2025 will see the full launch of The Shankly Experience in our City.
The goal of the Shankly family is to celebrate, sustain and grow the legacy of the late, great, Bill Shankly, the legendary former manager of Liverpool Football Club.
Bill’s grandson, Chris, CEO and founder of ‘The Shankly Experience’ said; “My grandad’s story is an inspiring one. He turned a mid-table second division football club into the biggest club in the world. He created a dynasty and an ethos to live by. He revolutionised Liverpool FC on and off the pitch, and in doing so inspired a city and its people. We as a family are determined to make sure that story and that of the people who played a huge part in his success, such as my grandmother Nessie, is forever told and celebrated.”
The ‘Shankly Experience’ is dubbed as a one-stop shop for anyone visiting Liverpool wanting an LFC related experience; billed as the most unique offering on the market this is a must for any Liverpool fan.
Chris explained; “The idea came from something I did for one of my closest friends, who lives just outside Washington DC. He had never been to Liverpool before but was a massive Red and was desperate for that bucket list visit.
“I arranged his hotel accommodation, his tours, transport, some match tickets, took him to my grandad’s old house, showed him all the Shankly family memorabilia, and even sorted him with some signed items from his favourite Liverpool FC legends. He had the time of his life, and I thought to myself that we can do this for more people.”
The Shankly Experience was born. Chris adds, “We can offer and organise everything anyone would need, and the beauty is that the client only deals with one organisation for all of their activities. A USP of the product is that as the client, the Shankly Experience offers you the chance to build your visit bespoke, with you choosing as much or as little as you want to do, fitting in with your time and your budget and we can also offer preferential rates on accommodation across the city for anyone needing to stay over.”
The Shankly Experience even delivers events with legends, the most notable one so far featuring Jurgen Klopp, which took place on the roof of The Shankly Hotel in 2023. “He loved it”, says Chris. “He actually came to see me in 2016 and we delivered an element of the experience to him there and then, which he loved. That is a big reason why he came back to do the show for me in 2023, and it was phenomenal. It sold out in 5 minutes and we had over 25,000 inquiries for it! So we have a ringing endorsement for what we do from a Liverpool FC legend himself.”
Chris has put together his own formidable 4-person team to help deliver the Shankly Experience. Holly Anderson of ‘Hollywould Connect’ is one of our regions biggest networkers and connectors and is a director of the Shankly Experience. She commented, “It’s a privilege to be asked to collaborate with the biggest footballing name in Liverpool’s history. When I first experienced the tour, I knew immediately that it was something that football fans around the world needed to experience.”
Also involved as a director is Peter Martin of Liverpool Connect, one of Liverpool’s premier transport and chauffeur services. He stated, “When speaking with anyone visiting the city for anything LFC related I always start with ‘Shanks’, how he embodied the spirit of not just the club but our entire city, and that spirit is still the same today. As for the product itself, it’s totally unique, any LFC fan from anywhere in the world needs to experience it to believe it. It truly is incredible!
Completing the ‘Fab Four’ team is Grace Merritt, who is also a director at the Shankly Experience, and she says, “Football has been the heartbeat of my life for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I lived and breathed Liverpool Football Club, following the team home and away with my dad, who ingrained his passion for the club into me and my brother.
“For me, this isn’t just about honouring Bill Shankly’s legacy, it’s about bringing it to life. It’s about reliving the iconic moments, celebrating the values that he stood for, and ensuring those lessons are passed down to future generations.”
For more information on the Shankly Experience visit:
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