Liverpool Football Club in the 60's

In this visually rich 138-page chronicle, Andrew Dolloway captures a pivotal decade that transformed not just Liverpool Football Club, but the entire city's cultural landscape. Published in late 2024, the book serves as both a historical document and a nostalgic journey through one of football's most compelling stories.
Dolloway's narrative centers on Bill Shankly's arrival in December 1959, a moment that marked the beginning of Liverpool's revolution. The author skillfully weaves together the dual renaissance of Liverpool in the 1960s – the emergence of its legendary football dynasty and its parallel rise as a global cultural powerhouse through music and arts.
What sets this book apart is its extensive use of period publications and archives. Rather than simply retelling well-worn stories, Dolloway lets the contemporary sources speak for themselves, offering readers an authentic window into how these momentous changes were perceived in real-time. The book particularly shines in its exploration of how the Kop developed its extraordinary reputation for terrace songs and humor, creating a unique fusion of football and musical culture that would define the club's identity.
The author's treatment of Shankly is especially compelling, showing how he not only transformed the team's fortunes but ingrained a philosophy and culture that have withstood the test of time. Through careful curation of period materials, Dolloway illustrates how Shankly's influence extended far beyond tactical innovations, helping to forge the deep connection between the club and its community that remains Liverpool's hallmark today.
The book's large format (295 x 210 mm) allows for generous reproduction of archival materials, making it both a scholarly resource and a coffee table treasure. While the writing occasionally leans toward the reverential, this seems fitting given the extraordinary nature of the period it documents.
For Liverpool supporters, this book offers a fresh perspective on a familiar story, enriched by contemporary accounts that capture the electricity of the era. For general football historians, it provides valuable insights into how a sleeping giant was awakened, setting the stage for decades of domestic and European dominance.
The only minor criticism might be that some readers could wish for more critical analysis of the period's challenges and setbacks. However, this doesn't significantly detract from what is ultimately a valuable addition to the literature on Liverpool FC's rich history.
This meticulously researched work will indeed prove "a joy to Liverpool followers of all ages," while also serving as an important historical document of a transformative decade in British football and popular culture.
ROYAL MAIL TRACKED 48 
Publisher: Max Media
Published: November 18, 2024
Price: £19.99
Softcover: 138 pages
Lavishly illustrated
ISBN-13: 978-1068565137
Dimensions: 295 x 210 (mm)