Red or Dead (36 page)

Three days afterwards, Southampton Football Club came to Anfield, Liverpool. That evening, forty-five thousand, five hundred and twenty-seven folk came, too. And in the fourteenth minute, Ian Callaghan scored. And Liverpool Football Club beat Southampton Football Club one–nil. At home, at Anfield. Four days later, West Ham United came to Anfield, Liverpool. That afternoon, forty-eight thousand, six hundred and thirty-two folk came, too. In the forty-fourth minute, Emlyn Hughes scored. In the forty-seventh minute, Peter Thompson scored. And Liverpool Football Club beat West Ham United two–nil. At home, at Anfield. That day, Leeds United beat Sheffield Wednesday and Arsenal Football Club beat Everton Football
Club. That evening, Everton Football Club had thirty points and Leeds United had thirty-two points. That evening, Liverpool Football Club had thirty-six points. That evening, Liverpool Football Club were still first in the First Division. By four points.

On Saturday 14 December, 1968, Liverpool Football Club travelled to Old Trafford, Manchester. That afternoon, fifty-five thousand, three hundred and fifty-four folk came, too. Fifty-five thousand, three hundred and fifty-four folk to watch the current European Champions play the current First Division leaders. The current European Champions were still struggling. The current European Champions were fifteenth in the First Division. Struggling to find any form, struggling to cope with injuries. But today, Burns was back. Today, Dunne was back. Today, Sadler was back. Today, Kidd was back. Today, Best was back. And today, Law was back. And today, Law scored. And that day the current European Champions beat the current First Division leaders one–nil. Bill Shankly shook Sir Matt Busby’s hand. Bill Shankly looked into Sir Matt Busby’s face. And Bill Shankly saw a man still drained. Bill Shankly saw a man still old. A man in need of dreams, a man in need of hopes –

Fresh dreams and new hopes –

Well played, said Bill Shankly. Very well played indeed, Matt. I think you might just have turned the corner. And I hope you have, Matt. And so I wish you all the best for the rest of the season …

Sir Matt Busby shook his head. And Sir Matt Busby said, Thank you, Bill. Thank you very much. And I hope you are right, Bill. I really hope you are right. But I think the corner is still a long way off. Still a very long way off for us. But I think this season could be yours, Bill. Yours or Don’s. I can’t see anyone else winning the League this season, Bill. I think it’s down to you or Don. And so I hope it’s you, Bill. I really hope it’s you who wins the League this season …

One week later, Tottenham Hotspur came to Anfield, Liverpool. That afternoon, forty-three thousand, eight hundred and forty-three folk came, too. At home, at Anfield. Liverpool Football Club had won twenty-five of twenty-six possible points in the season so far. At home, at Anfield. Liverpool Football Club were invincible in the season so far. At home, at Anfield. Liverpool Football Club pounded and pounded away. At home, at Anfield. Jennings saved from Alun Evans.
At home, at Anfield. Jennings saved from Peter Thompson. At home, at Anfield. Jennings saved from Roger Hunt. At home, at Anfield. Jennings saved from Ian St John. At home, at Anfield. Jennings saved from Ian Callaghan. At home, at Anfield. Still Liverpool Football Club pounded and pounded away. And at home, at Anfield. In the seventieth minute, Tommy Smith robbed Mullery. At home, at Anfield. Smith fed Emlyn Hughes. At home, at Anfield. Friends advanced ahead of him, foes retreated before him. And at home, at Anfield. Hughes shot and Hughes scored. And at home, at Anfield. Liverpool Football Club beat Tottenham Hotspur one–nil. At home, at Anfield. Liverpool Football Club had thirty-eight points. And Leeds United had thirty-five points. And that evening, Liverpool Football Club were still first in the First Division. By three points. Still first,

