by David Peace
Back on the bench, the bench at Old Trafford. Five minutes into the second half of the semi-final of the FA Cup, Bill watched Brian Labone pull up. His hamstring tight, his game finished. And five minutes later, Bill watched Tommy Smith pass long down the left to Steve Heighway. On the ground. Heighway raced down the left, Heighway accelerated down the left. On the ground. Faster and faster. Turning past Brown, turning past Wright. On the ground. Heighway passed to Alun Evans. On the ground. Evans shot and Evans scored. And the supporters of Liverpool Football Club roared and roared. Louder, still louder. And the players of Liverpool Football Club came and came. Attacked and attacked. Harder, still harder. And fifteen minutes later, Evans crossed from the left. Rankin jumped and John Toshack jumped. Rankin partially touched the ball and Rankin partially cleared the ball. But the ball fell to Brian Hall. On the ground. Hall hooked the ball. Into the net and into a goal. And Liverpool Football Club beat Everton Football Club two–one in the semi-final of the FA Cup. Liverpool Football Club were in the final of the FA Cup. And on the Stretford End, awash with banners, in a sea of red, 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! Again and again. They cheered and they cheered. Again and again. They sang and they sang. Again and again. They roared and they 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!
…
In the house, in their hall. The letters started coming again. The first post and the second post. The letters always coming. The letters asking for tickets. Cup Final tickets. And Bill answered them all. Bill apologised to them all. And in the house, at their door. The callers started knocking again. Early in morning, late in the evening. The callers always knocking. The callers begging for tickets. Cup Final tickets. And Bill answered them all. Bill apologised to them all. And in the house, in their hall. The telephone ringing. Early in the morning, late in the evening. The telephone always ringing. The calls pleading for tickets. Cup Final tickets. And Bill answered them all. Bill apologised to them all. In the house, in their hall. The telephone still ringing. Bill put on his coat. In the house, in their hall. The telephone still ringing. Bill opened the front door. In the house, in their hall. The telephone still ringing. Bill put on his hat. And Bill stepped outside. Bill closed the door. The telephone still ringing. Bill walked down the drive. In the street, children spotted him. The children called out to him. Bill waved at them. And the children asked him for tickets. Cup Final tickets. And Bill apologised to them. And Bill got into his car. Bill drove down the West Derby Road. On the pavements, people spotted him. People waved at him. And Bill waved back. People begged him for tickets. Cup Final tickets. And Bill apologised to them. Bill turned onto Belmont Road. Again. People waved at him. Again. Bill waved back. Again. People pleaded for tickets. Cup Final tickets. Again. Bill apologised to them. Bill turned into the car park at Anfield Road. There were crowds of people in the car park at Anfield Road. Among the builders, among the scaffolding. Bill parked his car. And Bill got out of his car. The crowds of people saw Bill. The crowds of people rushed to Bill. And the crowds of people asked Bill for tickets. Cup Final tickets. They begged and they pleaded. Bill pushed through the crowds of people. And Bill apologised. And he apologised and he apologised. And Bill went inside Anfield. The telephones ringing. Bill went up the stairs. The telephones ringing. Bill went down the corridor. The telephones ringing. Bill opened his office door. The telephones ringing. Bill went into his office. The telephone on his desk ringing. Bill took off his hat. The telephone ringing. Bill hung up his hat. The telephone ringing. Bill took off his coat. The telephone ringing. Bill hung up his coat. The telephone ringing. Bill walked around the bags of mail standing on the floor. The telephone ringing. The bags and bags of mail. The telephone ringing. The mountain of bags and bags of mail. The telephone ringing. Bill sat down at his desk. The telephone ringing. Bill picked up the telephone on his desk. And Bill said, Bill Shankly speaking. What can I do for you?
Hello, said Andy Beattie. It’s only me, Bill. And I am sorry to bother you. Because I know how busy you must be, Bill. I know it must be like Piccadilly bloody Circus. But I need to talk to you about this boy Keegan. This young lad at Scunthorpe. Now I know you’ve not seen him yet. I know you’ve probably been too busy. You’ve not had the time. But others have seen him now, Bill. And I’m hearing talk of offers from Preston. Whispers that Leeds might be in for him …
Bill stood up. The phone in his hand. And Bill said, You what? You’re joking, Andy? You’re kidding me? Not Leeds, Andy?
