THIS week marked the 40th anniversary of the death of a football legend who managed two Cumbrian teams.

Bill Shankly is known for his time as Liverpool manager, but he started out at Carlisle United and later had a spell at Workington.

The Scotsman began his playing career with the Blues in 1932, playing for a single season.

After seeing out the rest of his career at Preston North End, the man from Ayrshire returned as manager in 1949.

Shankly used his work ethic to transform the team from one that was struggling in the bottom half of the Third Division North, to fighting for promotion.

Season ticket sales in 1950–51 reached an all-time high and Carlisle also achieved a draw with Arsenal at Highbury in the FA Cup.

He left to join Grimsby Town in 1951, with arecord of 42 wins and 22 defeats from 95 league matches.

Andrew Jenkins, Carlisle United Chairman, said: “Bill was one of the greats and we are proud here at Carlisle United that he spent part of his playing and managerial careers with us.

“He was a very popular manager who enjoyed engaging with the fans, and he came very close to promotion with us in his final season in charge.

“The enjoyment he brought to the game with his brand of football when he went on to one of the biggest club’s in the world is testament to his philosophy, and some of his quotes have lived on through the ages, as will he.”

Three years after leaving Cumbria, Shankly returned to the county to take up the hotseat at Workington.

When he joined, the team was close to the bottom of the Third Division North.

The team managed to stay up and finished eighth the next season.

Attendances also increased from 6,000 to 8,000.

During his tenure, Shankly ended up doing a lot of administrative work and argued with the club's board over ground sharing with Workington Town RLFC.

He went on to join Huddersfield as assistant manager in late 1955, before becoming Liverpool manager, where he won the English First Division three times, the FA Cup twice and the UEFA Cup.

Shortly before his death, Mr Shankly returned to Borough Park to open The Shankly Lounge, which remains a focal point on matchdays.

Steve Durham, Workington club historian, said: "Speaking to former groundsman, the late Billy Watson, older players who were there at the time, supporters and officials, all spoke highly of Bill Shankly and thoroughly enjoyed being part of the club during his near two year spell (1954 and 1955) at Borough Park.

"He was an inspirational leader but always treated people as equals and his motivational methods always got the best response from players.

"The club was at a low ebb when he arrived but there was all round improvement, on and off the pitch, during his time in the town (he lived on Harrington Road).

"I had the pleasure of meeting him when he returned to the club in 1980 and it was a proud moment for me, obviously, but he was so humble and equally proud of the fact that the club hadn’t forgotten his time at the club."