Red Or Dead
Page 45
So when I arrived, my first job, my first challenge, was to get Liverpool Football Club out of the Second Division and to win respect for Liverpool Football Club, at home and abroad. Next was the ground. Because when I first came here, the place was a disgrace. But at the beginning of the new season, the new main stand will be open. It will be a place fit for a king. It will mean that three sides of the ground have been completely rebuilt. And on the fourth side, the Kop end – which must never be rebuilt – we have made improvements. We are trying to build a fortress here. An impregnable fortress. And a bastion. A bastion of invincibility. Because the fans are worthy of that. And we are nearly there. Because my last challenge is to build another team, a new team. And last season. With a team of boys, a team of mere boys. We had the greatest average attendance in the League. That is the greatest tribute to those supporters. And we reached the Cup Final. With a team of boys, a team of mere boys. And so I think we are nearly there now. I think the end is in sight now… .
But for me, personally, the end is not in sight yet. Retirement is not yet something I have considered. While I feel as fit and able as I do, I shall go on as manager of Liverpool Football Club. Here at Anfield, here at Liverpool. We live on strength, not weakness. Because there is nothing for anybody who does not give one hundred per cent. We have too many good players around. Our motto is pro-Liverpool, anti-nobody. And so now we are going for the big stuff. The real meat. And the League, and the Cup, and the European Cup will do for a start!
…
In the summer of 1971. After the walking and after the jogging. Outside Anfield, in the car park. In his tracksuit, in his sweater. Bill Shankly waited for the players, Bill Shankly greeted the players. Bill Shankly shook their hands and Bill Shankly patted their backs. He asked after their weekends, he asked after their families. Bill Shankly laughing, Bill Shankly joking. And then Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan, Reuben Bennett, Ronnie Moran and Tom Saunders joined Bill Shankly and the players in the car park at Anfield. Then Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan, Reuben Bennett, Ronnie Moran, Tom Saunders, Bill Shankly and the players all climbed on the bus to Melwood. Bill Shankly joking, Bill Shankly laughing. Everybody laughing, everybody joking. And then they all got off the bus at Melwood. Bill Shankly and the players ran round the training pitch at Melwood. Bill Shankly laughing, Bill Shankly joking. Everybody joking and everybody laughing. Bill Shankly and the players heard the whistle. Bill Shankly and the players split into their groups. And they lifted weights. They skipped. They jumped. They did squats. They did abdominal exercises. And they sprinted. Bill Shankly joking, Bill Shankly laughing. Bill Shankly and the players heard the whistle again. And they passed the ball. They dribbled with the ball. They headed the ball. They chipped the ball. They controlled the ball. They tackled. Bill Shankly laughing, Bill Shankly joking. Bill Shankly and the players heard the whistle again. And they went between the training boards. Playing the ball against one board. Then taking the ball, controlling the ball. Turning with the ball, dribbling with the ball. Up to the other board. In just ten touches. Playing the ball against the other board. Then pulling the ball down, turning again and dribbling again. Back down to the first board. In just ten touches. Bill Shankly joking, Bill Shankly laughing. Bill Shankly and the players heard the whistle again. Bill Shankly and the players went inside the sweat box. Ball after ball. Into the box. Every second, another ball. For one minute. Then for two minutes. Then for three minutes. Ball after ball, into the box. Bill Shankly laughing, Bill Shankly joking. Bill Shankly and the players heard the whistle. And they played three-a-sides. Three-a-sides then five-a-sides. Five-a-sides then seven-a-sides. Seven-a-sides then eleven-a-sides. Bill Shankly joking, Bill Shankly laughing. And then Bill Shankly and the players ran one last time around the training pitch. Bill Shankly laughing, Bill Shankly joking. And then Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan, Reuben Bennett, Ronnie Moran, Tom Saunders, Bill Shankly and the players all got back on the bus to Anfield. Bill Shankly still joking, Bill Shankly still laughing. Everybody laughing, everybody joking. And then they all got off the bus. Still joking and still laughing. They all went into Anfield. Bill Shankly laughing, Bill Shankly joking. In the dressing rooms, Bill Shankly and the players took off their boots, the players took off their tracksuits. Joking and laughing. Bill Shankly and the players went into the baths. Joking and laughing. Bill Shankly went into the baths. Bill Shankly laughing, Bill Shankly joking. Bill Shankly and the players washed and changed. Still joking, still laughing. And then Bill Shankly said goodbye to the players –
See you tomorrow, boys. Bright and early, lads. So don’t be up late, boys. Don’t be staying up all hours now, lads …
Bill Shankly still laughing, Bill Shankly still joking. The players went out to their cars. The players went back to their houses. Everybody smiling, everybody happy. Bill Shankly did not go out to his car. Bill Shankly did not go back to his house. But Bill Shankly was still smiling, Bill Shankly still happy. Because Bill Shankly had been looking, Bill Shankly had been listening. Always looking, always listening. And Bill Shankly had liked what he had seen, Bill Shankly had liked what he had heard. The players laughing, the players joking. But the players training, the players working. Hard. And Bill Shankly liked what he had learnt. Everybody smiling, everybody happy. But everybody working. Hard, together. Happy in their work. Together. Happy and prepared. Together. Happy and ready. Together –
The way it should be, the way it had to be –
The Anfield way. Together.
