by David Peace
until they were ready.
…
At the stadium, in the office. At his desk, in his chair. Bill stared down at his book. His book of names, his book of notes. The last page of names, the last page of notes. And Bill read aloud the names on the page: Clemence, Lawler, Ross, Smith, Lloyd, Hughes, Callaghan, Evans, Graham, McLaughlin and Thompson. Bill put the book to one side. The book of names, the book of notes. Bill stood up. Bill walked over to the shelves. The shelves of books. The shelves of names and the shelves of notes. Bill took a book from the shelf. Another book of names, another book of notes. The names from last season, the notes from last season. Old names and old notes. Bill turned to the first page of the last season. The first page of names from the first game of last season. And Bill read aloud the names on the page: Lawrence, Lawler, Strong, Smith, Yeats, Hughes, Callaghan, Hunt, Graham, St John and Thompson. Bill closed the book. The book from last season. The book of old names, the book of old notes. Bill put it back on the shelf. The shelf of names, the shelf of notes. Old names and old notes. Bill walked back to his desk. Bill sat back down. At his desk, in his chair. Bill stared back down at the book on his desk. Again. The book of names, the book of notes. New names and new notes. The names for the new season, the notes for this season. The last page of names, the last page of notes. And again. Bill read aloud the names on the page: Clemence, Lawler, Ross, Smith, Lloyd, Hughes, Callaghan, Evans, Graham, McLaughlin and Thompson. Bill swallowed. Bill knew five of the names on the first page of the new season were not the same as five of the names on the first page of last season. Five new names for five old names. At his desk, in his chair. Bill swallowed again. Bill knew Liverpool Football Club had finished fifth in the First Division. Last season, in the old season. Bill knew Liverpool Football Club had finished nowhere. Last season, in the old season. Bill closed the book. The book of names, the book of notes. The book of new names, the book of new notes. At his desk, in his chair. Bill closed his eyes. His old eyes. Bill was sick of finishing nowhere. In the last seasons, in the old seasons. Sick of finishing nowhere, sick of winning nothing –
Sick and bloody tired.
…
On the bench, the bench at Turf Moor. Bill watched Liverpool Football Club beat Burnley Football Club two–one. On the bench, the bench at Bloomfield Road. Bill watched Liverpool Football Club draw nil–nil with Blackpool Football Club. On the bench, the Anfield bench. Bill watched John McLaughlin score his first goal for Liverpool Football Club on his home debut for Liverpool Football Club. John McLaughlin was eighteen years old. And Bill watched Liverpool Football Club beat Huddersfield Town four–nil. On the bench, the Anfield bench. Bill watched Ray Clemence jump to catch a header. Clemence misjudge the header. The header drop over Clemence. And into the net. And Bill watched Liverpool Football Club draw one-all with Crystal Palace Football Club. On the bench, the bench at the Hawthorns. Bill watched Liverpool Football Club draw one-all with West Bromwich Albion. On the bench, the Anfield bench. Bill watched Liverpool Football Club draw one-all with Manchester United. On the bench, the bench at Field Mill. Bill watched Liverpool Football Club draw nil–nil with Mansfield Town of the Third Division in the Second Round of the Football League Cup. On the bench, the bench at St James’ Park. Bill watched Liverpool Football Club draw nil–nil with Newcastle United. Another draw,
another bloody draw.
