by David Peace
Well played, Bertram. Very well played indeed. I told my boys we’d be lucky to draw with you, Bertram. But no …
Thank you, William. Thank you very much. But you are a liar, William. And a bloody good liar. You never told those boys of yours they were going to draw. Never in a month of Sundays. You have never sent out a team to play for a draw. I know that. And you know that, William. And you also know what a team they are becoming. They are fulfilling their promise and they are fulfilling your belief. You must be very proud of them, William. Very proud indeed …
Thank you, Bertram. Thank you very much. And yes, I am proud. Very proud of them, Bertram. But you’ve still not seen the best of these boys yet. And so you’ve still not heard the last of them. Not by a long chalk, Bertram. Not by a very, very long chalk …
One week afterwards, Liverpool Football Club travelled to Elland Road, Leeds. Leeds United were first in the First Division. And Liverpool Football Club were sixth in the First Division. And in the second minute, Reaney went up for the ball. And Sprake went up for the ball. And Reaney and Sprake collided. And the ball fell to the ground. The Elland Road ground. And there was John Toshack. On the ground. The Elland Road ground. To tap the ball. The loose ball. Into the net and into a goal. And the supporters of Liverpool Football Club cheered. But the supporters of Leeds United roared. Roared for vengeance. And Leeds United attacked and attacked. For the next eighty-eight minutes. The supporters of Leeds United roared and the players of Leeds United attacked. But Liverpool Football Club defended. For the last eighty-eight minutes. They defended and they defended. And Liverpool Football Club beat Leeds United one–nil. Away from home, away from Anfield. Bill Shankly walked down the touchline. And Bill Shankly shook Don Revie’s hand –
Well played, Don. I thought you were going to beat us. Or draw at least, Don. I wasn’t sure we could hang on. I really wasn’t.
Don Revie shook his head. And Don Revie said, You were lucky today, Bill. Very, very lucky. But to be honest, you are always lucky, Bill. I think you live a charmed life. Because for the life of me I don’t know how you won that match, Bill. We battered you. And we should have beaten you, Bill. We should have thrashed you. Murdered you, Bill. We should have murdered you. Two, three, four–nil …
Well, I think what you saw today, Don, was a lesson in defending. Great defending. Pure and simple, Don. We did our attacking early on. And then we defended, Don. From the back to the front, from the front to the back. So that’s how we beat you, Don. By great defending. It wasn’t a matter of luck, Don. There was no question of luck about it. It was heroic defending, Don. Plain and simple. But all the best to you, Don. And good luck in the Cup next week. Good luck to you, Don …
On Saturday 13 February, 1971, Southampton Football Club came to Anfield, Liverpool. That day, fifty thousand, two hundred and twenty-six folk came, too. Fifty thousand, two hundred and twenty-six folk to watch Liverpool Football Club play Southampton Football Club in the Fifth Round of the FA Cup. In the twenty-ninth minute, Steve Heighway raced down on the left, Heighway accelerated down the left. Heighway switched from one foot to the other. And Heighway crossed. Brian Hall met the cross. And Hall headed the cross. Towards the goal, towards the net. And there was Chris Lawler. Up from the back, down by their goal. And Lawler reached out a foot towards the ball. And Lawler stabbed the ball. Into the net, into a goal. And Liverpool Football Club beat Southampton Football Club one–nil in the Fifth Round of the FA Cup. At home again, at Anfield again. The supporters of Liverpool Football Club cheered. The supporters of Liverpool Football Club sang. And the supporters of Liverpool Football Club roared, We’re going to win the Cup! We’re going to win the Cup! EE-AYE-ADDIO, WE’RE GOING TO WIN THE CUP!
…
After the whistle, the final whistle. After the crowds had gone and after the players had gone. After everybody had gone, everyone gone. In the office, at his desk. Bill Shankly was answering letters. Again. Bill Shankly heard the telephone ringing. Again. Bill Shankly stopped typing. And Bill Shankly picked up the telephone –
Bill Shankly speaking. What can I do for you?
Hello, Bill. It’s Andy, said Andy Beattie. How are you, Bill?
