Throughout the Liverpool’s history, a strong Scottish connection has been woven into the club’s identity through a number of cultural similarities, shared experiences and influential figures.
Liverpool’s identity as a football club cannot, of course, be separated from that of the city itself, and it retains a strong sense of pride in its heritage and its people as a cosmopolitan city with a long and rich history of external influences from near and far, given its former status as the gateway of the British Empire.
The connection with Scotland, however, is particularly tightly bound, and one which very much endures in the present day, not least through the presence of Andy Robertson as Liverpool’s sole Scottish representative in the European Cup-winning class of 2019.
From the 18th-19th centuries, Liverpool emerged as the central trading and immigration hub of the British Empire, positioned handily with trading routes across the Irish sea, and also as the gateway to America.
As a result of its status as a thriving port city throughout this era, over half a million Irish immigrants arrived on the shores of the Mersey by the mid-19th century, making a profound impact on the city’s cultural dynamic. By the mid-1850s the Irish were the largest immigrant group in Britain, and Liverpool, along with Glasgow, was among the largest recipients.
The religious context was significant, as Irish Catholic immigrants arrived in Britain at a time when it was overwhelmingly Protestant, but whereas in Glasgow, where the city’s infamous football rivalry came to be founded upon religious differences- Celtic representing the Catholic club, Rangers the Protestant- this dynamic was not replicated in the same manner in Liverpool.
Both cities also faced a period of economic and social hardship following de-industrialization in the 20th century, and the consequent working class struggle in the face of adversity is another shared experience which unites the two.
Celtic, of course, were deeply supportive of Liverpool in the wake of the Hillsborough disaster, and indeed the first game Liverpool played after the disaster was against Celtic in Glasgow on 30th April 1989, raising £500,000 for the Hillsborough disaster fund.
Liverpool’s iconic anthem, You’ll Never Walk Alone, is, of course, also regularly sung on the terraces of Celtic Park, encapsulating the special bond between the two clubs.
The Shankly era
“The socialism I believe in is everyone working for each other, everyone having a share in the rewards. It’s the way I see football- the way I see life.”
Those were the famous words of Bill Shankly, a man who can lay claim to being one of, if not the single most influential figure in the history of Liverpool FC, raising the club from the doldrums of the second division to established giants of the English game, laying the foundations for years of future success.
Growing up in the remote mining community of Glenbuck in East Ayshire- where there is now a shrine laden in Liverpool memorabilia in his memory- Shankly’s values were a product of the environment in which he was raised.
“I am a socialist naturally, because I am a coalminer.”
Upon his eventual arrival as Liverpool manager from Huddersfield Town in 1959, Shankly took on a role far greater than simply that of first team football coach. He spoke to the city- not just the football club- in a manner which resonated strongly with people, his managerial vision bridging the divide between football and society.
Instilling those socialist principles in the identity of his football team and creating a set of values and traditions which came to be known as ‘the Liverpool way’ ensured that Shankly’s legacy went far beyond his exceptional achievements in terms of silverware. He ultimately laid the foundations of the modern Liverpool FC which would be followed, preserved, and built upon up to the present day.
He understood the crucial importance of engaging with the community, providing people with hope and inspiration- and, vitally, fostering a connection which saw supporters culturally contracted to the club, not just as a sporting entity, but as a local institution which upholds and embodies the unique values of its people.
Key figures in the golden era
When Liverpool FC was first established back in 1892, splitting from Everton after local businessman John Houlding fell out with fellow board members, the original Liverpool side was initially drawn together largely by Scottish players.
Indeed, many of the club’s legendary figures, such as Billy Liddell, Ron Yeats, and Ian St. John- the latter two being key pillars throughout the Shankly era, also came from north of the border and stamped their own unique imprints during a key period in the club’s history.
During what is widely regarded as Liverpool’s golden era during the 1970s-80s, the likes of Alan Hansen, Graeme Souness and Sir Kenny Dalglish collected a combined eight league titles, three European Cups, two FA Cups and four League Cups between them during this remarkable period of success, with the Scotsmen proving key figures in achieving such feats.
Dalglish- who began his playing career at Celtic, scoring over 100 goals for the Glasgow club and earning over 100 caps for Scotland- was recently knighted in recognition of his work supporting the Hillsborough families, along with other charitable work- and, alongside Shankly, must be considered among the most iconic and influential figures in Liverpool’s history.
In October 2017, Anfield’s Centenary stand was renamed the Kenny Dalglish Stand in recognition of his special contribution to the club over the years.
Oh, Andy Andy…
Fast forward to the present, and for the first time in a long while, Liverpool have themselves another Scottish icon who carries the torch of this deep historical connection, writing his own chapter in the book of Liverpool’s Scottish success stories.
Robertson has been nothing short of outstanding since his £8m ($10m) arrival from Hull City in the summer of 2017, cementing his place in the side and forming a key component of Liverpool’s defensive revolution under Jürgen Klopp.
Captain of the Scottish national team, Robertson has continued on a steep upwards trajectory, consistently delivering excellent performances which saw him named in the 2018/19 PFA Team of the Year, with a serious claim as being the finest left-back in world football today.
With 13 assists to his name last season, and still only 25 years of age, Robertson has all the makings of a Liverpool great, and he cemented his place in the history books by playing an integral role in Liverpool’s triumphant European campaign which culminated in glory in Madrid.
In Robertson, Liverpool have another Scotsman capable of continuing the proud legacy left by his legendary compatriot predecessors.