RIP Jessie Paisley
Liverpool Football Club were today deeply saddened to learn of the death of Jessie Paisley, wife of legendary Reds manager Bob.
Jessie passed away in hospital on Wednesday morning at the age of 96 after being diagnosed with an infection of the heart last week.
She was right by Bob's side as he became the most successful manager in Liverpool FC's history, guiding the Reds to six league titles, three European Cups, three League Cups, one UEFA Cup and one European Super Cup during his nine-year tenure at the helm between 1974 and 1983.
"She was the driving force behind my dad," son Graham said today.
"She idolised my dad and was very much Liverpool Football Club through and through. In fact, the last piece of good news she got was the team beating the two Manchester clubs in the cups - she was very pleased about that.
"She was so fully supportive of what my dad did - she was always 100 per cent behind him. There was no side to her and she never begrudged the time he'd have to spend away from home.
"She was a schoolteacher most of her working life, so when my dad was off on his travels, she was very much the one in charge of the family. She controlled what was going on and even controlled my dad when he was at home - she was a very organised lady.
"In many ways, she was his unpaid secretary and would help him write speeches and respond to correspondence. Obviously the demands of football were different back then to what they are now, but she was very protective of his limited home life.
"If he came home and things were stressful, she knew when to say something or when not to mention anything about games - she got the balance right most of the time."
Three years after Bob passed away in February 1996, Liverpool FC unveiled a permanent tribute to him outside the Kop at Anfield in the form of the Paisley Gates.
The gateway was opened by Jessie in April 1999 and features the three European Cups the Reds won under Paisley's management.
"That was a big thrill for her," added Graham. "My dad was so proud of the three European Cups and to have those on the gates at the Kop was a real privilege.
"We have a wonderful photo of her at the opening of the gates and in many ways that moment epitomised what she thought of my dad."
Everybody at Liverpool Football Club would like to pass on their condolences to Jessie's family and friends at this difficult time.