the key and Shankly must have been disappointed to see his charges fail to go any higher than third place. They just missed out on promotion and at that stage in United's history, they had never moved up a division. The ambitious Shankly moved on later that year to manage Grimsby Town. He had left Carlisle for the final time, but left behind a proud legacy.

The remainder of the book focuses chiefly on Shankly's elevation to the ranks of the greats during his long spell as manager of Liverpool. Shankly gave birth to the legend of the Anfield boot room and presided over the longest period of sustained success in the club's history. When he handed over, reluctantly, in the summer of 1974, Liverpool had been established as the greatest team in the country. It had been very different when Shankly arrived in 1959.

So much has been written about this man, his many habits and his countless quotes that have passed into footballing folklore. This book recalls many of them but also paints a picture of a deeply proud man and also a very generous and caring one. The word 'great' is often misused. In the case of Bill Shankly, it is highly appropriate. This book leaves you in little doubt.

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