at Christmas.
I think this season could be yours, Bill
. In the 1962–63 season, Everton Football Club had been first in the First Division at Christmas. And Everton Football Club had won the Championship.
I think this season could be yours, Bill
. In the 1964–65 season, Manchester United had been first in the First Division at Christmas. And Manchester United had won the Championship.
I think this season could be yours, Bill
. In the 1965–66 season, Liverpool Football Club had been first in the First Division at Christmas. And Liverpool Football Club had won the Championship.
I think this season could be yours, Bill
. In the 1966–67 season, Manchester United had been first in the First Division at Christmas. And Manchester United had won the Championship.
I think this season could be yours, Bill.
But in the 1963–64 season, Blackburn Rovers had been first in the First Division at Christmas. And Blackburn Rovers had not won the Championship. Liverpool Football Club had won the Championship.
Yours or Don’s
. And last season, Manchester United had been first in the First Division at Christmas. But Manchester United had not won the Championship. Manchester City had won the Championship.
Yours or Don’s. Yours or Don’s
…

On Boxing Day, 1968, Burnley Football Club came to Anfield, Liverpool. That afternoon, fifty-two thousand, five hundred and fifteen folk came, too. In the forty-third minute, Chris Lawler scored. But Burnley Football Club scored, too. And Liverpool Football Club drew one-all with Burnley Football Club. At home,

at Anfield. Nine days later, Doncaster Rovers came to Anfield, Liverpool. That afternoon, forty-eight thousand, three hundred and thirty-three folk came, too. Forty-eight thousand, three hundred and thirty-three folk to watch Liverpool Football Club play Doncaster Rovers of the Fourth Division in the Third Round of the FA Cup. In the seventieth minute, Roger Hunt scored. In the eighty-fourth minute, Ian Callaghan scored. And Liverpool Football Club beat Doncaster Rovers of the Fourth Division two–nil in the Third Round of the FA Cup. At home,

at Anfield. One week afterwards, West Bromwich Albion came to Anfield, Liverpool. That afternoon, forty-seven thousand, five hundred and eighty-seven folk came, too. In the eighty-third minute, Peter Thompson scored. And Liverpool Football Club beat West Bromwich Albion one–nil. At home, at Anfield. That evening, Everton Football Club had thirty-seven points and Arsenal Football Club had thirty-seven points, too. That evening, Leeds United had thirty-nine points and Liverpool Football Club had forty-one points. That evening, Liverpool Football Club were still first in the First Division.

On Saturday 18 January, 1969, Liverpool Football Club travelled to Stamford Bridge, London. Bill Shankly did not like London. Bill Shankly hated London. Bill Shankly walked into the dressing room. The away dressing room. Bill Shankly looked around the dressing room. The Liverpool dressing room. From player to player. From Lawrence to Lawler, Lawler to Strong, Strong to Smith, Smith to Yeats, Yeats to Hughes, Hughes to Callaghan, Callaghan to Hunt, Hunt to Evans, Evans to St John and from St John to Thompson. And Bill Shankly shook his head –

People tell me Liverpool Football Club have not won a League match in London since December, 1966. People tell me Liverpool Football Club cannot win a League match in London. So people tell me Liverpool Football Club cannot win the League. That Liverpool Football Club are not good enough to win the League. Because Liverpool Football Club cannot win a match in London. But I tell those people that is rubbish. Utter rubbish, boys. I tell those people Liverpool Football Club were robbed by the rain at Arsenal back in August. I tell those people Liverpool Football Club were robbed by the referee at Tottenham in October. I tell those people Liverpool Football
Club will win the League. Because I tell those people Liverpool Football Club will not lose again in London. That Liverpool Football Club will win every game in London from now on. And win the League. So don’t you contradict me today, boys. Don’t you make me look a liar to those people. Those ignorant people, boys. Those ignorant London people …

After the whistle, the first whistle. In the swirling, London wind. Just before half-time, Ian Callaghan scored. But the goal was disallowed. Alun Evans offside. But in the swirling, London wind. In the sixty-fifth minute, Hughes of Chelsea dropped a shot from Peter Thompson of Liverpool. And Roger Hunt of Liverpool pounced on the loose ball. And Hunt of Liverpool stabbed at the loose ball. And Hunt of Liverpool scored. His two hundred and thirty-fourth League goal for Liverpool Football Club. Roger Hunt had beaten the club record set by Gordon Hodgson. And in the swirling, London wind. In the seventy-second minute, Hunt broke free. Hunt passed to Thompson. Thompson crossed. And Evans scored. But in the swirling, London wind. Now Chelsea Football Club woke up. And Tambling scored. In the swirling, London wind. Webb shot. But Ron Yeats cleared the ball off the goal line. And in the swirling, London wind. Liverpool Football Club beat Chelsea Football Club two–one. Away from home, away from Anfield. In the swirling, London wind. Liverpool Football Club had won in London for the first time since December, 1966.