…
On Saturday 7 August, 1971, Liverpool Football Club travelled to Filbert Street, Leicester. That afternoon, twenty-five thousand, one hundred and four folk came, too. Twenty-five thousand, one hundred and four folk to watch the 1971 FA Charity Shield between Leicester City and Liverpool Football Club. Arsenal Football Club had won the Football League and the FA Cup. Arsenal Football Club had done the Double. But Arsenal Football Club did not want to play in the 1971 FA Charity Shield. Arsenal Football Club had gone to Holland to play Feyenoord of Rotterdam instead. Leeds United had finished second in the First Division. But Leeds United did not want to play in the 1971 FA Charity Shield. So the Football Association invited the Second Division Champions to play the FA Cup runners-up in the 1971 FA Charity Shield. And in the fifteenth minute of the 1971 FA Charity Shield, Fern passed to Whitworth. And Whitworth tapped the ball into the net and into a goal. And the Second Division Champions beat the FA Cup runners-up in the 1971 Charity Shield.
Three days afterwards. At Melwood, behind closed doors. The Liverpool first team played the Liverpool reserve team. It was always the last pre-season game before the start of the season. The new season, the real season. That day, Kevin Keegan played for the first team. And Alun Evans and Bobby Graham played for the reserve team. That day, Kevin Keegan scored a hat-trick for the Liverpool first team. That day, the Liverpool first team beat the Liverpool reserve team seven–one. At Melwood, behind closed doors.
Four days later, Nottingham Forest came to Anfield, Liverpool. That afternoon, fifty-one thousand, four hundred and twenty-seven folk came, too. Fifty-one thousand, four hundred and twenty-seven folk to watch the first game of the 1971–72 season. At home, at Anfield. Tommy Smith led out Ray Clemence, Chris Lawler, Alec Lindsay, Larry Lloyd, Emlyn Hughes, Peter Thompson, Steve Heighway, John Toshack, John McLaughlin and Kevin Keegan to the centre of the pitch, the Anfield pitch. The players of Liverpool Football Club stood in the centre circle, in the centre of the pitch. The Anfield pitch. And the players of Liverpool Football Club turned and waved to every part of the stadium. The Anfield stadium. And then the players of Liverpool Football Club turned and faced the Kop. The Spion Kop. And the players of Liverpool Football Club waved at the Kop. The Spion Kop. And the Kop, the Spion Kop roared –
LI-VER-POOL, LI-VER-POOL, LI-VER-POOL …
And before he had kicked a ball for Liverpool Football Club, before he had kicked one single ball at Anfield, the Kop, the Spion Kop, chanted, Ke-vin Kee-gan, Ke-vin Kee-gan, Ke-vin Kee-gan
…
And a man leapt from the Kop, from the Spion Kop. And the man ran across the pitch, the Anfield pitch. And the man came up to Kevin Keegan. And the man kissed Kevin Keegan on his lips. And then the man fell to his knees on the pitch. The Anfield pitch. And the man kissed the grass. The Anfield grass. Before the Kop, the Spion Kop. And then the man stood back up. And the man ran back across the pitch, the Anfield pitch. Back to the Kop, to the Spion Kop.
And in the twelfth minute of his first game for Liverpool Football Club, a cross from Thompson came to Keegan. Keegan six yards from the goal. Keegan met the cross. And Keegan shot. But the ball skimmed off the top of his boot. And the ball bobbled towards the goal. Towards the keeper on the goal line. The Nottingham Forest goal line. The two full-backs on the goal line. But the ball kept bobbling. And the ball bobbled over the feet of one of the full-backs. Over the line and into the net. Into a goal. And in the twelfth minute of his first game for Liverpool Football Club, on his Anfield debut, Kevin Keegan had scored for Liverpool Football Club. Three minutes later, Keegan was fouled in the penalty area. The Nottingham Forest penalty area. Smith took the penalty. And Smith scored the penalty. And in the fifty-fifth minute, Hughes scored. And Liverpool Football Club beat Nottingham Forest three–one. At home, at Anfield.
