Grandson Of Liverpool FC Legend Bill Shankly Admits Threatening Behaviour At Cup Final

False Name: Carline

The grandson of the late legendary Liverpool FC manager Bill Shankly is now a convicted football hooligan after trouble flared before the team's recent League Cup Final.

Season ticket holder Christopher William Shankly Carline, 33, had travelled down to Wembley with friends for the match against Manchester City. 

However, Carline - the co-owner of the city's football-themed Shankly Hotel - got involved in violent scenes involving his pal and opposition supporters.

The local government employee and chair of The Shankly Family Foundation - a charitable organisation involving kids and grass roots football - will now have to wear an electronic ankle tag for a month.

First-time offender Carline, of Claremont Road, Seaforth, Liverpool and BT employee Matthew Evans, 33, of Classic Road, Liverpool were both sentenced at Hendon Magistrates Court today.

They each pleaded guilty to one count of using threatening behaviour towards Man City fan Emilee Fullaway before kick-off, outside the stadium on February 28.

Liverpool went on to lose the game 3-1 on penalties after the match finished 1-1.

Each received a four-week community order, which includes an electronically-tagged night time curfew between 8pm and 6am.

Prosecutor Miss Katrina Rennalls told the court it was 3.40pm when police on patrol were made aware of a disturbance.

"There were reports a fight had broken out and the victim was a Manchester City fan.

"Mr. Evans had been chanting and aiming abuse at her father, calling him a: 'Manc c***'

"She asked him to stop calling her father names and he grabbed her by the scarf.

Guilty: Evans & Carline

"The father identified Mr. Evans as assaulting her and other fans witnessed the disturbance and he was arrested for assault and Mr. Carline with affray.

"Mr. Carline said he was Gary Aspinall, but his true identity was discovered.

"The girl was grabbed by the scarf and pulled to the ground and punched.

"This case was reviewed and the statements of both complainants  and it was decided to charge the defendants with threatening behaviour."

The defendants' lawyer Miss Ranji Hyare told the court: "Both had come for the football match with a couple of other friends.

"Mr. Carline had brought his girlfriend and they had been drinking.

"With the whole atmosphere Mr. Evans, who looking back says it was stupid, got involved in banter and pulled the scarf.

"His friend, Mr. Carline, saw what was going on and he gets involved as well."

The court heard Carline has an 18 month-old son, but is separated from the mother and intends to marry his new girlfriend this year.

Evans is married and has a six year-old daughter and handles customers complaints at BT, earning £1,800 per month after tax.

"They have both got jobs and families and this is something they would not want to get involved in," added Miss Hyare, referring to the incident.

"They have been in cells as well and they put their hands up during their interviews and here today.

"They have a lot to lose if they are put in this environment again."

Scarf Tug: Evans

Carline and Evans were interviewed by probation officer Miss B French, who said: "Mr. Carline went to help his friend, there were a lot of people there and he disagrees he used threatening words."

Ironically Carline works with offenders, and earns £2,000 a month after tax, who are given community service work, a sentencing option the magistrates considered.

"He actually works for the team and this will go against him in some way.

"On the day itself he says he had a few pints of beer.

"He is very remorseful for the offence and he denies pulling a scarf or threatening anybody."

Regarding Evans she added: "He does state he went over and pulled the young lady's scarf, not to cause a problem, but because of the banter that was going on.

"He does not agree he was using threatening words and says he will never go to a football match again."

Evans has a police caution on his record for invading a football pitch during a match.

Magistrate Mrs J alexander announced: "This is very serious because it is football-related."

Each defendant was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.

The prosecution did not apply for football banning orders.

Carline is the son of Bill Shankly's daughter Jeanette.

Scots-born Shankly managed Liverpool FC between 1959 and 1974, winning three league titles, two FA cups and the UEFA cup.