Red Or Dead

by David Peace

  Three days afterwards, Athletic Union of Constantinople Football Club of Greece came to Anfield, Liverpool. That evening, thirty-one thousand, nine hundred and six folk came, too. Thirty-one thousand, nine hundred and six folk to watch Liverpool Football Club of England play Athletic Union of Constantinople of Greece in the first leg of the Second Round of the UEFA Cup. In the ninth minute, Ian Callaghan won a corner. Emlyn Hughes passed to Steve Heighway. Heighway shot hard and low across the goalmouth. And Phil Boersma met the shot. Boersma touched the shot over the line and into a goal. Twenty minutes later, Kevin Keegan shot. And the shot rebounded back to Peter Cormack. Cormack shot. And Cormack scored. But in the fifty-ninth minute, Hughes was hurt. Hughes injured. And Phil Thompson came on for Hughes. And in the seventy-eighth minute, Tommy Smith scored a penalty. And Liverpool Football Club beat Athletic Union of Constantinople of Greece three–nil in the first leg of the Second Round of the UEFA Cup. At home, at Anfield.

  On Saturday 28 October, 1972, Liverpool Football Club travelled to Carrow Road, Norwich. But Emlyn Hughes did not travel to Carrow Road. Hughes still hurt, Hughes still injured. Phil Thompson travelled to Carrow Road. In the eighteenth minute, Peter Cormack scored. But Norwich City scored, too. And Liverpool Football Club drew one-all with Norwich City. Away from home, away from Anfield. But that evening, Liverpool Football Club were still first in the First Division. And still with a game in hand.

  Three days afterwards, Leeds United came to Anfield, Liverpool. That evening, forty-four thousand, six hundred and nine folk came, too. Forty-four thousand, six hundred and nine folk to watch Liverpool Football Club play Leeds United in the Fourth Round of the Football League Cup. And John Toshack headed wide. And Peter Cormack shot wide. And Harvey saved from Kevin Keegan. But Liverpool Football Club kept coming, Keegan kept coming. And in the thirty-first minute, Steve Heighway robbed Clarke. Heighway crossed for Keegan. Keegan jumped for the cross, Keegan headed the cross. And Keegan scored from the cross. But eight minutes later, Gray took a corner. Jones jumped for the corner. And Jones headed the corner. Into the net and into a goal. And in the second half, after thirteen minutes, Gray passed to Clarke. Clarke passed to Lorimer. Lorimer shot. And Lorimer scored. And Liverpool Football Club were losing to Leeds United. And again Harvey saved from Toshack. But again Liverpool Football Club kept coming, Toshack kept coming. And in the eightieth minute, Emlyn Hughes pushed the ball through to Toshack. Toshack shot. And Toshack scored. And Liverpool Football Club drew two-all with Leeds United in the Fourth Round of the Football League Cup. At home, at Anfield. There would have to be another replay. Another game, always another game –

  On Saturday 4 November, 1972, Chelsea Football Club came to Anfield, Liverpool. That afternoon, forty-eight thousand, three hundred and ninety-two folk came, too. In the thirty-third minute, Emlyn Hughes beat Webb to the ball. Hughes faster, Hughes hungrier. And Hughes passed to Kevin Keegan. Keegan fast, Keegan hungry. But Keegan did not shoot. Keegan passed to Toshack. Toshack shot. And Toshack scored. And in the fiftieth minute, Keegan won the ball again. Keegan still fast, Keegan still hungry. Keegan passed to Toshack. But Keegan kept running. Fast and hungry. Toshack crossed. Keegan met the cross. Fast and hungry. Keegan headed the cross. Into the net and into a goal. And five minutes later, Steve Heighway found Toshack again. And Toshack scored again. And Liverpool Football Club beat Chelsea Football Club three–one. At home, at Anfield. That evening, Arsenal Football Club had twenty-one points and Leeds United had twenty-one points, too. But Liverpool Football Club had twenty-four points. Liverpool Football Club first in the First Division. Not by one point. Not by two points. Liverpool Football Club were first in the First Division by three points.

