by David Peace
On the bench, the Anfield bench. In the fourteenth minute, Bill and forty-three thousand, eight hundred and fifty-three folk watched Steve Heighway get brought down in the penalty area. And the referee awarded a penalty. Kevin Keegan took the penalty. And Keegan scored the penalty. And Liverpool Football Club beat West Bromwich Albion one–nil. At home, at Anfield. That evening, Liverpool Football Club were still first in the First Division. But not by one point. By two points, by two points again.
On the bench, the bench at Highfield Road. In the thirty-sixth minute, Bill watched Phil Boersma score. And in the sixtieth minute, Bill watched Boersma score again. And Liverpool Football Club beat Coventry City two–one. Away from home,
away from Anfield. On the bench, the bench at St James’ Park. In the high wind and in the lashing rain, in the twenty-fourth minute, Bill watched Peter Cormack cross the ball. And Kevin Keegan hit the ball. Into the net and into a goal. But then Bill watched Tudor score for Newcastle United. And Tudor score again. And in the high wind and in the lashing rain, Liverpool Football Club lost two–one to Newcastle United. Away from home, away from Anfield.
On the bench, the Anfield bench. Two days later, just two days later. In driving rain and in howling wind. The gates closed one and a half hours before the kick-off. In driving rain and in howling wind, Bill and fifty-five thousand, seven hundred and thirty-eight folk were watching Liverpool Football Club play Leeds United. And in the driving rain and in the howling wind, in the forty-seventh minute, they watched Harvey touch a free kick from Tommy Smith over the bar. And in the driving rain, the howling wind, they watched Brian Hall take the corner. Chris Lawler went up for the ball. Larry Lloyd went up for the ball. Phil Thompson went up for the ball. But the ball fell to Peter Cormack. Cormack shot. And Cormack scored. And in the driving rain and in the howling wind, the Spion Kop sang, We’re going to win the League! We’re going to win the League! Ee-aye-addio, we’re going to win the League! And in the driving rain and in the howling wind, in the eighty-fifth minute, Cormack dribbled to the left of the byline. And Cormack crossed. Harvey cut out the cross. But the ball ran loose. Loose to Kevin Keegan. Keegan wheeling in, Keegan wriggling free. Keegan shot. And Keegan scored. And in the driving rain and in the howling wind, Liverpool Football Club beat Leeds United two–nil. At home, at Anfield. In the driving rain, in the howling wind. The Spion Kop roared, WE’RE GOING TO WIN THE LEAGUE! WE’RE GOING TO WIN THE LEAGUE! EE-AYE-ADDIO, WE’RE GOING TO WIN THE LEAGUE! And in the driving rain and in the howling wind, the players of Leeds United formed an avenue to the tunnel. The Anfield tunnel. In the driving rain, in the howling wind, the players of Leeds United applauded the players of Liverpool Football Club from the pitch. The Anfield pitch. That evening, Arsenal Football Club had fifty-five points. And Liverpool Football Club had fifty-nine points. But Arsenal Football Club still had two more games to play. And Liverpool Football Club had just one more game to play. Just one last game. And Bill knew if Liverpool Football Club lost that one last game. And if Arsenal Football Club won their last two games. And scored seven goals in those last two games. Then Arsenal Football Club would be the Champions of England. But Bill knew if Liverpool Football Club did not lose their last game. If they won or if they drew. Their last game against Leicester City. At home, at Anfield. Then Bill knew Liverpool Football Club would be the Champions of England. The Champions again –
Champions at last.
On the bench, the bench at White Hart Lane. Two days later, just two days later. Bill watched Liverpool Football Club play Tottenham Hotspur in the second leg of the semi-final of the UEFA Cup. And in the forty-eighth minute, Bill watched Chivers take a throw-in. And Gilzean flicked on the throw-in to Peters. And Peters side-footed the ball past Ray Clemence. Into the net and into a goal. But seven minutes later, Bill watched Kevin Keegan pounce on a loose ball from England. And Keegan passed to Steve Heighway. Heighway shot. And Heighway scored. An away goal, a dangerous goal. And then Bill watched Peters ride three tackles. And Peters shot. The shot hit the bar. And Pratt headed wide the rebound. But then Bill watched Coates cross. And Peters met the cross. Peters shot. And Peters scored. And Tottenham Hotspur had beaten Liverpool Football Club two–one in the second leg of the semi-final of the UEFA Cup. But Liverpool Football Club had won the tie. Liverpool Football Club had won the semi-final. On away goals. Away from home, away from Anfield. Liverpool Football Club were in the final of the UEFA Cup –
A European final.
