NewsRestoration and remembrance for new project in Bill Shankly's hometown

Born in Glenbuck, Scotland in 1913, Shankly went on to become one of the most influential people in the history of Liverpool FC and the wider game of football.

A revolutionary figure, he took charge of a Reds team mired in the Second Division in late 1959 and would transform the club across a 15-year spell as manager.

Now, the Shankly Glenbuck Village CIC, co-founded by Shankly’s eldest grandchild, Karen Gill, has an ambitious vision: to bring the story of Glenbuck back to life and create a place where its history, its people and its connection to Shankly can be remembered, experienced and shared for generations to come.

The vision is about far more than restoration alone. It is about preserving the roots of a man whose values changed football forever.

Shankly stood for community, hard work, humility and people helping one another – principles that remain as powerful today as they were during his lifetime.

The proposed project will include the rebuilding of Shankly’s childhood home as a social history museum, bringing visitors into the world in which he grew up.

For Gill, the project is deeply personal. “Glenbuck is where my grandfather’s story began,” she explained.

“But it is also the story of an entire community – the miners, their families, the women who kept those communities together, and the generations who called this place home.

“We want to bring that story back to life, not simply preserve what has been lost. We want to rebuild Glenbuck together and create something that people can come and experience for themselves.”

The plans also include the rebuilding of Monkey Row – the two rows of mining cottages that once formed an important part of Glenbuck’s community – as accommodation, alongside the creation of a dedicated visitor centre telling the wider story of the village and its people.

That story goes far beyond Shankly.

The visitor centre will explore the lives of the miners and their families, the famous team of footballers – The Cherrypickers – and the women whose strength, resilience and hard work were fundamental to keeping the community going.

It will also explore Shankly’s early life, and the people and circumstances that helped shape the man he became.

For more information or to get involved, visit Shankly Glenbuck Village CIC.