Local football teams took part in the second edition of a tournament celebrating the life of Liverpool legend and Glenbuck native, Bill Shankly.
Before the pandemic, representatives from the Spirit of Shankly, the Liverpool FC Supporters’ Union, had approached East Ayrshire Council hoping to organise a competition to celebrate the life of the great Bill Shankly, with the inaugural tournament taking place in 2022.
The second version of the Shankly Cup took place earlier this month, as eight under-15 teams from Liverpool and East Ayrshire played for the title at The Barony Campus in Cumnock.
Two coaches left Liverpool in the early morning, stopping off at the Glenbuck Heritage site en route to pay respects to the great man and to meet members of the Shankly family.
Barbara Alexander, Bill's niece, welcomed everyone, emphasising how much her late uncle would have approved of and loved the idea.
Auchinleck Talbot, Bonnyton Thistle, Cumnock Juniors and Stewarton Annick faced off against Liverpool teams Dynamo Childwall, Kingsthorne Warriors, Parkview Colts and Thomas Lane Tigers.
This year’s occasion also had a special guest with former Liverpool forward and Shankly signing Bobby Graham making the trip, with his son Robert, and handing out the medals.
Stephen Monaghan from the Spirit of Shankly (SOS) group said: “Shankly’s legacy has created an unbreakable bond between communities in East Ayrshire and Liverpool.
"His values are as important today as they were 65 years ago and this tournament is an amazing tribute to him. Everyone who came along had a brilliant day.”
Karen Gill, Shankly's granddaughter and a Spirit of Shankly patron, echoed those thoughts and said: “When I go to Glenbuck and the Heritage Village and see these young teams from Liverpool walk where he walked, where he lived – it is very emotional for me, and if my granddad was alive that would mean everything to him, more than any other accolade.”
Plans are already in place for next year's tournament in Liverpool.
Organisers are also hoping to eventually take the tournament international by inviting teams from across Europe to take part.
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