Bill Shankly had played with Andy Beattie at Preston North End. Andy Beattie had then gone into management. Andy Beattie had managed Barrow. Then Stockport County. And then Huddersfield Town. Andy Beattie had appointed Bill Shankly as his assistant manager at Huddersfield Town. But Huddersfield Town had been relegated. And Andy Beattie had resigned. And Bill Shankly had become the manager of Huddersfield Town. Andy Beattie had left management. And Andy Beattie had become a sub-postmaster in Preston. Bill Shankly had thought that was a tragedy. Bill Shankly had thought that was a waste. But Andy Beattie had not been a sub-postmaster for long. Andy Beattie had gone back into management. Andy Beattie had managed Carlisle United. Then Andy Beattie had managed Nottingham Forest. Then Plymouth Argyle. And then Andy Beattie had been appointed as caretaker manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers. But Wolverhampton Wanderers had been relegated. And Andy Beattie had resigned. Andy Beattie had become a scout for Brentford. Then Andy Beattie had been appointed as general manager of Notts County. Then Andy Beattie had been appointed as assistant manager at Sheffield United. And then Andy Beattie had done some scouting for Walsall. Now Andy Beattie did some scouting for Liverpool Football Club. A word here with Geoff Twentyman, a word there with Geoff. About this player or that player. A call to Bill Shankly here, a call to Bill there. About this player or that player –
I am very well, thank you. And how are you, Andy?
I am well, too. Thank you, Bill …
And so who have you seen now, Andy? Who are we missing? Who should we be signing now? Go on, Andy. Let’s be knowing …
You already know, Bill. This lad I keep telling you about. This lad Keegan at Scunthorpe. I’ve told Geoff about him, too. But I know you’ve not seen him, Bill. I know you’ve not. I know no one has …
And how would you know that, Andy? How do you know …
Because if you’d seen him, you’d have signed him, Bill. On the day, on the night. You’d have already signed him, Bill …
36. CHRIST IS WITH THE RED GUARDS
On the bench, the bench at Goodison Park. Bill and fifty-six thousand, eight hundred and forty-six folk were watching Liverpool Football Club play Everton Football Club. Liverpool Football Club were sixth in the First Division. And Everton Football Club were twelfth in the First Division. But Everton Football Club were still the Champions of England. And Everton Football Club were still in the FA Cup. But that day Everton Football Club did not score. And Liverpool Football Club did not score. And Liverpool Football Club drew nil–nil with Everton Football Club. Away from home, away from Anfield. Nil–nil. Again. And that evening, Everton Football Club were still twelfth in the First Division. And Liverpool Football Club were now fifth in the First Division. But still only fifth, in the League –
In the League, still nowhere.
On the bench, the Anfield bench. Bill and fifty-four thousand, seven hundred and thirty-one folk were watching Liverpool Football Club play Tottenham Hotspur in the Sixth Round of the FA Cup. Bill and fifty-four thousand, seven hundred and thirty-one folk watching move after move, from flank to flank, pass after pass, from flank to flank. Bill and fifty-four thousand, seven hundred and thirty-one folk watching and waiting for that one touch of flair or that one tiny error. But on Saturday 6 March, 1971, there were no touches of flair and there were no tiny errors. And Liverpool Football Club drew nil–nil with Tottenham Hotspur in the Sixth Round of the FA Cup. At home, at Anfield. There would have to be a replay. Away from home, away from Anfield. That afternoon, Everton Football Club were playing Colchester United in the Sixth Round of the FA Cup. Colchester United had beaten Leeds United in the Fifth Round of the FA Cup. But Colchester United did not beat Everton Football Club. Everton Football Club beat Colchester United five–one. And Everton Football Club were in the semi-finals of the FA Cup. The following Mo
nday lunchtime, in the draw for the semi-final of the FA Cup, Everton Football Club were drawn to play the winners of the Sixth Round replay between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool Football Club.
On the bench, the Anfield bench. Bill and forty-five thousand, six hundred and sixteen folk were watching Liverpool Football Club of England play Fußball-Club Bayern München e.V. of West Germany in the first leg of the quarter-final of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. In the thirtieth minute, Alun Evans shot. And Evans scored. Ten minutes later, Müller shot. But Müller did not score. Ray Clemence saved. His only save of the game. In the forty-ninth minute, Liverpool Football Club won a free kick. Alec Lindsay took the free kick. Chris Lawler nodded down the free kick. And Evans hooked the ball into the goal, into the net. In the seventy-third minute, Emlyn Hughes broke from midfield. And Hughes shot. The shot charged down. But there was Evans. And Evans shot and Evans scored again. His third goal, a hattrick. And Liverpool Football Club beat Fußball-Club Bayern München e.V. of West Germany three–nil in the first leg of the quarter-final of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.