After the whistle, the final whistle. Bill Shankly took his hat off the back of the door of the away dressing room at Stamford Bridge. Bill Shankly put on his hat. Bill Shankly pulled the brim of his hat down low. And Bill Shankly stepped out of the away dressing room. In the corridor at Stamford Bridge, the gentlemen of the London sporting press were waiting for Bill Shankly. And Bill Shankly was waiting for them. Bill Shankly ready for them. His jaw jutting, his finger jabbing. His eyes darting and his mouth moving –

Who can catch Liverpool Football Club now? Who will stop us now, gentlemen? You mark my words. Liverpool Football Club will be Champions. We will be Champions again, gentlemen. Because no one can catch Liverpool Football Club now. No one can stop us now. You mark my words, gentlemen. And so you come back to me in May
and then you’ll see. Then you’ll see. Because I’m never wrong, gentlemen. I’m never wrong.

In the house, in their front room. Bill had heard the news and Bill had seen the reports. In the car, at the wheel. Bill could not believe his ears, Bill could not believe his eyes. On the road, the road to Manchester. Bill still could not believe his ears, Bill still could not believe his eyes. In the car park, the car park at Old Trafford. Bill would not believe it. Bill refused to believe it. In the office, the office at Old Trafford. Bill would not believe it until he had heard it from the man himself. Until he had seen the man himself. And Bill had asked, Why, Matt? Why?

I’ve had enough, Bill. And so I’ve resigned. I’ve quit.

But you’re not a quitter, Matt. You can’t resign.

But I have, Bill. Because I’ve had enough.

Enough of what, Matt? Enough of football? But football is your life, Matt. Football is all there is. You know that, Matt …

Yes, I know that, Bill. But I’ve had enough of it, enough of football. It has been a burden to me. A burden I have wanted, yes. But the burden has been demanding. The burden has been great. It has weighed me down. And it has tired me out. And now I’m too drained to go on. I am too old to go on. It’s time for a younger man to pick up the burden. It is time for a younger man to carry the weight, Bill.

Bill shook his head. And Bill said, But who, Matt? Who? Who can pick up that burden? Who can carry that weight, Matt? Do you have a man in mind? A younger man in mind, Matt?

Well, that’s the problem, Bill. The biggest problem. Because if they bring in a new man, if they bring in a man from outside. Then that man will want his own staff. Just as I did twenty-three years ago. And then what will become of my staff? Of Jimmy Murphy? Of Jack Compton? Of Johnny Aston? Of Joe Armstrong? Of Wilf McGuinness? These men who have been with me through everything. These men who have been with me through so much. Through all the joy and through all the agony. And so I cannot see them just pushed aside, Bill. I cannot see them just thrown away. I cannot, Bill. I cannot …

But that is what will happen, Matt. If you go, if you leave. That is what will happen to them, Matt. They will be pushed aside. They will be thrown away, Matt …

No, said Matt. I won’t let that happen. And the chairman and the board agree. And so we have all agreed that I will stay on as general manager. But there will also be a team manager. A manager who will take the training every day. A manager who will pick the team every game. But I will still be here to help lessen the other demands on him, to help him carry the other burdens. And so we will promote a man from within. To be the man who takes the training, the man who picks the team. And he will be his own man. But I will still be here to guide him. I will still be here to help him. And then we’ll be able to continue all the work we have done. And we will be able to preserve all the work we have done. That is the plan. My plan …

But who, Matt? Who? Who do you have in mind?

