'I never wanted this job, but someone's got to do it, so let's give it a go.'

Bob Paisley, 1974.

Written by: Resurrection Joe

Robert 'Bob' Paisley was born 23rd January 1919 in the tiny County Durham village of Hetton-Le-Hole. During the General Strike of 1926, young Paisley was forced to scavenge coal dust for fuel, at 14 he was working at the coalface and witnessed his father severely injured in an accident. However, he had an outlet, a chance, Paisley was an outstanding schoolboy talent, with precocious skills, he attracted much scout interest during his time at Hetton Juniors.

His football journey to immortality began at local club Bishop Auckland. His heart was broken, when his boyhood heroes Sunderland, rejected him for being 'too small', he received a similar dismissal from Spurs and Wolves. Paisley signed up with non-leaguers Bishop Auckland for the princely sum of three shillings and sixpence (17.5p).

Bob Paisley In His Schoolboy Days

In 1938/39 Paisley was integral part of Bishop Auckland, capturing their 10th consecutive amateur title. Towards the end of the season, Paisley was involved in an incredible 13 games in 14 days, that saw Bishop Auckland take the Amateur Cup and the Durham Challenge Cup.

Both the Cup Finals took place at Roker Park and Paisley again drew the interest of Sunderland scouts, but they were too late. Paisley had signed for £25 for Liverpool, he set off for Exchange Street and an association that would last over 50 years.

Bob Paisley arrived in Liverpool on May 8th 1939.. just as war broke out. He was taken under the wing of the club captain and close friend Matt Busby. Paisley managed to make 33 appearances and score 10 goals, before being posted abroad to Egypt. Paisley served in 'The Desert Rats' in the relief of Tobruk and at El Alamein. His career resumed in the hastily set up 1945/46 North Division. Paisley became an integral part of a side which featured greats like Billy Liddell, Jackie Balmer and Albert Stubbins and took the title in 1946/47.

Bob Paisley In A Post War Liverpool team Of 1945/46

Paisley played left half and developed a reputation for hard work, tenacity and a growing understanding of tactics. He paid particular attention to manager George Kay's philosophy that players should not be constrained by 'hard tactics' and they should be more flexible and flowing.

Liverpool struggled to establish themselves in Division 1 but they did reach the FA Cup Final in 1950, but Paisley was left out by the board, who picked the side in those days. The following season, Paisley was made captain, but the team was in decline, George Kay left and was replaced by Don Welsh. By the end of 53/54 the inevitable had finally happened, Liverpool were relegated, they had scored 68 goals, but leaked an incredible 97. To make matters worse, Liverpool fans were passed by Everton fans going the opposite way. Paisley was devastated, retiring aged 35 and considered a career in bricklaying.

In a move that was to change the destiny of British football, the Liverpool Board and T.V. Williams were to make a decision that was a break from the norm, knowing Paisley's interest in physiotherapy and psychology; they offered Paisley a position in the 'Boot Room'.

Bill Shankly's Bootroom Team

He didn't know it at the time, but Paisley had inadvertently gotten himself involved in the building and bricklaying trade after all. He was charged with managing the reserves and whilst Jon Welsh was struggling with the first team, Paisley had turned the reserves around. Guiding them to second place, behind the mighty 'Busby Babes', in the Central League. This was considered a huge success and resonated with the executives. The season after, when he beat 'The Babes', Paisley's potential was duly noted by the board. Welsh became the first Liverpool manager to be sacked, but it was too early for Bob, Phil Taylor took over briefly.. but when Bill Shankly took the reins in 1959 and a formidable partnership began. Shankly was renowned as having an idiosyncratic fear of injuries, which made his reliance on self-taught physiotherapist Paisley a strong one.

Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley

In 1974 Bill Shankly stunned the Liverpool faithful, by resigning. Upon his resignation, he advised the Liverpool board to appoint his No.2 and fortunately the Liverpool board listened. 35 years after becoming a Liverpool player, Paisley ascended to the top rung of the ladder and took charge. Paisley appointed from within and made Joe Fagan his No.2, Roy Evans the coach of the reserves, Ronnie Moran first team trainer and John Bennison and Tom Saunders were youth team coaches.

Paisley's Bootroom

In the following season 75/76 Paisley made up for the disappointment, storming through two finishing posts. He recaptured the League Championship and completed a memorable double, by lifting the UEFA Cup, defeating FC Bruges over two legs. Liverpool went on to win the European Super Cup, steamrollering German heavyweights Hamburger SV 7-1 on aggregate. The Paisley era was beginning to take effect. The side began to play expansive, thoughtful and hard-working football.