  Three days afterwards, Liverpool Football Club came to the Nikos Goumas Stadium, in Athens, in Greece, to play Athletic Union of Constantinople in the second leg of the Second Round of the UEFA Cup. On a pleasant, sunny afternoon. Against a backdrop of mountains and white houses. In front of fanatical, hysterical supporters. Athletic Union of Constantinople attacked and attacked. And Emlyn Hughes headed off the line. The Liverpool goal line. And Ray Clemence saved. And Clemence saved again. And in the eighteenth minute, Tommy Smith rolled a free kick to Hughes. Hughes shot. The shot hit the inside of the post. The shot flew across the face of the goal. And into the net. But then Hughes fell on the ball in his own penalty area. Hughes touched the ball with his hand in his own penalty area. And Athletic Union of Constantinople won a penalty. And Nikolaidis scored the penalty. As afternoon turned to evening, as the mountains darkened. The houses black now. In front of fanatical, hysterical supporters. Again. Athletic Union of Constantinople attacked and attacked. But in the forty-fourth minute, Hughes won the ball in midfield. Hughes ran with the ball. Hughes passed to Kevin Keegan. Keegan passed back to Hughes. Hughes shot. And Hughes scored. But in the seventieth minute, Heighway was hurt. Heighway injured. And Phil Boersma came on for Heighway. And in the eighty-seventh minute, Smith passed to Keegan. Keegan crossed. And Boersma tapped the cross. Into a goal. And in the night. Before the silent mountains, in the muted stadium. Liverpool Football Club beat Athletic Union of Constantinople three–one in the second leg of the Second Round of the UEFA Cup. Away from home, away from Anfield.

  On Saturday 11 November, 1972, Liverpool Football Club travelled to Old Trafford, Manchester. Liverpool Football Club were first in the First Division and Manchester United were last in the First Division. That afternoon, fifty-three thousand, nine hundred and forty-four folk came to Old Trafford, Manchester, to watch top versus bottom. Some of them in gangs, some of them in mobs. Inside the ground and outside the ground. There were policemen with dogs, there were policemen on horses. Supporters herded towards the turnstiles, supporters pushed through the turnstiles. And there were stampedes and there were crushes. Men flattened, children flattened. In the streets and on the terraces. Things fell apart, people fell apart. And on the pitch, the Old Trafford pitch, things fell apart, people fell apart. MacDougall handled the ball. But the referee waved play on. And MacDougall shot. Ray Clemence half stopped the shot. But Davies pounced. And Davies scored. And then O’Neil crossed the ball. And MacDougall beat Chris Lawler to the ball. And MacDougall scored. And Liverpool Football Club lost two–nil to Manchester United. Away from home, away from Anfield. That evening, there was fighting. Fighting in department stores, fighting at the stations. And fighting on the trains. But that evening, Liverpool Football Club were still top of the First Division. Manchester United still bottom.

  …

  High above the battles, high above the fighting. In his office, in his director’s office. Sir Matt Busby put down his cup of tea. And Sir Matt Busby said, Well, it’s not easy, Bill. And I try to keep out of Frank’s way. To not interfere, to not meddle. As much as I can, Bill. To not be seen to be interfering, to not be seen to be meddling. But of course I hear things, Bill. I hear whispers. And things seem to have gone sour in the dressing room. I know things have gone sour in the dressing room. And I know he should be buying …

  So why don’t you step in, asked Bill Shankly. Why don’t you say something, Matt? Before it’s too late …

  Sir Matt Busby shook his head. And Sir Matt Busby said, But it’s not that easy, Bill. Not that easy at all. I don’t want to undermine the man. I don’t want to be accused of that. So I’m in a difficult position. A very difficult position. And it’s not a position I’d recommend to anyone. Not to you, Bill. Not when your time comes.

  Oh, my time is a way off yet, laughed Bill Shankly. So don’t you be wasting your worries on me, Matt …

  Sir Matt Busby looked across his desk at Bill Shankly. Sir Matt Busby stared at Bill Shankly. And then Sir Matt Busby said, Are you sure about that, Bill? Are you certain? If you don’t mind me saying, I do think you look tired, Bill. I do think you look drained. And it worries me, Bill. You worry me …

  I’m fine, said Bill Shankly. Really I am. But thank you, Matt. Thank you. It’s just been a very hard week. We were in bloody
Athens on Tuesday. Then straight back here to face your lot. So it’s been a very tough week. But you know how it is, Matt. You know how it is.

  Sir Matt Busby nodded. And Sir Matt Busby said, And Ness? And the girls? They’re all well, I hope, Bill?

  The girls are great, said Bill Shankly. I don’t see enough of them or the grandkids. There’s never enough time. But you know how it is, Matt. That’s football for you …

  Sir Matt Busby nodded again. And Sir Matt Busby asked again, And Ness? How is Ness, Bill?