Yes, said Andy Beattie. Leeds. That’s what I’m hearing, Bill. The whisper I’m hearing. This lad is a talent, Bill. A real talent. You know me, Bill. I wouldn’t be bothering you. Not with everything you’ve got on, Bill. If I didn’t believe this boy was the one. The best I’ve seen, Bill. He’s better than Denis. The best I’ve ever seen, Bill …
Right then, Andy. Right then. Either me, Bob or Reuben will be over to see him. I promise you, Andy. I promise …
You won’t regret it, said Andy Beattie. I promise you that, Bill. Because this lad is the future. The future of Liverpool Football Club.
I believe you, Andy. I believe you. And thanks again, Andy. Thanks again. And you take care now, Andy. You take care.
Bill put down the telephone. Bill sat back down in his chair. Bill picked up his diary from the desk. His diary of dates, his diary of fixtures. The telephone started to ring again. Bill put down his diary. His diary of dates, his diary of fixtures. The telephone ringing. Bill picked up the FA Yearbook. The telephone ringing. Bill turned to the fixtures at the back of the yearbook. The telephone ringing. Bill put down the yearbook. The telephone ringing. Bill stood up. The telephone ringing. Bill walked round the bags of mail standing on the floor. The telephone ringing. The bags and bags of mail. The telephone ringing. The mountain of bags and bags of mail. The telephone ringing. Bill opened his office door. The telephone ringing. Bill walked out of his office. The telephone ringing. Bill walked down the corridor. The telephones ringing, all the telephones ringing. Bill tapped on the door to the boot room. Bill opened the door to the boot room. And Bill saw Bob, Joe, Reuben and Ronnie sat on the empty, upturned beer crates. Among the scrubbed and hanging boots. No telephones here. And Bill said, Right then, who fancies a wee trip to Scunthorpe?
…
On the bench, the Anfield bench. Bill and fifty-two thousand, five hundred and seventy-seven folk were watching Liverpool Football Club play Leeds United in the first leg of the semi-final of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. The last time fifty-two thousand, five hundred and seventy-seven folk could come to Anfield, Liverpool, this season. Because of the alterations to Anfield, because of the improvements to Anfield. If Liverpool Football Club beat Leeds United, if Liverpool Football Club reached the final of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, then the home leg of the final would have to be played at Goodison Park. Because of the alterations to Anfield, because of the improvements to Anfield. But on Wednesday 14 April, 1971, Liverpool Football Club were not yet in the final of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. And that night, Bremner won the toss. And Bremner elected to defend the Kop end in the first half. And so in the first half, the players of Liverpool Football Club attacked the Kop end, the players of Liverpool Football Club surged towards the Spion Kop end. Brian Hall and Steve Heighway sharp and searching. And in front of the Kop end, Sprake saved from Larry Lloyd. In front of the Spion Kop end, Sprake saved from Heighway. But the players of Leeds United attacked, too. And Madeley shot. But Ray Clemence turned the shot over the bar. The Liverpool bar. In the seventeenth minute, Ian Callaghan crossed. Alun Evans went for the cross. But Evans missed the cross. And in an instant, Leeds United attacked again. And Clarke beat Clemence. The ball in the net, the ball in the goal. But the goal was disallowed. And again the players of Liverpool F
ootball Club attacked the Kop end, again the players of Liverpool Football Club surged towards the Spion Kop end. And in front of the Kop end, Sprake saved from Chris Lawler. Sprake saved from Lindsay. And Sprake saved from Heighway. But again in an instant, Leeds United attacked. Giles passed to Bremner. Bremner passed to Madeley. Madeley shot. But Clemence saved the shot. And at half-time in the home leg of the semi-final of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, Liverpool Football Club were drawing nil–nil with Leeds United Association Football Club. Early in the second half, John Toshack crossed the ball. And Sprake met the cross. But Sprake dropped the ball. The ball loose. On the ground. The Anfield ground. At the feet of Evans. Evans unmarked. The ball before him and the goal before him. The ball at his feet, the goal at his mercy. The goal unguarded, the goal open. Evans shot. And the ball hit the post. And the supporters of Liverpool Football Club gasped. The supporters of Liverpool Football Club groaned. And then the supporters of Liverpool Football Club wept. In the sixty-seventh minute, Bremner won a free kick