…
On the bench, the Anfield bench. Bill and fifty-six thousand, two hundred and two folk were watching the last home game of the season, the very last game of the season. Bill and fifty-six thousand, two hundred and two folk who knew Liverpool Football Club needed only one point to be crowned Champions of England. Just one point, one last point. And for ninety minutes, Bill and fifty-six thousand, two hundred and two folk watched Clemence, Lawler, Lindsay, Smith, Lloyd, Hughes, Keegan, Boersma, Thompson, Heighway, Callaghan and then Hall attack and attack. But Liverpool Football Club did not score. And for ninety minutes, Bill and fifty-six thousand, two hundred and two folk watched Clemence, Lawler, Lindsay, Smith, Lloyd, Hughes, Keegan, Boersma, Thompson, Heighway, Callaghan and then Hall defend and defend. But Leicester City did not score. And in the ninetieth minute, the referee looked at his watch. The referee put his whistle to his lips. And the referee blew his whistle. Liverpool Football Club had drawn nil–nil with Leicester City. And Liverpool Football Club had their point. Their one point, their one last point. And Liverpool Football Club were Champions of England. At home, at Anfield. Liverpool Football Club were crowned Champions again, Champions at last. And on this day, this coronation day. The supporters of Liverpool Football Club erupted, the supporters of Liverpool Football Club exploded. With joy and with relief. In applause and in song. In praise and in celebration. And the players of Liverpool Football Club paraded the Football League trophy around the ground. The Anfield ground. All four sides of the ground. The Anfield ground. And all four sides of the ground applauded and sang. In praise and in celebration. And on the bench, the Anfield bench. His jacket stuck to his shirt. His shirt stuck to his vest. His vest stuck to his skin. Bill stood up, Bill got to his feet. And Bill walked across the pitch. The Anfield pitch. And Bill stood before the Kop. The Spion Kop. His jacket stuck to his shirt. His shirt stuck to his vest. His vest stuck to his skin. Bill put his hands together. Not in prayer, but in thanks. In thanks to the Kop. The Spion Kop –
And the Spion Kop threw their scarves down towards Bill. Their red scarves. Raining down on Bill. In thanks. All of their scarves. Their red scarves. And Bill picked up their scarves. All of their scarves. Their red scarves. And Bill tied one scarf around his neck. One red scarf. And Bill held up another scarf. Another red scarf. In his arms. A scarf. A red scarf. Aloft. His arms aloft,
in thanks.
…
Before the house, on their doorstep. In the evening and in the silence. Bill opened the door, Bill stepped into the house. Into the hall. And there was Ness. In the house, in their home –
Well done. Well done, love.
Thank you, love.
I’ve got the kettle on. It’s almost boiled. So sit yourself down, love. You must be exhausted …
Bill nodded. And Bill followed Ness into the kitchen. His jacket still stuck to his shirt. His shirt still stuck to his vest. His vest still stuck to his skin. Bill sat down at the table. The kitchen table. The scarf still around his neck –
The red scarf.
Ness waited for the kettle to boil. Ness poured the boiling water into the teapot. Ness waited for the tea to stand. Ness walked over to the refrigerator. Ness took out the jug of milk. Ness poured the milk into the two mugs. The two Liverpool mugs. Ness put the milk jug down. Ness picked up the teapot. Ness poured the tea into the two mugs. The two Liverpool mugs. And then Ness carried the two mugs over to the table. Ness put one mug down on the table in front of Bill. And Bill saw her hand. Her fingers and her nails. And Bi
ll reached out to Ness. Bill took her hand, Bill held her hand. And Bill said, Look at your nails, love. What have you been doing, love?
I was a bit worried, laughed Ness.
Bill shook his head. And Bill said, I’m sorry, love. I’m sorry I make you so worried. Every day, every game …
Don’t be sorry, said Ness. Be happy, be pleased. Happy you’ve another game, love. A final …
…
In the dressing room, the Anfield dressing room. Bill looked from player to player. The sixteen players in the Liverpool dressing room. The sixteen players desperate to play for Liverpool Football Club in the first leg of the final of the UEFA Cup against Borussia VfL 1900 Mönchengladbach e.V. of West Germany. At home, at Anfield. Bill took out a piece of paper from the pocket of his coat. And Bill said, Our team will be Clemence, Lawler, Lindsay, Smith, Lloyd, Hughes, Keegan, Cormack, Hall, Heighway and Callaghan. And our substitutes will be Lane, Thompson, Storton, Boersma and Toshack.
