I have already been running this post on the .tv site for a few days but felt i could get more support for it here
PLEASE KEEP THIS POST AT THE TOP
There have been a lot of mentions in various posts today regarding what everyone feels would be a long overdue knighthood for Bob Paisley.
To achieve this nominations must be made either to Buckingham Palace or to the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street.
To assist this campaign I have written the following summary of the life and career of Bob Paisley in the form of a letter, which I would ask EVERY user of these message boards to print this letter, sign it, and send copies to both
The Nominations Unit, Ceremonial Secretariat, Cabinet Office, Ashley House, 2 Monck Street, London SW1P 2BQ
and
The Secretary, Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood, St James’s Palace, LONDON SW1A 2BH.
A form for nomination can also be downloaded at
http://www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/Ceremonial/index/nomination.htmthe rules : Individuals may be nominated for an honour by anyone, and we encourage neighbours, work colleagues etc to put forward those they admire for their achievements. (Self-nominations are rare, and will not succeed without independent validation.) Nominations must be made on the form designed for this purpose.
I would also ask all users of these message boards to keep this topic at the top of the list to ensure as many users as possible back this campaign.
If anyone has any more info on how to further this campaign please post info below.
I am not the best writer in the world. If anyone more educated than me would like to re write this, please also post below and i will edit the letter.
Some of the text below is from Stephen F. Kelly’s “History of Liverpool”
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
The purpose of this letter is to nominate the former player, manager and director of Liverpool Football Club, Bob Paisley, for the award of a KBE. Mr Paisley unfortunately passed away in February 1996 and while I understand such awards are rarely, if ever, given posthumously, I feel in this case it may be fitting to go against the precedent and honour Mr Paisley.
Below is a brief summary of the career of Mr Paisley for your consideration.
While I understand that it is the protocol for someone with personal experience of the nominee to submit a recommendation, I feel that every football fan has their own personal experiences and memories of “Uncle” Bob Paisley.
21 year old Geordie Bob Paisley joined Liverpool Football Club from the amateur cup winning side Bishop Auckland in 1939, played a few games in the war years (during which he served King and Country fighting the Nazis) and then established himself in the championship winning side of 1946-47. In all Paisley made 278 appearances for Liverpool as a player and on retiring from his playing career, was offered employment in the backroom staff of the club.
In 1959, having served as a member of the coaching staff Bob Paisley was considered for the vacant Liverpool Managers post that was to be appointed to Bill Shankly, however Shankly, throughout his reign as Liverpool manager, retained Bob as his assistant manager.
Bob remained in that post throughout the Shankly years, winning 2 FA Cups, one UEFA Cup, 4 Charity Shields, and 3 league titles.
When Bill Shankly decided to retire at the top in July 1974, Bob Paisley was the obvious choice to succeed Shankly and was therefore promoted to manager after thirty five years serving the club.
Under enormous pressure from the press, the supporters, the players and the board to continue the success the club had enjoyed under Shankly, Bob began his managerial career going seven games before his first defeat, and bounced back from that defeat with an 11-0 victory which remains a record.
Bob also made his first signing as manager, and one which was to set a precedent of his acumen in spotting the finest football talent. The signing was a previously unheard of 23 year old defender from Northampton Town by the name of Phil Neal who cost just £60,000, but went on to captain his country, being capped by England 50 times and finished his playing career as the highest medal winner in the history of english soccer. Among the other players whose careers were guided by Paisley were later England manager Kevin Keegan, three players who went on to manage liverpool in Kenny Dalglish, Graeme Souness and Phil Thompson and a host of other names recognisable the football world over such as liverpool’s highest ever goalscorer, Ian Rush and now TV pundit Alan Hansen.
By the following season Paisley’s confidence was growing. The quiet, almost shy avuncular figure at the helm had not really wanted the job in the first place but he was never one to shirk his duty.
Paisley’s managerial career continued with success after success, including becoming the first English born manager to lift, and then retain, the European Cup.