Three days afterwards, Wolverhampton Wanderers came to Anfield, Liverpool. That night, fifty-one thousand, eight hundred and sixty-nine folk came, too. And in the seventh minute, John Toshack scored. In the twenty-seventh minute, Steve Heighway scored. And in the eighty-ninth minute, Tommy Smith scored another penalty. In the last minute, the very last minute. Liverpool Football Club beat Wolverhampton Wanderers three–two. At home, at Anfield. Four days later, Liverpool Football club travelled to St James’ Park, Newcastle. In the tenth minute, Emlyn Hughes scored. In the fifteenth minute, Smith missed a penalty. In the seventy-fifth minute, Keegan scored. But it didn’t matter, it didn’t count. Malcolm Macdonald scored for Newcastle United. Malcolm Macdonald scored again for Newcastle United. And Malcolm Macdonald scored again for Newcastle United. And Liverpool Football Club lost three–two to Newcastle United. Away from home, away from Anfield. Three days later, Liverpool Football Club travelled to Selhurst Park, London. And in the fifty-seventh minute, John Toshack scored. And Liverpool Football Club beat Crystal Palace one–nil. Away from home, away from Anfield.
On Saturday 28 August, 1971, Leicester City came to Anfield, Liverpool. That afternoon, fifty thousand, nine hundred and seventy folk came, too. In the twenty-fifth minute, Steve Heighway scored. In the thirty-fifth minute, Kevin Keegan scored. And in the seventy-first minute, a shot deflected off Toshack, into his own goal. But it didn’t matter, it didn’t count. Liverpool Football Club beat Leicester City three–two. At home, at Anfield. And that night, in the first month of the new season, Liverpool Football Club had played five games. They had won four of those games and they had lost one of those games. That night, Sheffield United had nine points. Manchester United had eight points. And Liverpool Football Club had eight points, too. That night, Liverpool Football Club were third in the First Division. It was not a perfect start. But it was not a bad start.
…
Every morning, every day. Bill Shankly trained with the players of Liverpool Football Club and Bill Shankly watched the players of Liverpool Football Club. And every morning, every day. Bill Shankly trained with Kevin Keegan and Bill Shankly watched Kevin Keegan. Bill Shankly could not keep his eyes off Kevin Keegan. The way Kevin Keegan trained. The way Kevin Keegan worked. All the players of Liverpool Football Club trained hard, all the players of Liverpool Football Club worked hard. But this was different, this was something else. This boy was different, this lad was something else. And Bill Shankly did not quite know what it was. Bill Shankly did not quite know what he had. Because Bill Shankly had not come across a player like Kevin Keegan before. Bill Shankly had not seen a player like Kevin Keegan before. Kevin Keegan was not a naturally gifted footballer. He did not have natural control, he did not have natural touch. He did not even look like a footballer. But Kevin Keegan was a footballer. A footballer unlike any other Bill Shankly had ever seen. Kevin Keegan was small, but Kevin Keegan was strong. And he was willing to learn and he was willing to work. Every morning, every day. Reuben Bennett was building up the boy’s stamina. Every morning, every day. Joe Fagan was improving the lad’s technique. Every morning, every day. Bob Paisley was building up the boy’s knowledge. And every morning, every day. The lad was taking it all on board. The stamina. The technique. And the knowledge. Every morning, every day. Kevin Keegan was absorbing everything he heard. Everything he saw. And every morning, every day. Kevin Keegan was getting better and better. And every morning and every day. Bill Shankly saw him. Every morning, every day. Bill Shankly watched him. And Bill Shankly knew they were getting closer to building the perfect footballer. Bill Shankly knew they were getting closer to creating the perfect footballer for Liverpool Football Club. This boy who would be the spark, the new spark. This lad who would ignite Liverpool Football Club, the new Liverpool Football Club.
…
On Wednesday 1 September, 1971, the new Liverpool Football Club travelled to Maine Road, Manchester. That night, for the first time that season, the new Liverpool Football Club did not score. But Mellor scored for Manchester City. And the new Liverpool Football Club lost one–nil to Manchester City. Away from home, away from Anfield. Three days later, the new Liverpool Football Club travelled to White Hart Lane, London. And Keegan ran and Keegan ran. And Keegan leapt over this tackle and Keegan leapt over that tackle. But in the eleventh minute, Kinnear took a corner kick for Tottenham Hotspur. And Gilzean headed on the corner kick for Chivers. And Chivers had time to wander across the goalmouth. All the time in the world. To wander across the goalmouth with the ball at his feet. All the time in the world. To put the ball into the back of the net. And into a goal. But still Keegan ran and Keegan ran. Still Keegan leapt over this tackle, still Keegan leapt over that tackle. But in the fifty-seventh minute, Coates passed to Knowles. Knowles crossed for Peters. And Peters met the cross. And Peters headed the cross past Clemence. Into the net and into another goal. And the new Liverpool Football Club lost two–nil to Tottenham Hotspur. Away from home, away from Anfield.