Wilf, said Matt. Wilf McGuinness. But not just yet. Not with the position the team are in now, not the way things are now. It wouldn’t be fair, it wouldn’t be right. So I will put things right, I will sort things out. And then we’ll make Wilf chief coach and see how things go. But I’ve said nothing to him. I’ve said nothing to anyone.

Well, I hope you’re right, Matt. I really do. I really hope things work out the way you hope. The way you’ve planned them, Matt. I really do. And I pray they do, Matt. For you and for Manchester United. But mainly for you, Matt. Especially for you …

Thank you, Bill. Thank you very much. It’s not been an easy decision to make. It’s been the hardest decision of my life. But it comes to us all. It comes to us all, Bill. Because things do not go on forever. Things do not last forever, Bill. We are none of us immortal. None of us immortal, Bill …

…

In the house, in their kitchen. Bill got up from the table. Bill picked up the plates. Bill walked over to the sink. Bill put the plates in the sink. Bill walked back over to the kitchen table. Bill picked up the salt and pepper pots. Bill put them in the cupboard. Bill walked back over to the table. Bill took the cloth off the table. Bill walked over to the back door. Bill opened the back door. Bill stepped outside. Bill stood on the step. Bill shook the cloth. Bill stepped back into the
kitchen. Bill closed the door. Bill folded up the tablecloth. Bill put it in the drawer. Bill walked back over to the sink. Bill turned on the taps. Bill squeezed washing-up liquid into the sink. Bill turned off the taps. Bill picked up the scrubbing brush. Bill washed up the plates, Bill washed up the pans. Bill washed up the knives and forks. Bill put them on the draining board. Bill pulled out the plug. Bill dried his hands. Bill picked up the tea towel. And Bill dried up the pans. Bill dried up the plates. Bill dried up the knives and forks. Bill put the pans in one cupboard. Bill put the plates in another. And Bill put the knives and forks in the drawer. Bill walked back over to the sink. Bill picked up the dishcloth. Bill wiped down the draining board. Bill turned on the taps again. Bill rinsed the dishcloth under the taps. Bill turned off the taps. Bill squeezed the water out of the dishcloth. Bill put the
dishcloth
down next to the bottle of washing-up liquid. Bill turned around. Bill looked round the kitchen. Bill turned back to the sink. Bill bent down. Bill opened the cupboard under the sink. Bill took out a bucket from under the sink. Bill bent back down. Bill opened a box under the sink. Bill took out a Brillo pad from the box. Bill closed the cupboard door. Bill picked up the bucket. Bill put the bucket in the sink. Bill turned the taps on again. Bill filled the bucket half full. Bill turned off the taps. Bill took the bucket and the Brillo pad over to the cooker. Bill put down the bucket in front of the cooker. Bill opened the oven door. Bill looked inside the oven. Bill could see the dirt. Bill could smell the fat. Bill knelt down on the kitchen floor. Bill unbuttoned the cuffs of his shirt. Bill rolled up the sleeves of his shirt. Bill picked up the Brillo pad. Bill sank the Brillo pad into the bucket of water. Bill pulled the Brillo pad back up, out of the water. Bill squeezed the water from the Brillo pad. The wet, steel wool. Bill squeezed it tighter. Bill put his hand inside the oven. Into the dirt, amongst the fat. In the kitchen, on the floor. On his knees. Bill began to scrub. Liverpool Football Club had lost two–nil to Nottingham Forest. On his knees. Bill began to scour. At home, at Anfield. On his knees. Bill began to clean. Liverpool Football Club were no longer first in the First Division. On his knees, to clean and clean again. Liverpool Football Club were now second in the First Division. On his knees, on his knees. Leeds United now first in the First Division. Among the dirt,

among the fat. On his knees.