And in the dressing room, the Anfield dressing room. Tommy Smith stood up. And Tommy Smith led out the players of Liverpool Football Club. Into the rain, the heavy rain. There were pools of water standing on the pitch. The Anfield pitch. But at half past seven, the match kicked off. In the ceaseless, heavy rain. The players could not kick the ball further than two yards. In the ceaseless, heavy and torrential rain. The pools of water became lakes of water. The ball not moving, the ball stuck. The lakes of water now a sea. And at eight o’clock, the referee took the players off the field. And in the ceaseless, heavy and torrential rain. The Spion Kop sang, Ee-aye-addio, we’re not going home! We’re not going home! Ee-aye-addio, we’re not going home! But twenty minutes later, the match was abandoned. Abandoned and postponed until tomorrow evening. And in the ceaseless, heavy and torrential rain. Bill walked down the touchline. The Anfield touchline. Bill walked into the dressing room. The home dressing room. Bill looked from player to player. From drenched and sodden player to drenched and sodden player. And Bill said, Get yourselves bathed, boys. Get yourselves changed. And get yourselves away to your homes, away to your beds, boys. And I’ll see you all back here tomorrow.
…
In the corridor, the Anfield corridor. The morning after the match had been abandoned. The match postponed. John Toshack knocked on the door to the office of Bill Shankly. John Toshack took a deep breath. And John Toshack opened the door –
In the office, at his desk. Bill looked up from his desk. Up from his typewriter. And Bill said, Hello, son. How are you today, son?
Actually, I’m not very well, said John Toshack.
I’m sorry to hear that, son. What’s the matter with you?
I’ll tell you what’s the matter with me, said John Toshack. You’re the matter with me, Boss! But I’ll say this for you, Boss. You must be the luckiest man alive. You’ve gone out at home in a European final playing just two men up because Bob bloody Paisley and Joe bloody Fagan told you the bloody Germans would attack. But the Germans fooled Bob and Joe. The Germans kidded you all. And so you were bloody lucky the game was abandoned. Because you’d never have beaten them, Boss. Not playing like that. You’d have been lucky to win a bloody corner. Let alone the match. You’d never have won. Not playing like that. Not with that team. You’d have been lucky to get a draw. A bloody draw. At home. In a European final. And if you play like that tonight. Play that same team tonight. That’s all you’ll get, Boss. A bloody draw. And I tell you. They’ll be laughing all the way back to Germany. Because they know they’ll slaughter you back at their place. Back in Germany. They know they’ll bloody slaughter you!
Bill stared at John Toshack. And Bill said, Finished?
No, said John Toshack. I haven’t finished. I have one last question for you, Boss. I want to know who picks the team. Is it you, Boss? Or is it Bob bloody Paisley and Joe bloody Fagan? I want to know who picks the team here. Is it you, Boss?
Bill leapt to his feet. And Bill shouted, Who the hell do you think you’re talking to? Who the hell do you think you are? Coming in here, shouting the odds. Jesus Christ. Get out of here, you cheeky bastard. Go on, get out. Get out with you …
Don’t worry, said John Toshack. I’m going. But I’m not coming back. Because you can stuff your bloody team!
Bill watched John Toshack storm out of the office. Bill heard John Toshack slam the door of the office. And Bill smiled. Bill walked around his desk. Around the bags and bags of mail. And Bill went out of the office. Bill went down the corridor. Bill went down 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. And Bill sat down in the boot room. Among the scrubbed and hanging boots. And Bill said, Morning, boys. How are you all today, boys? I hope you’re all dried off? Jesus Christ, eh? What a night. I thought that rain would never end. I thought it would never stop. It was like something out of the Bible. Like Noah and his flood, it was …
Yes, laughed Bob. It was. But the pitch will be fine for tonight, Bill. Heavy but fine enough.
Bill smiled. And Bill said, That’s great, Bob. Great news. And so what about the Germans, eh? What did you think of them, boys?
