Bill Shankly was known as one of football’s greatest speakers. The story behind his iconic 1971 speech at St George’s Hall showcases his talent. Despite Liverpool’s defeat to Arsenal in the 1971 FA Cup final, Shankly’s unwavering support from the fans remained. The day after the match, Shankly addressed over 100,000 people from the steps of St George’s Hall in Liverpool. During his speech, he wanted to reference Chairman Mao, but couldn’t remember his name. Brian Hall, who was standing next to Shankly, reminded him of the name. Shankly then used Mao’s quote about people working together to inspire the Liverpool fans. Even after a loss, Shankly had the crowd captivated and would lead the team to victory in the 1974 FA Cup final before his retirement.
Historic speech for over 100,000 Liverpool’s fans that changes the status.