On the bench, the Anfield bench. Bill watched Liverpool Football Club beat Ferencvárosi Torna Club of Budapest, Hungary, one–nil in the first leg of the First Round of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. On the bench, the Anfield bench. Bill watched Liverpool Football Club beat Nottingham Forest three–nil. On the bench, the Anfield bench. Bill watched Liverpool Football Club beat Mansfield Town of the Third Division three–two after extra time in the replay of the Second Round of the Football League Cup. And in the dressing room. The Liverpool dressing room. Bill looked from player to player. From Clemence to Lawler, Lawler to Lindsay, Lindsay to Smith, Smith to Lloyd, Lloyd to Hughes, Hughes to Hall, Hall to Evans, Evans to Graham, Graham to McLaughlin and from McLaughlin to Heighway. And Bill smiled. And Bill said, Well played, boys. Well played indeed. And you have learnt a lesson tonight, boys. A few very important lessons. You’ve learnt to never underestimate any team you play, boys. And you’ve learnt never to surrender any game you play. You have learnt to always keep trying, boys. To always keep struggling. To never give in and to never give up. That’s what I saw out there today, boys. I saw you never give in and never give up. And so I am proud of you, boys. Very, very proud of you. Of the way you learnt those lessons and of the way you played tonight …
On the bench, the bench at the Dell. Bill watched Alec Lindsay score. An own goal. And Bill watched Liverpool Football Club lose one–nil to Southampton Football Club. It was Liverpool Football Club’s first defeat of the 1970–71 season. On the bench, the bench in the Nep Stadium in Budapest, Hungary. Bill watched Liverpool Football Club beat Ferencvárosi Torna Club of Budapest, Hungary, two–one on aggregate in the First Round of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. On the bench, the Anfield bench. Bill watched Liverpool Football Club beat Chelsea Football Club one–nil. On the bench, the bench at the County Ground. Bill watched Trollope sprint thirty yards down the wing. And Trollope crossed the ball. The ball dropped at the feet of Rogers. Rogers moved across the face of the goal. The Liverpool goal. Rogers took Clemence with him across the goal. And Rogers shot. And Rogers scored. Two minutes later, Bill watched Dangerfield pass to Rogers. And again Rogers moved across the face of the goal. The Liverpool goal. Again Rogers took Clemence with him. And again Rogers shot. And again Rogers scored. And on the bench, the bench at the County Ground. Bill watched Liverpool Football Club of the First Division lose two–nil to Swindon Town of the Second Division in the Third Round of the Football League Cup. And in the dressing room. The away dressing room. Bill looked from player to player. From Ray Clemence to Chris Lawler, from Chris to Alec Lindsay, from Alec to Tommy Smith, from Tommy to Larry Lloyd, from Larry to Emlyn Hughes, from Emlyn to Brian Hall, from Brian to Alun Evans, from Alun to Steve Heighway, from Steve to Doug Livermore and from Doug to Jack Whitham. And Bill saw the sadness. The wounds of sadness. And Bill saw the hurt. The wounds of hurt. Bill saw the wounds. And Bill felt the fear. Their wounds and their fear. And Bill smiled. And Bill said, There will always be times when we get beaten, boys. There will always be times when we lose. But the important thing is what we take away from that beating, what we learn when we lose, boys. Because we’ll always learn more from a defeat than a victory. Remember that, boys. Remember that. And learn it, boys. And I’ll see you all tomorrow. First thing tomorrow, boys –
Bright and early, bright and early.
On the bench, the bench at White Hart Lane. Bill watched Liverpool Football Club lose one–nil to Tottenham Hotspur. On the bench, the Anfield bench. Bill watched Liverpool Football Club beat Burnley Football Club two–nil. On the bench, the Anfield bench. Bill watched Liverpool Football Club beat Fotbal Club Dinamo Bucureşti of Romania three–nil in the first leg of the Second Round of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. On the bench, the bench at Portman Road. Bill watched Liverpool Football Club lose one–nil to Ipswich Town. On the bench, the Anfield bench. Bill watched Liverpool Football Club beat Wolverhampton Wanderers two–nil. On the bench, the bench in the Twenty-third of August Stadium in Bucharest, Romania. Bill watched Liverpool Football Club beat Fotbal Club Dinamo Bucureşti of Romania four–one on aggregate in the Second Round of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. On the bench, the bench at the Baseball Ground, Bill watched Liverpool Football Club draw nil–nil with Derby County. Again. Another draw. Again. Draw
after draw after
fucking
draw.
…
At the stadium, in the office. The glue on the desk, the scissors in his hands. Bill stared down at the League table. Down and down the League table. That evening, Liverpool Football Club had played fifteen League games in the 1970–71 season. Liverpool Football Club ha
d won six, drawn six and lost three of those fifteen games. They had scored seventeen goals and they had conceded seven goals. That evening, Liverpool Football Club had eighteen points. And that evening, Liverpool Football Club were eighth in the First Division. Not first, not second, not third,
not even fifth –
Eighth.