I think they thought we’d attack more than we did, said Joe. I think they thought we might play Phil Boersma from the start. Or even Tosh. And so I think they’d set themselves up to defend. And then to try and nick a goal. And so I think that’s why they brought in Surau for Michallik. That was a bit of a surprise …
Bill nodded. And Bill said, Aye. We didn’t expect them to do that. Not from what we’d said, not from what they’d said. I thought they would push more for a goal. I didn’t think they’d be so defensive. Not from what we’d all said …
Yes, said Bob again. And I wouldn’t be surprised if they don’t bring Michallik back in tonight. And attack a bit more …
Bill said, Aye. I am sure you are right, Bob. I am sure they will. But I think we should, too. Because their defence are not that tall. Not that tall at all. They are much smaller than I thought …
Yes, said Bob. You’re right. So what are you thinking, Bill?
I’m thinking we should make a change …
And Bill stood up. Bill walked out of the boot room. Bill walked back down the corridor. Bill went back into the office. Around the bags and bags of mail. And Bill sat down at his desk. Bill picked up his address book. Bill turned the pages of his address book. Bill picked up the telephone. Bill dialled a number. And Bill said, Hello, son. Are you not in your bed yet?
No, said John Toshack. I’ve only just got back home.
Well, get to your bloody bed, son. Don’t be dilly-dallying. Because you’ll need your rest, son. You’re playing tonight …
…
In the dressing room, the Anfield dressing room. Bill looked from player to player. The sixteen players in the Liverpool dressing room. The sixteen players desperate to play for Liverpool Football Club in the first leg of the final of the UEFA Cup against Borussia VfL 1900 Mönchengladbach e.V. of West Germany. At home, at Anfield. Bill took out a piece of paper from the pocket of his coat. And Bill said, There’ll just be the one change to our team tonight, boys. And so our team will be Clemence, Lawler, Lindsay, Smith, Lloyd, Hughes, Keegan, Cormack, Toshack, Heighway and Callaghan. And the substitutes will be Lane, Thompson, Storton, Boersma and Hall …
And in the dressing room, the Anfield dressing room. Brian Hall stood up. Brian Hall stared at Bill Shankly. Brian Hall shook his head, Brian Hall cursed. And Brian Hall walked out of the dressing room. Brian Hall slammed the dressing-room door. And the players looked at Bill Shankly. The staff looked at Bill Shankly. And Bill said, Let him go. Let him calm down. The boy is disappointed. The boy is hurt. Disappointed he’s not playing, hurt he is on the bench. And so the boy has reacted like he has done. But I would expect the same reaction from every one of you boys. If you were not playing, if you were on the bench. Because you should be disappointed, you should be hurt. If you’re not playing for Liverpool Football Club in a European
final. If you’ve not the chance to be part of history. And to do something no Liverpool player has ever done before. To win a European trophy. And to do something no English player has ever done before. To win the League and to win a European trophy. In one season, in the same season …
In the twenty-first minute, Chris Lawler crossed. John Toshack met the cross. Toshack headed the cross down for Kevin Keegan. Keegan diving for the ball, Keegan lunging for the ball. And Keegan headed the ball. Into the net and into a goal. Four minutes later, Lindsay crossed. And Bonhof handled the cross in the penalty area. The referee blew his whistle. The referee awarded a penalty. Keegan took the penalty. But Kleff saved the penalty. In the twenty-ninth minute, Rupp passed to Wimmer. Wimmer passed to Heynckes. Heynckes passed to Dammer. And Dammer shot. But the shot hit the post. In the thirty-third minute, Emlyn Hughes crossed. Toshack met the cross. Toshack headed the cross down for Keegan. And Keegan shot. Into the net and into a goal. In the sixtieth minute, Heynckes passed to Wimmer. And Wimmer shot. But the shot went over the bar. Two minutes later, Keegan took a corner. Larry Lloyd met the corner. And Lloyd headed the corner. Into the net and into a goal. In the sixty-fifth minute, Steve Heighway fouled Jensen in the penalty area. The referee blew his whistle. The referee awarded a penalty. Heynckes took the penalty. But Ray Clemence saved the penalty. And Liverpool Football Club beat Borussia VfL 1900 Mönchengladbach e.V. of West Germany three–nil in the first leg of the final of the UEFA Cup. At home, at Anfield. Bill walked down the touchline. The Anfield touchline. And Bill shook the hand of Hennes Weisweiler, the coach of Borussia VfL 1900 Mönchengladbach –