That first European Cup victory, in Rome in 1977, was of particular significance to Paisley. More than 30 years previously Bob Paisley had marched on Rome as an unknown private in the British Liberating force. Now he stood at the head of his own Red army of players and fans who had accompanied him in the triumphant return to Rome to capture the most prized club trophy in World football. That night Bob Paisley, now the most celebrated manager in world football, never even had a celebratory drink. “I just wanted to stay sober and savour the atmosphere” he recalled.
After six more hugely successful years, and a total of forty three years at anfield, Bob Paisley decided to retire as manager. He had given dedicated service as player, coach and manager and was rewarded with a directorship of the club. In his short nine year spell as Liverpool’s manager, he had become not only the most successful manager in the history of English Soccer but also the most successful in Europe, winning nineteen trophies : Three European Cups, six League Championships, three League Cups, one UEFA Cup, One European Super Cup and 5 Charity Shields, as well as being named manager of the year six times. Bob’s side were also runners up in major competitions six times during his spell in charge.
The team that Bob left to his successor, Joe Fagan, went on to complete a treble of League Championship, League Cup, and European Cup the following season with only one new signing the difference from the team Bob had built.
In the 1985-1986 Season Bob again returned to managerial duties, this time brought in as an experienced assistant manager for Liverpool’s new manager and a player Bob had brought to the club, Kenny Dalglish.
Kenny and Bob ended the season winning the League and FA Cup Double, a feat that had previously only been achieved twice that century, and Bob finally got his hands on the FA Cup, the only trophy that had eluded him during his long and distinguished career as player and manager.
Bob Paisley died in February 1996, aged 77, in a Liverpool nursing home.
He had served Liverpool Football Club in various roles for over 50 years from player, to coach, to manager and finally as a director, all the time with dignity, humour, politeness and love for the team and the people.
The record of Bob Paisley’s successes as a player and manager are detailed below.
MILITARY HONOURS
WWII Service Medal
HONOURS AS PLAYER:
1 LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP 1946-47
1 FA CUP RUNNERS UP MEDAL 1949-50*
* Received an FA Cup runners-up medal although he did not play in the final against Arsenal. He scored Liverpool's first goal in their 2-0 semi-final defeat of Everton and Liverpool asked the FA to strike a special medal for him.
HONOURS AS MANAGER:
6 LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS 1975-76, 1976-77, 1978-79, 1979-80, 1981-82, 1982-83
3 EUROPEAN CUPS 1976-77, 1977-78, 1980-81
3 LEAGUE CUPS 1980-81, 1981-82, 1982-83
1 UEFA CUP 1975-76
1 EUROPEAN SUPER CUP
1976-77
5 CHARITY SHIELDS
1974, 1976, 1977 (shared), 1980, 1982
6 MANAGER OF THE YEAR AWARDS
1975-76, 1976-77, 1978-79, 1979-80, 1981-82, 1982-83
RUNNERS UP
League Championship - 1974-75, 1977-78
FA Cup - 1976-77
League Cup - 1977-78
European Super Cup - 1978
World Club Championship - 1981
Bill Shankly was once asked what his ambition was at Liverpool Football Club. He replied “To make the people happy”
Bill Shankly did indeed make the people happy.
Bob Paisley made them even happier.
I ask you to please consider Bob Paisley for the award of a posthumous KBE for his loyalty and services to football in general and Liverpool Football Club in particular, and in recognition of the 25th anniversary of his being the first English manager to win the European Cup which takes place this summer.
Yours Sincerely
PS
Anthony -
you may find the following article extract interesting:
"First ever posthumous KBE
George Harrison is to become the first person ever to receive a posthumous Knighthood. The former Beatle will be awarded the honour in the Queen’s birthday honours list in June. His wife Olivia will go to Buckingham Palace to pick up the gong. In 1965 Harrison was, of course, given an MBE along with the other Beatles. The decision appears to acknowledge that the Palace had underestimated Harrison’s enduring popularity among the British people. The reclusive guitarist died on November 29 after a lengthy fight against throat cancer. "