At the stadium, in the office. At the desk, in the chair. Bill knew it was not acceptable. Bill knew it was not good enough. Not for Liverpool Football Club. Not for the supporters of Liverpool Football Club. But Bill knew what the problem was. And Bill knew what had to be done. At the desk, in the chair. Bill picked up the telephone. And Bill phoned Huddersfield Town. Bill told Huddersfield Town he wanted to buy Frank Worthington. Huddersfield Town agreed to sell Frank Worthington to Liverpool Football Club. Frank Worthington came to Anfield. Frank Worthington had a medical at Anfield. Frank Worthington failed the medical at Anfield. Frank Worthington went back to Huddersfield Town. At the stadium, in the office. At the desk, in the chair. Bill picked up the telephone again. Bill phoned Cardiff City. Bill told Cardiff City he wanted to buy John Toshack. Cardiff City agreed to sell John Toshack to Liverpool Football Club. John Toshack came to Anfield. John Toshack had a medical at Anfield. John Toshack passed the medical at Anfield. Liverpool Football Club paid Cardiff City one hundred and ten thousand pounds for John Toshack. It was a club record. And at his desk,
in his chair. Bill smiled.
…
On the bench, the Anfield bench. Bill and fifty-three thousand, seven hundred and seventy-seven Merseyside folk were watching Liverpool Football Club play Everton Football Club. Everton Football Club were eleventh in the First Division. But Everton Football Club were still the Champions of England. In the first half, the pace was relentless, the challenges unflinching, the game breathless and the game raw. In the second half, Morrissey tackled Tommy Smith. Morrissey won the tackle and Morrissey won the ball. Morrissey passed to Whittle. And Whittle lobbed the ball over the head of Clemence. Over his head, into the net. The Liverpool net, the Liverpool goal. Minutes later, Ball passed to Morrissey. Morrissey passed to Ball. Ball crossed. Larry Lloyd lost the cross. Royle found the cross. And Royle headed the cross into the net. The Liverpool net, the Liverpool goal. And Liverpool Football Club were losing two–nil to Everton Football Club. At home, at Anfield. But in the sixty-ninth minute, Steve Heighway slipped past Hurst on the left. Heighway cut inside from the left. And Heighway shot through four defenders into the net. The Everton net, the Everton goal. And five minutes later, again Heighway came down the left. Heighway crossed from the left. John Toshack met the cross from the left. Toshack found the cross. And Toshack headed the cross into the net. The Everton net, the Everton goal. His first goal for Liverpool Football Club. And Anfield erupted. With noise. And Anfield exploded. With sound. Deafening noise and thunderous sound. And in the eighty-fourth minute, Toshack nodded on a cross to Chris Lawler. And Lawler turned. And Lawler shot. And Lawler scored. In a maelstrom of noise, in a riot of sound. Liverpool noise and Liverpool sound. Liverpool Football Club beat Everton Football Club three–two. At home, at Anfield. In the red noise, in the red sound. LI-VER-POOL, LI-VER-POOL –
LI-VER-POOL!
…
Before the house, on their step. In the night and in the silence. Bill unlocked the front door. In the night and in the silence. Bill opened the door. In the night and in the silence. Bill stepped into the house. In the dark and in the silence. Bill walked down the hallway to the kitchen. In the dark and in the silence. Bill switched on the kitchen light. In the kitchen, at the table. Bill sat down. In the silence. Bill closed his eyes. In the kitchen, at the table. In his ears and in his mind. Bill heard the crowd. The Anfield crowd. LI-VER-POOL. In the kitchen, at the table. In his ears and in his mind. Bill heard the Kop. The Spion Kop. LI-VER-POOL. In the kitchen, at the table. In his ears and in his mind. Bill heard the voices of the Kop, the dreams of the Spion Kop. LI-VER-POOL. In the kitchen, at the table. Bill heard Ness cough upstairs. In their bed, in her sleep. In the kitchen, at the table. Bill opened his eyes. And Bill heard Ness cough again. And the clock upon the wall ticking. Ticking and ticking. In the kitchen, at the table. The watch upon his arm ticking. Ticking and ticking. Always ticking, already ticking. And in the kitchen, at the table. Bill put his fingers in his ears. In the kitchen, at the table. His fingers in his ears.
In the night and in the silence,
his fingers in his ears. Bill knew you had to be patient. Even if by nature you were impatient. Impatient for success, impatient for victory. Impatient to give the people success, impatient to give the people victory. Even if others around you were telling you what had to be done. Even if others around you were telling you what needed to be done. Bill knew you still had to be patient in your methods. You still had to be patient in your ways. You had to be a patient, impatient man.