On the bench, the bench at White Hart Lane. Bill was watching Liverpool Football Club play Tottenham Hotspur in the Sixth Round replay of the FA Cup. For a place in the semi-final, the semi-final against Everton Football Club. That night, thousands had been turned away from White Hart Lane. That night, hundreds sat on the touchline at White Hart Lane. To watch a match of incredible energy, to watch a match of incredible speed. In the twenty-fifth minute, Liverpool Football Club won a free kick. Alec Lindsay took the free kick. And John Toshack leapt for the free kick. Higher than every man in the Tottenham Hotspur penalty area. Toshack leapt and Toshack met the free kick. Toshack headed the free kick square towards the far post. Alun Evans dived for the ball at the far post. To touch the ball. Past the post, into the goal. And Evans missed the ball. But Steve Heighway found the ball. Heighway touched the ball. Past the post, into a goal. But still the supporters of Tottenham Hotspur roared and roared. And now Tottenham Hotspur came at Liverpool Football Club. On and on. Again and again. They came and they came. And Ray Clemence saved from Mullery. His body arching upwards. Clemence saved from Chivers. His body arching downwards. Clemence saved from Pratt. His body arching to the left. And Clemence saved from Perryman. His body arching to the right. Clemence saved and saved again. And Liverpool Football Club beat Tottenham Hotspur one–nil in the Sixth Round replay of the FA Cup. Away from home, away from Anfield. Liverpool Football Club were through to the semi-final of the FA Cup. Through to play Everton Football Club. For a place in the final, the final of the FA Cup. And the supporters of Liverpool Football Club cheered. The supporters of Liverpool Football Club sang. And the supporters of Liverpool Football Club roared, We’re going to win the Cup! We’re going to win the Cup! EE-AYE-ADDIO,
WE’RE GOING TO WIN THE CUP!
…
Before the house, on their doorstep. 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 put down his suitcase in the hallway. 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. And Bill went to the drawer. Bill opened the drawer. Bill took out the tablecloth. Bill closed the drawer. Bill walked over to the table. Bill spread the cloth over the table. Bill walked over to another drawer. Bill opened the drawer. Bill took out the cutlery. The spoons. The forks. And the knives. Bill closed the drawer. Bill walked back over to the table. Bill laid two places at the table. Bill went to the cupboard. Bill opened the cupboard door. Bill took out the crockery. The bowls and the plates. Bill walked back over to the table. Bill put a bowl and a plate in each of the two places. Bill walked back to the cupboard. Bill took out two glasses. Bill closed the cupboard door. Bill walked back to the table. Bill put a glass in each of the places. Bill walked to another cupboard. Bill opened the door. Bill took out the salt and pepper pots. Bill closed the cupboard door. Bill walked back to the table. Bill put the salt and pepper pots on the table. Bill went to the pantry. Bill opened the pantry door. Bill took out a jar of honey and a jar of marmalade. Bill walked back to the table. Bill put the jar of honey and the jar of marmalade on the table. Bill walked over to the refrigerator. Bill opened the refrigerator door. Bill took out the butter dish. Bill walked back over to the table. Bill put the butter dish down in the centre of the table. Bill walked back over to the refrigerator. Bill took out a bottle of fresh orange juice. Bill closed the refrigerator door. Bill walked back over to the table. Bill poured orange juice into both of the glasses. Bill put the bottle down on the table. And in the kitchen, at the table. Bill sat down. In the night and in the silence. Bill wanted to close his eyes, Bill wanted to sleep. But in the kitchen, at the table. Bill could not close his eyes, Bill could not sleep. In the night and in the silence. In his eyes, in his mind. Bill saw the saves Clemence had made. In his eyes, in his mind. Bill saw the tackles Lawler had made. The tackles Lindsay, Smith, Lloyd and Hughes had made. The tackles they had made and the passes they had made. In his eyes, in his mind. Bill saw the runsand the passes Thompson had made. The runs and the passes Heighway had made. The runs and the passes for Evans, Toshack and Hall. The moves Evans, Toshack and Hall had made, the balls Evans, Toshack and Hall had played. The tackles and the passes they had all made. The runs they had all made and the balls they had all played. The football they had played. They had all played. And in the kitchen, at the table. Bill could not close his eyes, Bill could not sleep. In the night and in the silence. Bill could only think of the games to come. The victories to come. Not to dream, not to hope. And not to pray. To anticipate and to expect. And to believe. To believe in redemption,
to believe in salvation. At last, at last –
Bill believed again. At last,
at last. Bill believed
again.