for Leeds United. Giles took the free kick. Giles shot into the Liverpool penalty area. Towards the Kop. And Bremner leapt into the air. The Anfield air. Bremner flung himself at the ball. Through the air, the Anfield air. Bremner flicked on the free kick. In front of the Spion Kop. Into the net and into a goal. In front of the Kop. And Jack Charlton sprinted the length of the pitch. The Anfield pitch. Jack Charlton picked up Billy Bremner. In front of the Spion Kop. Jack Charlton lifted Billy Bremner into the air. The Anfield air. But the supporters of Liverpool Football Club did not fall silent. The supporters of Liverpool Football Club did not surrender. And the players of Liverpool Football Club did not fall to their knees. The players of Liverpool Football Club did not surrender. And on the touchline, the Anfield touchline. Bill took off Callaghan and Evans. And Bill sent on Bobby Graham and Peter Thompson. And the supporters of Liverpool Football Club roared and roared. And the players of Liverpool Football Club attacked and attacked. And the players of Liverpool Football Club caged Leeds United into their own half. They penned them into their penalty area. And Toshack shot. But Sprake saved from Toshack. And Lloyd shot. But Hunter cleared the shot off the line. And Heighway put Emlyn Hughes through. The ball at the feet of Hughes. But Charlton took the ball from his feet. And the game from Liverpool Football Club. And Liverpool Football Club lost one–nil to Leeds United in the first leg of the semi-final of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. The home leg, the Anfield leg. And on the touchline. The Anfield touchline. Bill shook the hand of Don Revie. And Bill said, Well played, Don. Well defended as usual. But never say it’s me with the charmed life, Don. Never say it’s me who leads a charmed life. That would be you, Don. You with the charmed life. You tonight, Don.
Don Revie looked up at the sky. The Anfield sky. Don Revie looked down at the ground. The Anfield ground. And Don Revie frowned. And Don Revie shook his head –
Well, it would be about time …
On the bench, the bench at Elland Road. For ninety minutes, Bill watched the players of Liverpool Football Club attack and attack and attack. Shoot and shoot and shoot. And for ninety minutes, Bill watched the players of Leeds United defend and defend and defend. Block after block after block. For ninety minutes, Liverpool Football Club could not score. And Liverpool Football Club drew nil–nil with Leeds United in the second leg of the semi-final of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. Away from home, away from Anfield. Liverpool Football Club were out of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. And on the touchline, the touchline at Elland Road. Bill shook the hand of Don Revie. And Bill said, Congratulations, Don. Congratulations. And I hope you go on and win this cup. I really do, Don. I really mean that.
Don Revie looked up at the sky. The Yorkshire sky. And then Don Revie looked down at the ground. The Yorkshire ground –
Thank you, Bill. Thank you very much. That’s very kind of you, Bill. That’s very generous of you. Thank you, Bill …
Bill shrugged. And Bill said, But I’ll tell you this, Don. If you’re hoping to win this cup, then you’ll have to try and attack –
On the bench, the Anfield bench. Bill and thirty-eight thousand, four hundred and twenty-seven folk were watching Liverpool Football Club play Southampton Football Club in the last League game of the 1970–71 season. Among the building work, among the scaffolding. In the thirtieth minute, Emlyn Hughes scored. And Liverpool Football Club beat Southampton Football Club one–nil in the last League game of the season. At home, at Anfield. Among the building work and among the scaffolding. The supporters of Liverpool Football Club applauded the players of Liverpool Football Club. And the supporters of Liverpool Football Club saluted the manager of Liverpool Football Club. And the supporters of Liverpool Football Club sang, We’re going to win the Cup! We’re going to win the Cup! Ee-aye-addio, we’re going to win the Cup! They sang and they roared, EE-AYE-ADDIO, WE’RE GOING TO WIN THE CUP! WE’RE GOING TO WIN THE CUP! EE-AYE-ADDIO, WE’RE GOING TO WIN THE CUP!
…
In the temporary office. Because of the alterations to Anfield, because of the improvements to Anfield. Bill picked up the telephone. Again. And Bill said, Bill Shankly speaking. What can I do for you?
Hello, Bill. It’s me, Bob. I’m at Scunthorpe with Reuben. We’re watching this lad Keegan. And we should sign him. Immediately, Bill. Now. Tonight. This very minute …
And Bill said, Thanks, Bob. That’s all I wanted to hear. All I wanted to know, Bob. Thank you very much.