A very patient, impatient man.
35. IN THE LEAGUE OF STRUGGLE
On Saturday 28 November, 1970, Liverpool Football Club travelled to Highbury, London. But Ian Callaghan did not travel to Highbury, London. Ian Callaghan was injured. And Peter Thompson did not travel to Highbury, London. Peter Thompson was injured. And Alun Evans did not travel to Highbury, London. Alun Evans was injured. And Bobby Graham did not travel did to Highbury, London. Bobby Graham was injured. On Saturday 28 November, 1970, Arsenal Football Club were second in the First Division. And Liverpool Football Club were sixth in the First Division. And on Saturday 28 November, 1970, Liverpool Football Club struggled against Arsenal Football Club. Clemence struggled, Lawler struggled, Lindsay struggled, Smith struggled, Lloyd struggled, Hughes struggled, Hall struggled, Toshack struggled, Heighway struggled, McLaughlin struggled and Ross struggled. And in the sixty-sixth minute, Graham of Arsenal Football Club volleyed past Clemence. Into the net, into the goal. And minutes later, Radford of Arsenal Football Club went up for a ball. And Radford found the ball. And the ball found the net. And the goal. And Liverpool Football Club lost two–nil to Arsenal Football Club. Away from home, away from Anfield. Bill Shankly walked down the touchline. The Highbury touchline. And Bill Shankly shook the hand of Bertie Mee, the manager of Arsenal Football Club –
Well played, Bertram. Very well played indeed. I thought we might have got a draw out of you, Bertram. But oh no. Not today …
Thank you, William, said Bertie Mee. Thank you very much. But you gave us a game and a half, William. You have some promise and you have some talent. In those young lads you have coming through, William. Some real promise and some real talent …
Thank you, Bertram. Thank you very much. And you are not wrong, Bertram. You are not wrong. And they are improving all the time. Because they are learning all the time. Every game they play. They are getting better. Better and better. And so mark my words. You mark my words, Bertram. You have not seen the best of these boys yet. And you’ve not heard the last of them. Not yet. Not by a long chalk, Bertram. Not by a very long chalk …
One week afterwards, Leeds United came to Anfield, Liverpool. That day, fifty-one thousand, three hundred and fifty-seven folk came, too. Leeds United were first in the First Division. And Liverpool Football Club were seventh in the First Division. And Liverpool Football Club struggled against Leeds United. Clemence struggled, Lawler struggled, Lindsay struggled, Smith struggled, Lloyd struggled, Hughes struggled, Hall struggled, McLaughlin struggled, Heighway struggled, Toshack struggled and Thompson struggled. And in the fiftieth minute, Cooper belted down the wing. Cooper crossed. Madeley met the cross. And Madeley scored. But the supporters of Liverpool Football Club did not surrender. They kept cheering and they kept singing. And so the players of Liverpool Football Club did not surrender. They kept struggling and they kept trying. Harder. Clemence struggled and Clemence tried. Harder. Lawler struggled and Lawler tried. Harder. Lindsay struggled and Lindsay tried. Harder. Smith struggled and Smith tried. Harder. Lloyd struggled and Lloyd tried. Harder. Hughes struggled and Hughes tried. Harder. Hall struggled and
Hall tried. Harder. McLaughlin struggled and McLaughlin tried. Harder. Heighway struggled and Heighway tried. Harder. Toshack struggled and Toshack tried. Harder. And Thompson struggled and Thompson tried. Harder and harder. And Liverpool Football Club won a free kick. Tommy Smith took the free kick. Smith floated the free kick towards the far post. The Leeds far post. And there was John Toshack. In the air, the Anfield air. At the far post. To meet the free kick. To head the free kick. Into the net and into the goal. And the supporters of Liverpool Football Club cheered. The supporters of Liverpool Football Club sang. And the supporters of Liverpool Football Club roared. Roared for more. More and more. And Liverpool Football Club attacked and attacked. Harder and harder. For the next thirty minutes. The supporters of Liverpool Football Club roared and the players of Liverpool Football Club attacked. More and more, harder and harder. But Leeds United defended. For the last thirty-five minutes. They defended and they defended. And Liverpool Football Club drew one-all with Leeds United. At home, at Anfield. Bill Shankly walked down the touchline. The Anfield touchline. Bill Shankly shook the hand of Don Revie. And Bill Shankly smiled –