Paisley, Captain Hughes And The Double Winning Side Of 75/76

Jubilee year 1977 was reason to celebrate, more so in Liverpool. Liverpool cantered to a League Championship, narrowly lost a 'showpiece' FA Cup Final to rivals Manchester United but the best was yet to come. On a hot night in Rome, Bob Paisley became the first English manager to lift the European Cup, defeating another German heavyweight, Borussia Moenchengladbach 3-1. Liverpool became only the second English team to lift Europe's showpiece silverware, Paisley had emulated his old Liverpool captain and great friend, now Sir, Matt Busby. Shankly had built a fire and lit the spark, but the guile and nouse of Bob Paisley had poured fuel on it... a fire that would rage across Europe for years to come.

After the final, Anfield legend Kevin Keegan moved on to Hamburg. Paisley was an astute spotter of talent, his answer? He recruited a promising forward from Celtic, called Kenny Dalglish for £440,000.

Kenny Dalglish Liverpool Talisman

In his first season, Dalglish fired in 30 goals but Liverpool missed out on the title, succumbing to Brian Clough's strong Nottingham Forest side. Liverpool's eye may have been off the ball, as they again reached the European Cup Final. This time, they would again meet FC Bruges at Wembley. A closely fought game was broken by Paisley's Scottish signing, Kenny Dalglish, scoring the only goal of the game. Emlyn Hughes became the first English captain to hold the trophy aloft for a second time and Paisley had masterminded Liverpool's ascent to European domination.

The following season 78/79, Paisley side began to exert total domination over domestic football, they emerged with a record 68 points (2pts for a win system), conceded 16 goals in 42 league games, scored 85 and lost only 4 games.

Similarly in 79/80 Liverpool cruised to the league title, Paisley was building again for another European assault, bringing in new names like Alan Hansen, Mark Lawrenson, Ronnie Whelan, Alan Kennedy, Ian Rush and Graeme Souness, who he made captain. Paisley enjoyed the league titles, but he knew it was the European Cup that would prove the measure of his team.

The 79/80 title propelled Liverpool back into the European Cup competition. They enjoyed an easy win over FC Oulu of Finland, and had convincing wins over Alex Ferguson's Aberdeen and CSKA Sofia. They managed to defeat European titans, Bayern Munich on away goals and faced European aristocrats, Laurie Cunningham's Real Madrid in the final, in Paris.. In the 81st minute Alan Kennedy, for reasons only known to himself, popped up in the Madrid penalty area, to slot home what turned out to be the winner. Bob Paisley had once again climbed the mountain and became the first and only manager to win the European Cup 3 times, with the same side.

Liverpool FC European Champions For A Record Third Time

Bob Paisley went on to lift 2 more Championships and set off on a back to back hat-trick of League Cup victories before his retirement in 1983. Paisley was appointed to the board of directors at Liverpool and continued to serve, acting as advisor to his protoge Kenny Dalglish.

Paisley Continued Winning Titles

In his 9 years at the helm, Paisley had steered Liverpool to 6 League titles, 3 League Cups, 3 European Cups, a European Super Cup, UEFA Cup and 6 Manager Of The Year Awards. He had taken over the mantle of Bill Shankly and taken Liverpool to 'the next level'. They became, under Paisley, unquestionably the best team in Europe, their dominance in sharp contrast to Paisley the man.

Paisley was a quiet, unassuming man, not good with words by his own admission, but he always remembered what his headmaster had taught him "if you speak softly, people will try to listen to what you're saying. If you shout, they're liable to walk away and not take it in."

Bob Paisley's Trophy Cabinet, Paisley With Close Friend Sir Matt Busby, Paisley receives his OBE

Bb Paisley certainly was not designed for the mass media age, he stuttered and stammered when interviewed, he was shy... but in his heart he was a Scouser, he burned with passion and had a brilliant tactical mind, a feel for football that could never be taught, it was a gift.

He was awarded the OBE for his services to football and in 2002 was an Inaugural Member of the English Football Hall Of Fame. To this day it is a mystery why he was never knighted, like his close friend and captain Matt Busby.

In his latter years Paisley was struck down with Alzheimer's Disease and tragically died in February 1996. Canon John Roberts summed him up perfectly, saying he was 'an ordinary man of extraordinary greatness'. On Thursday 8th April 1999, Liverpool Football Club unveiled 'The Paisley Gateway' as a memorial and honour to the great man.

'The Paisley Gateway'

BOB PAISLEY

The words so much quieter
Than the deeds
And the philosophy snug
Beneath the flat cap
Upon a head that desired
No other crown
Whose heart wrapped itself
In the warmth of wool and
Human affection
Not the fickle spotlight
Of celebrity.

Sharon Marshall (Beautiful Game) 2001