Nowadays, when you go to a soccer site, it is not unusual to find a section entitled the Boot Room. However, precious few of the authors of the sites have had the privilege of being a part of the Real Boot Room.

The name of this page is dedicated to the Boot Room at Anfield Park, home of the Mighty Reds - Liverpool Football Club. In the early '70's, it was my privilege to be a member of the Liverpool FC professional coaching staff. As a consequence, I became a bona fide member of the Boot Room. The Boot Room was, as the name suggests, where the boots - the players’ soccer shoes - were kept. But it was much, much more than that. It was where the stuff of soccer and the world in general was discussed.

The Boot Room "club" at the time was made up of the coaches and trainers of Liverpool Football Club. We would meet mostly late Saturday afternoon following a game (or after midweek games). Bob Paisley was “Mine Host” and organized the “refreshments" - whisky and barley nips (“sponsored” by aficionados of LFC).

Bob’s record, after he took over as manager from the legendary Bill Shankly, is phenomenal (http://bobpaisley.com). He became the winningest head coach ever in the history of English soccer. But then there was Joe Fagan, successor to Bob Paisley. He won the treble in his first season and went on from there (http://www.joefagan.com). Added to Bob and Joe in the Boot Room were trainer Ruben Bennett, Ronnie Moran, who I worked with on the youth development programs, and Chief Scout, Geoff Twentyman. Occasionally - if the media would allow it - we would be joined by the "Boss" himself - the great, Bill Shankly.

The conversation could move from George Best to Pele, from Bobby Charlton to Babe Ruth, from Brazil to Bournemouth, from Mohamed Ali to Manchester City. It was mostly about soccer and "greatness" and how to get there. It was fascinating and a great learning opportunity - an incredible privilege for me.