On Tuesday 7 September, 1971, Hull City came to Anfield, Liverpool. That night, thirty-one thousand, six hundred and twelve folk came, too. Thirty-one thousand, six hundred and twelve folk to watch the new Liverpool Football Club play Hull City of the Second Division in the Second Round of the Football League Cup. But that night, Tommy Smith did not play. Smith was injured. And Ian Callaghan did not play. Callaghan was injured. And John Toshack did not play. But Toshack was not injured. Toshack was dropped. And Peter Thompson did not play. Thompson not injured, either. Thompson dropped, too. In the thirty-fourth minute, Chris Lawler scored. Four minutes later, Alec Lindsay scored. And in the fifty-fourth minute, Brian Hall scored a penalty. And the new Liverpool Football Club beat Hull City of the Second Division three–nil in the Second Round of the Football League Cup. At home, at Anfield. Four days later, Southampton Football Club came to Anfield, Liverpool. That afternoon, forty-five thousand, eight hundred and seventy-eight folk came, too. And Ian Callaghan played. And John Toshack played. And in the thirty-second minute, Toshack scored. And the new Liverpool Football Club beat Southampton Football Club one–nil. At home, at Anfield. That evening Sheffield United had fourteen points. And Sheffield United were first in the First Division. That evening, the new Liverpool Football Club had ten points. And the new Liverpool Football Club were seventh in the First Division.
On Wednesday 15 September, 1971, the new Liverpool Football Club came to the Stade de Charmilles, in Geneva, in Switzerland, to play Servette Football Club of Geneva in the first leg of the First Round of the European Cup Winners’ Cup. That night, Tommy Smith did not play. Smith still injured. And that night, Kevin Keegan did not play. Keegan had complained of severe pains in the bones of his left foot. Keegan was
injured. And that night, Dörfel scored for Servette Football Club of Geneva. And Neneth scored for Servette Football Club of Geneva. And in the eighty-first minute, Chris Lawler scored for the new Liverpool Football Club. But that night, the new Liverpool Football Club lost two–one to Servette Football Club of Geneva in the first leg of the First Round of the European Cup Winners’ Cup. Away from home, away from Anfield. Three days afterwards, the new Liverpool Football Club travelled to Elland Road. And again Tommy Smith did not play. Smith still injured. And again Kevin Keegan did not play. Keegan still injured. And the new Liverpool Football Club lost one–nil to the old Leeds United. Away from home, away from Anfield.
On Saturday 25 September, 1971, Manchester United came to Anfield, Liverpool. That afternoon, fifty-five thousand, six hundred and thirty-four folk came, too. Fifty-five thousand, six hundred and thirty-four folk and Kevin Keegan. Keegan injected with cortisone. Injected with enough cortisone to play against Manchester United. Manchester United were second in the First Division. The new Liverpool Football Club seventh in the First Division. In the eighth minute, Ian Callaghan shot. And the shot hit Bobby Graham’s leg. The shot deflected off Graham’s leg. Past Stepney. Into the net and into a goal. And in the twenty-fourth minute, Graham shot. And the shot hit Brian Hall’s back. The shot deflected off Hall’s back. Past Stepney. Into the net and into another goal. And at half-time, the new Liverpool Football Club were beating Manchester United two–nil. But in the eighth minute of the second half, Best dragged the defenders of Liverpool Football Club across the penalty area. The Liverpool penalty area. And Best clipped the ball back across the penalty area. The Liverpool penalty area. And Law touched on the ball. With the side of his foot. From point-blank range. Into the net and into a goal. And in the seventy-second minute, Best passed to Charlton. And Charlton shot. Into the net and into another goal. But minutes later, Emlyn Hughes shot. Into the penalty area. The Manchester United penalty area. And the shot hit the hand of James. In the penalty area. The Manchester United penalty area. But the referee did not blow his whistle. The referee did not award a penalty. And the ball ran loose from the hand of James. The ball loose at the feet of Graham. And Graham shot. Into the net and into a goal. But the linesman had raised his flag. The linesman said Graham was offside. And the referee blew his whistle. The referee shook his head. And the referee disallowed the goal. And the players of Liverpool Football Club protested. But still the referee shook his head. Still the referee disallowed the goal. And the supporters of Liverpool Football Club howled at the referee. And the supporters of Liverpool Football Club wailed at the referee. But the new Liverpool Football Club drew two-all with Manchester United. At home, at Anfield. Bill Shankly walked down the touchline. The Anfield touchline. Bill Shankly shook the hand of Frank O’Farrell –