Spirit Of Shankly (SOS) is the official supporters' union and leader of the supporters board for fans of Liverpool F.C. Named after former Liverpool manager Bill Shankly, the union was formed in early 2008 by disgruntled fans opposed to the former Liverpool F.C. ownership of Tom Hicks and George N. Gillett, Jr., quickly developing into a cooperative representing its members (and by implication other Liverpool F.C. supporters) on a whole range of issues such as ticketing, travel and community and regeneration issues. Its ultimate aim is to seek fan ownership of the club in the long term.
Background
In 2007 Liverpool were purchased by Tom Hicks and George Gillett, American businessmen, via a leveraged takeover from previous owner David Moores. The initial purchase was met with mixed reactions, with little immediate protest following increased on-pitch success and high quality purchases such as Fernando Torres.
However, from the 2008 season and amid mounting debts, waning on-pitch form and conflicts with manager Rafa Benitez, as well as a perceived reduction in transfer spending the popularity of the ownership of Hicks and Gillett began to fall. In January 2008 during the FA Cup game against Havant and Waterlooville when Liverpool were trailing 2-1 certain sections of the Kop Grandstand started singing 'Liverpool Football Club is in the wrong hands' it was met by a very loud disapproval and boos from the majority of the Kop. As a result, a meeting was called in The Sandon, a pub in Liverpool, to discuss what fans could do about the situation, those in favour of protest formed the Spirit Of Shankly group.
On Tuesday 12 October 2010 Spirit of Shankly organised a bus to the High Court in London for 4am on Wednesday 13th 2010 for Justice Christopher Lloyd's verdict regarding the court between Royal Bank of Scotland Versus Tom Hicks and others.
Aims
Spirit Of Shankly - Liverpool Supporters' Union after formation set out aims as part of their constitution highlighting short, medium and long-term objectives for the organisation. These are as follows:
Constant Aims
To represent the best interests of our members and by extension the best interests of the supporters of Liverpool Football Club on both the local and international level. To hold whoever owns the football club to account.
Short Term Aims
To institute a functioning structure for the Spirit Of Shankly. To create long lasting relationships with all aspects of Liverpool F.C.'s supporting community. To improve the quality of service for Liverpool F.C.'s supporters. To improve the standard and value of travel arrangements for Liverpool F.C.'s supporters.
Medium Term Aims
To work with any relevant agencies to improve the area of Anfield. To build links with grassroots supporter groups both home and abroad.
Long Term Aim
To bring about supporter representation at board room level.
Ultimate Aim
Supporter ownership of Liverpool Football Club.
Protests
The union organised their first official protest against Hicks and Gillett on 22 February 2008. After learning that Tom Hicks Jr. was planning to attend the game, the members remained in the stadium singing anti-owner songs after the end of the match. In addition to this, many in the group began to display banners and sing in opposition to the ownership.
They were dubbed by Liverpool Managing Director Christian Purslow as 'Sons of Strikers'.
February 2010 saw the launch of a billboard campaign across Merseyside. The billboards had the message "Tom & George: Not Welcome Here" displayed, in reference to Tom Hicks and George N. Gillett, Jr., as well directing fans to join Spirit Of Shankly.
Tom & George - Not Welcome Anywhere
A "Tom And George - Not Welcome Anywhere" Campaign was started on 29 June 2010 to show the depth of feeling from Spirit Of Shankly members and Liverpool supporters all around the world. This saw pictures come in Anfield to Australia, Belfast to Bangkok. The pictures were reported in various media outlets from locally in the Liverpool Echo to Spanish newspaper Marca and to Tom Hicks' home town of Dallas