…

On the bench, the Anfield bench. Bill watched Shilton save from Ian St John. And Shilton save from Peter Thompson. And in the thirty-first minute, Bill watched Glover cross a high ball in from the left. Ron Yeats jumped and Lochhead jumped. But Yeats did not meet the ball. Lochhead met the ball. Lochhead headed the ball. And Lochhead scored. And in the fortieth minute, Bill watched Sjöberg handle the ball in the Leicester City penalty area. The referee blew his whistle. The referee awarded a penalty to Liverpool Football Club. Tommy Smith put the ball on the penalty spot. Smith struck the ball. And Shilton saved from Smith. And on the bench, the Anfield bench. Bill watched Shilton save from Chris Lawler. Shilton save from Emlyn Hughes. And Shilton save from Ian Callaghan. And on the bench, the Anfield bench. Bill turned to Bobby Graham. And Bill told Graham to warm up. And in the seventieth minute, Bill stood up. And on the touchline, the Anfield touchline. Bill gesticulated at Ronnie Yeats. Bill called over Ronnie. Bill spoke to Ronnie. And Yeats nodded. And on the pitch, the Anfield pitch. Yeats walked towards Roger Hunt. And Yeats spoke to Hunt. But Hunt shook his head. And Hunt walked away. And on the touchline, the Anfield touchline. Bill cursed. And Bill gesticulated at the referee. Bill called over the referee. Bill spoke to the referee. And the referee nodded. And on the pitch, the Anfield pitch. The referee walked towards Roger Hunt. The referee spoke to Hunt. And now Hunt looked up at the Kop. The Spion Kop. And Hunt looked up into the sky. The Anfield sky. And Hunt felt the ground beneath his feet move. The Anfield ground. And Hunt felt the world turn upside down. The Anfield world. And Hunt walked slowly across the pitch. The Anfield pitch. And Hunt walked towards the touchline. The Anfield touchline. And Hunt took off his shirt. His Liverpool shirt. And Hunt threw his Liverpool shirt into the dug-out. The Anfield dug-out. And Hunt ran down the tunnel. The Anfield tunnel. Into the darkness. The darkness. And in the ninetieth minute, the referee blew his whistle. The final whistle. And Liverpool Football Club were out of the FA Cup. Liverpool Football Club had lost one–nil to Leicester City in the Fifth Round replay of the FA Cup. At home,

at Anfield. Bill walked down the tunnel. The Anfield tunnel. Bill walked into the dressing room. The Liverpool dressing room. The
Liverpool dressing room silent, the Liverpool dressing room waiting. Bill walked up to Roger Hunt. Roger Hunt sat silent, Roger Hunt sat waiting. And Bill looked down at Roger Hunt. Bill handed Roger Hunt his shirt. His Liverpool shirt. And Bill said, I thought you were more of a sportsman than to ever do something like that, son.

The shirt in his hands. The Liverpool shirt in his hands. Roger Hunt looked up at Bill. The tears in his tears –

And I thought you had more respect for me. After all the games I have played for you, after all the goals I have scored for you. I thought you had more respect for me than to take me off, than to substitute me. At home, at Anfield. In front of our own people, in front of our own supporters. I would never have believed you would do such a thing. I would have never believed you
could
do such a thing. I was shocked and I was hurt, Boss …

Bill saw the shirt in the hands of Roger Hunt. The Liverpool shirt. And Bill saw the tears in the eyes of Roger Hunt. And Bill sat down beside Roger Hunt. And Bill put his arm around the shoulders of Roger Hunt. And Bill said, I believe you are one of the greatest centre-forwards I have ever seen, son. I believe you have played in some of the greatest games I have ever seen. I believe you have scored some of the greatest goals I have ever seen. But it is not about me. And it is not about you. You did not play in those games for me. You did not score those goals for me. You played in those games for Liverpool Football Club. For the team. And for the supporters of Liverpool Football Club. For the people. And so you scored those goals for Liverpool Football Club. For the team. And for the supporters of Liverpool Football Club. For the people. Not for me, son. And not for you. Every single decision we make, every single thing we do, is for Liverpool Football Club. For the team. And for the supporters of Liverpool Football Club. For the people. Not for you, not for me. For the team, for the people.