  Well, she’s had a bad cough, said Bill Shankly. And she’s had it for a while now. And I wish she’d cut down on the cigarettes. Because they’re not helping. Not helping at all. But she says she smokes two packs every time we play. That’s the only way she can cope with the stress. With the worry. Every time we play. But I wish she’d ease up, Matt. And I wish she’d go to the doctors. But what can I do, Matt? She’s like me. You’d have to drag her kicking and screaming to the doctors. That’s the only way she’ll go, Matt …

  Sir Matt Busby smiled. And Sir Matt Busby said, Well, then maybe you should, Bill. Drag her kicking and drag her screaming. If that’s what it takes, Bill. Maybe you should …

  …

  On Saturday 18 November, 1972, Newcastle United came to Anfield, Liverpool. That afternoon, forty-six thousand, one hundred and fifty-three folk came, too. In the fifth minute, Peter Cormack scored. In the thirty-fifth minute, Alec Lindsay scored. In the forty-eighth minute, John Toshack scored. And Liverpool Football Club beat Newcastle United three–two. At home, at Anfield.

  Four days afterwards, Liverpool Football Club travelled to Elland Road to play Leeds United in the replay of the Fourth Round of the Football League Cup. And Chris Lawler cleared off the line from Charlton. And Jones shot wide of the post. And Bremner shot over the bar. But Leeds United kept coming, Bremner kept coming. And midway through the second half, Tommy Smith took the ball off the toes of Bremner in the penalty area. But Smith took the toes of Bremner, too. The referee awarded a penalty to Leeds United. And Giles took the penalty. But Giles missed the penalty. And in the last minute, the last minute of normal time, the very last minute before extra time, Charlton conceded a corner. And Kevin Keegan jumped for the corner. Keegan leapt. And Keegan outjumped everyone for the corner. Keegan outleapt everyone. And Keegan met the corner. Keegan headed the corner. Into the net and into a goal. And Liverpool Football Club beat Leeds United one–nil in the replay of the Fourth Round of the Football League Cup. Away from home, away from Anfield. In the last minute, the very last minute.

  On Saturday 25 November, 1972, Liverpool Football Club travelled to White Hart Lane, London. And in the dressing room. The away dressing room at White Hart Lane. Bill Shankly looked from player to player. From Clemence to Lawler, Lawler to Lindsay, Lindsay to Smith, Smith to Lloyd, Lloyd to Hughes, Hughes to Keegan, Keegan to Cormack, Cormack to Heighway, Heighway to Toshack and from Toshack to Callaghan –

  To win anything. Anything at all these days. Then you have to beat Leeds United. You have to beat Chelsea. You have to beat Arsenal. And you have to beat Spurs. And you’ve beaten Leeds United. And you’ve beaten Chelsea. And so now you have to beat Spurs, boys. You have to beat them today. Here at White Hart Lane, boys. If we are to win anything. But I know you can, boys. And so I know you will. I know you can and I know you will …

  In the twenty-eighth minute, Kevin Keegan passed to Steve Heighway. Heighway feinting one way, Heighway swerving the other way. The Tottenham defence going one way, the Tottenham defence leaving the other way open. And Heighway chipped the ball over Jennings. Into the net and into a goal. In the fortieth minute, Peter Cormack played a short corner to Ian Callaghan. Callaghan crossed the ball. Keegan jumped and Keegan leapt. On spring heels. To meet the cross, to head the ball. Into the net and into a goal. And Liverpool Football Club beat Tottenham Hotspur two–one. Away from home, away from Anfield. That evening, Arsenal Football Club had twenty-five points. Leeds United had twenty-six points. And Liverpool Football Club had twenty-eight points. That evening, Liverpool Football Club were still first in the First Division. First, by two points.

  Four days afterwards, in the ice and in the snow, Liverpool Football Club came through Checkpoint Charlie to the Sportforum Hohenschönhausen to play Berliner Fußball Club Dynamo of East Berlin, East Germany, in the first leg of the Third Round of the UEFA Cup. But Tommy Smith did not travel. Smith was injured. Trevor Storton travelled. And in the last minute of the first half, the very last minute of the first half, in the ice and in the snow, Brillat crashed into Kevin Keegan. Keegan hurt, Keegan injured. And Brian Hall came on for Keegan. But in the ice and in the snow, Liverpool Football Club held on. Liverpool Football Club prevailed. In the ice and in the snow. Liverpool Football Club drew nil–nil with Berliner Fußball Club Dynamo of East Berlin the first leg of the Third Round of the UEFA Cup. Away from home, away from Anfield.

