BILL AND DICK A PERFICK TRICK

If you want some genuine football memorabilia and are not adverse to indulging in Liverpool FC, then take yourself to Victoria Street in Liverpool and visit the Shankly hotel. I have referred to this family investment, extravaganza before, but now that I am here, in room 311, I am very pleased to announce that there is a treasure trove downstairs in the foyer, restaurant and bar. 

Old programmes (the 1938 Wembley Cup Final for example), tickets and Bill's medals, old match shirts, the key to the Shankly Gates at Anfield adorn the walls and show cases, along with copies and originals of contracts and news items scrolled by Shankly during his successful reign at Liverpool manager.

Bill has stored his collection in the hotel. Good lad. 

There are many neat touches to this hotel and even the loos on the groundfloor are football themed. There is a " let's celebrate LFC" newsreel in the bar, a Shankly time line on the ceiling of the reception area and all his great quotes projected onto the walls to remind us of his fascinating philosophy.

I was staying in a room on the third floor that has a strong smell of builders glue and there are still men working on the floor above but I hope that all this will clear once they finish for the day. The charming front of house have kindly moved us to a less sticky room!

As Shankly made Liverpool a "Bastion". I'm off to the Bastion restaurant for dinner and then the Pantomime at the Empire and hope that Dick Whittington does not let the opposition get " behind him"!

Almost a perfect day!