…

In the house, in their bedroom. In the dark and in the silence. Bill stared up at the ceiling. The bedroom ceiling. And Bill saw the tables on the ceiling. The bedroom ceiling. Bill saw the standings on the ceiling. The bedroom ceiling. Bill knew if Leeds United lost their last two games. Their game against Liverpool Football Club and their game against Nottingham Forest. And if Liverpool Football Club won
their last three games. Their game against Leeds United, their game against Manchester City and their game against Newcastle United. Then Liverpool Football Club would be the Champions of England. In their house, in the bedroom. Bill knew Liverpool Football Club had to beat Leeds United tomorrow night. But Bill knew Leeds United could lose tomorrow night and still be the Champions of England. If Leeds United drew with Nottingham Forest. Leeds United would still be the Champions of England. In the dark and in the silence. Bill knew it was out of his hands. It was out of his hands. And in the dark,

and in the silence. Bill cursed his hands,

his empty, empty hands.

…

On the bench again, the Anfield bench again. On a Monday night, the last Monday night in April. In a madhouse of electric noise that hammered the senses. Bill watched Bremner win the toss. And Bremner choose to make Liverpool Football Club play towards the Spion Kop in the first half. It was a gamble, it was a risk. And in a madhouse of electric noise that hammered the senses. From the first minute, Liverpool Football Club attacked and attacked. In a madhouse of electric noise that hammered the senses. From the very back to the front, from Tommy Lawrence to Chris Lawler, Lawler to Geoff Strong, Strong to Tommy Smith, Smith to Ronnie Yeats, Yeats to Emlyn Hughes, Hughes to Ian Callaghan, Callaghan to Bobby Graham, Graham to Alun Evans, Evans to Ian St John and from St John to Peter Thompson. In a madhouse of electric noise that hammered the senses. The players of Leeds United were rattled, the players of Leeds United were shaken. The challenges rash and the tackles fierce. Tommy Smith needed treatment. Tommy Lawrence needed treatment. Terry Cooper needed treatment. Gary Sprake needed treatment. And Mick Jones needed treatment. But in the madhouse of electric noise that hammered the senses. The players of Leeds United began to find their feet, the players of Leeds United began to find their rhythm. And to defend and to defend. From the very front to the back, from Gray to Giles, Giles to Jones, Jones to Madeley, Madeley to O’Grady, O’Grady to Hunter, Hunter to Charlton, Charlton to Bremner, Bremner to Cooper, Cooper to Reaney and from Reaney to Sprake. In a madhouse of electric noise that hammered the senses. The white cliffs
repelled the red waves. The shot from Ian Callaghan and the header from Alun Evans. The white cliffs stood and the red waves broke. In a madhouse of electric noise that hammered the senses. For minute after minute, long minute after long minute. In the seventy-second minute, Ian St John lobbed the ball into the penalty area. The ball found Alun Evans in the penalty area. Evans unmarked. The goal unguarded. The goal at his mercy. Evans shot and Evans missed. And in the madhouse of electric noise that hammered the senses. Hammered and hammered, hammered and hammered. The long minutes became short minutes, the short minutes became dying minutes. In the madhouse of electric noise that hammered the senses. Hammered and hammered. The dying minutes, the last minute. Hammered. The last minute, the last seconds. And hammered. The last seconds, the last second. Hammered. And in that last second, Bill watched the referee put his whistle to his lips. And the referee blew his whistle. And in the madhouse of electric noise that had hammered the senses. Liverpool Football Club had drawn nil–nil with Leeds United. And Leeds United had got their point. Their last point. And Leeds United were the Champions of England for the first time in the history of Leeds United Association Football Club. But the players of Leeds United Association Football Club did not leap into the air. The Anfield air. The players of Leeds United Association Football Club did not jump for joy into the night. The Anfield night. The players of Leeds United Association Football Club stood upon the pitch. The Anfield pitch. Their backs bent in half, their hands upon their thighs. Gasping for air, panting for breath. Until slowly, one by one, man by man, the players of Leeds United Association Football Club realised what they had done, knew what they had achieved. And the players of Leeds United Association Football Club raised their heads. And the players of Leeds United Association Football Club raised their arms. In salute and in victory. And they walked with heads held high, they strode with arms raised high, towards their own supporters, the supporters of Leeds United Association Football Club. In salute and in victory. In victory.