  On Saturday 2 December, 1972, Birmingham City came to Anfield, Liverpool. That afternoon, forty-five thousand, four hundred and seven folk came, too. But not Tommy Smith. Smith still injured. And in the thirteenth minute, Taylor scored for Birmingham City. And in the twenty-first minute, Hope scored for Birmingham City. In the thirty-second minute, Alec Lindsay scored. But ten minutes later, Latchford scored for Birmingham City. One minute later, Peter Cormack scored. But at half-time, Liverpool Football Club were losing three–two to Birmingham City. At home, at Anfield. But ten minutes into the second half, Lindsay equalised. And in the seventy-seventh minute, John Toshack scored. And Liverpool Football Club had come back from three–one down to beat Birmingham City four–three.

  Two days later, just two days later, Tottenham Hotspur came to Anfield, Liverpool. That evening, forty-eight thousand, six hundred and seventy-seven folk came, too. Forty-eight thousand, six hundred and seventy-seven folk to watch Liverpool Football Club play Tottenham Hotspur in the Fifth Round of the Football League Cup. In the fifty-fourth minute, Pearce sent a corner over the penalty area. To the far post. The Liverpool far post. And there was Peters. At the far post. The Liverpool far post. And Peters scored. But in the seventy-eighth minute, Emlyn Hughes cut in from the left. And with his left foot, from an impossible angle, Hughes shot. And Hughes scored. And Liverpool Football Club drew one-all with Tottenham Hotspur in the Fifth Round of the Football League Cup. At home, at Anfield. There would have to be yet another replay. Yet another game –

  Two days later, just two days later, Liverpool Football Club travelled to White Hart Lane to play Tottenham Hotspur in the replay of the Fifth Round of the Football League Cup. And on a rain-lashed pitch, under a sky lit by lightning, a night deafened by thunder, Tottenham Hotspur scored three goals in the first fifteen minutes. And on a rain-lashed pitch, under a sky lit by lightning, a night deafened by thunder, in the eighty-fifth minute, Ian Callaghan scored. But it didn’t matter, it didn’t count. On a rain-lashed pitch, under a sky lit by lightning, a night deafened by thunder, Liverpool Football Club had lost three–one to Tottenham Hotspur in the replay of the Fifth Round of the Football League Cup. Away from home, away from Anfield. Liverpool Football Club drenched, Liverpool Football Club soaked. Drained

  and exhausted –

  Three days later, Liverpool Football Club travelled to the Hawthorns, Birmingham. But Tommy Smith did not travel. And Kevin Keegan did not travel. Phil Thompson travelled and Phil Boersma travelled. And in the twenty-first minute, Boersma scored. But West Bromwich Albion scored, too. And Liverpool Football Club drew one-all with West Bromwich Albion. Away from home, away from Anfield. Another draw, another draw.

  Four days later, Berliner Fußball Club Dynamo of East Berlin came to Anfield, Liverpool. That evening, thirty-four thousand, one hundred and forty folk came, too. Thirty-four thousand, one hundred and forty folk to watch Liverpool Football Club play Berliner Fußball Club Dynamo of East Berlin in the second leg of the Third Round of the UEFA Cup. But again Tommy Smith did not come. And again Kevin Keegan did not come. Again Phil Thomp
son came and again Phil Boersma came. And in the first minute, Peter Cormack passed to Steve Heighway. And Heighway shot. The shot straight at Lihsa. Lihsa unable to hold the shot. The ball loose. And there was Boersma. Boersma racing in from the left. To gather up the loose ball. To shoot. And to score. But then a neat chip from Netz found Schulenberg. Schulenberg jumped the tackle from Alec Lindsay, Schulenberg passed back to Netz. Netz shot. And Netz scored. An away goal. A dangerous goal. But in the twenty-fifth minute, Heighway shot again. And the shot hit Brillat. The shot cannoned off Brillat. Into the net and into a goal. And in the fifty-sixth minute, Cormack took a free kick. And John Toshack met the free kick. And Toshack scored. And Liverpool Football Club beat Berliner Fußball Club Dynamo of East Berlin three–one in the second leg of the Third Round of the UEFA Cup. At home, at Anfield.

  On Saturday 16 December, 1972, Liverpool Football Club travelled to Portman Road, Ipswich. In the twenty-fourth minute, Steve Heighway scored. But Ipswich Town scored, too. And Liverpool Football Club drew one-all with Ipswich Town. Away from home, away from Anfield. Another draw.

  One week afterwards, Coventry City came to Anfield, Liverpool. That afternoon, forty-one thousand, five hundred and fifty folk came, too. In the sixth minute, John Toshack scored. And in the twenty-second minute, Toshack scored again. And Liverpool Football Club beat Coventry City two–nil. At home, at Anfield.