…
On the bench, the bench at the Sechzger Stadion, Munich. Three days before the semi-final of the FA Cup. Bill watched Liverpool Football Club play Fußball-Club Bayern München e.V. of West Germany in the second leg of the quarter-final of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. But Brian Hall did not start the game. Steve Heighway did not start the game. And Peter Thompson did not start the game. Bill had rested Hall, Heighway and Thompson. Ian Callaghan, John McLaughlin and Ian Ross started the game. And in the seventy-fifth minute, Ian Ross scored. Minutes later, Schneider equalised for Fußball-Club Bayern München e.V. of West Germany. But it didn’t count, it didn’t matter. Liverpool Football Club of England beat Fußball-Club Bayern München e.V. of West Germany four–one on aggregate in the quarter-final of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. And Liverpool Football Club were through to the semi-final of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. Through to another semi-final,
for a place in another final,
a European final.
…
On the bench, the bench at Old Trafford. Bill and sixty-two thousand, one hundred and forty-four Merseyside folk were watching Liverpool Football Club play Everton Football Club in the semi-final of the FA Cup. The last time Liverpool Football Club had played Everton Football Club in the semi-final of the FA Cup, Bob Paisley had scored for Liverpool Football Club. And Liverpool Football Club had beaten Everton Football Club. And Liverpool Football Club had reached the final of the FA Cup. But that afternoon, history was not the only thing against Everton Football Club. Four days before, Everton Football Club had played Panathinaikos of Greece in the European Cup. Panathinaikos of Greece had spat in the faces of the players of Everton Football Club. Panathinaikos of Greece had tried to gouge out the eyes of the players of Everton Football Club. Panathinaikos of Greece had stuck their fingers in the eyes of the players of Everton Football Club. And Panathinaikos of Greece had knocked Everton Football Club out of the European Cup. Everton Football Club had returned from Greece beaten. Beaten and dejected. Dejected and ill. That afternoon, Harry Catterick, the manager of Everton Foot
ball Club, did not come to Old Trafford, Manchester. That afternoon, Harry Catterick was ill. Harry Catterick had caught bronchitis in Greece. People said history was against Everton Football Club. And people said the omens were against Everton Football Club. But Bill did not believe the past dictated the present. And Bill did not believe in omens. Good omens or bad omens. And in the eleventh minute, Royle passed to Morrissey. Morrissey crossed from the left. Ray Clemence came for the cross. Clemence misjudged the cross. The cross fell to Whittle. Whittle flicked on the cross. Ball met the flick. And Ball shot and Ball scored. But the supporters of Liverpool Football Club did not fall silent. They did not surrender. The Stretford End awash with banners, a sea of red. Liverpool red. The Stretford End a crescendo of noise, a chorus of song. Red songs, Liverpool songs. And the players of Liverpool Football Club did not surrender. The players of Liverpool Football Club kept coming and coming, attacking and attacking. But at half-time in the semi-final of the FA Cup, Everton Football Club were beating Liverpool Football Club –
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 Callaghan, Callaghan to Evans, Evans to Heighway, Heighway to Toshack and from Toshack to Hall. And Bill said, Come on, boys. Come on. You’re playing too many high balls, boys. Keep the ball on the grass, the ball on the pitch. Where football is meant to be played, boys. Where God wants it played. On the grass and on the pitch, boys. You’d need a ladder to get to some of these balls. So come on, boys. Come on. Play to your strengths, boys. Play to your talents. On the grass and on the pitch, boys. And so keep the ball down. On the grass and on the pitch, boys. Where it belongs. Where God wants it played, boys. And where I want it played!