Bill put down the telephone. Bill picked up the telephone again. And Bill dialled a number. Bill listened to the telephone on the other end of the line ring. Bill listened to the voice on the other end of the line. And then Bill said, Good evening, Mr Roberts. And I’m very sorry to call you at home, at this hour. But I want us to buy this boy Keegan from Scunthorpe United. I want us to sign him now. Tonight. This very night. This very minute …
In the temporary office, the very next day. Bill put down the telephone on his desk. Again. And Bill got up from his desk. The telephone ringing again. Bill walked around the bags and bags of mail. The telephone ringing. The mountain of bags and bags of mail. The telephone ringing. Bill went out of his temporary office. The telephone still ringing. Bill walked down the corridor. The telephones ringing, all the telephones ringing. Bill opened the door. The telephones still ringing. And Bill saw this boy Keegan. This boy Keegan sat on a dustbin outside Anfield. Among the building work, among the scaffolding. Bill shook hands with this boy Keegan. And Bill said, Welcome to Anfield, son. Now for your medical …
Kevin Keegan got off the dustbin. Kevin Keegan followed Bill across the car park. Through the building work, through the scaffolding. Kevin Keegan got into Bill’s car. And Bill drove this boy Keegan to the surgery of the doctor of Liverpool Football Club. Bill not looking at the road, Bill looking at this boy Keegan. Bill saying, You’ll like it here, son. You’ll love it here. The best club in the country, the best supporters in the land, son. The players we have, the Kop we have. The best in the world, son …
At the doctor’s, in the surgery. Bill watched this boy Keegan have his medical. Bill watched this boy Keegan pass his medical. And then Bill said, Right, back to Anfield. Back to my office, son. So you can sign your contract. So you can join Liverpool Football Club.
In the temporary office. Bill looked across his desk at this boy Keegan. And Bill said, We can offer you forty-five pounds a week, son.
Kevin Keegan looked down at the contract on the desk. Kevin Keegan looked down at the pen on the contract on the desk. And Kevin Keegan looked away. Kevin Keegan shifted in his seat.
Is something wrong, son? Something on your mind?
Well, to be honest with you, said Kevin Keegan, I’m on thirty-five pounds a week now at Scunthorpe, sir. And so I was hoping for a little bit more. But I hope you don’t think I’m being cheeky or greedy, sir. I hope you don’t think I’m being ungrateful. But my father always tells me I should try to better myself, sir. If I can, whenever I can.
And what does your father do, son? What’s his job?
He was a miner, said Kevin Keegan. But he cannot work now. Because of his bronchitis. Because of the dust.
Bill looked at this boy Keegan. And Bill nodded. And Bill said, Well, you do right to listen to him, son. Because that man knows graft. That man knows work, son. And so I can offer you fifty pounds.
Kevin Keegan smiled. Kevin Keegan picked up the pen –
Thank you, sir. Thank you very, very much.
Bill leant across the desk. Bill put his hand on the contract. And Bill said, But remember this, son. If you do it for Liverpool Football Club, if you do it for the supporters of Liverpool Football Club. Then you will never have to ask me for another rise again.
Kevin Keegan nodded. Kevin Keegan signed the contract. Kevin Keegan shook hands with Bill. And Bill gave Kevin Keegan a list of landladies and digs. Bill told Kevin Keegan to report for training tomorrow. And Bill told Kevin Keegan he’d be travelling with Liverpool Football Club to Wembley. To watch the Cup Final. And then Bill gave Kevin Keegan two tickets for the Cup Final. For his family. His father. And Bill said, But don’t lose them, son. These tickets are like gold. And so don’t be selling them either!
Bill watched Kevin Keegan bounce out of his office, his temporary office. And Bill walked over to the filing cabinet. Bill switched on the radio. Bill walked back over to his desk. Bill sat back down at his desk. And Bill began to answer letters from the bags and bags of mail. The mountain of bags and bags of mail. And Bill listened to the match on the radio as he typed. The match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal Football Club. And Bill listened to Arsenal Football Club beat Tottenham Hotspur one–nil. Bill listened to Arsenal Football Club become Champions of England. For a record eighth time. And Bill stopped typing. Bill picked up the telephone on his desk. The telephone which had been lying on his desk, off the hook. And Bill dialled White Hart Lane, London. And Bill asked to be put through to the dressing room. The away dressing room, the Arsenal dressing room. And Bill said, Hello, Bertram. It’s only me. It’s only Bill. Just to say congratulations, Bertram. Just to say well done. Very well done indeed. I could not be more happy for you, Bertram. More pleased …