What Shankly actually said, Willie, was that it wasn't "a matter of Life & Death ~ much more important than that".

In fact, my use of 'Soccer' in the thread title was considered: mainly for enlightenment & comprehension of any Transponders, among whom the game has more & more caught on under that name. I take your points: tho must reiterate that the dichotomy of 'rugby or football' always makes me shudder: I remember {name-drop alert} once arguing with my old (& alas late) friend Clement Freud about this.