Red or Dead (5 page)

Tom Williams smiled. And Tom Williams said, We all know how passionately you feel about bringing on the younger players, Mr Shankly. That is one of the reasons we wanted you to be the manager of Liverpool Football Club. Because of your success with the younger players at Huddersfield Town. But we have our routines. We have our ways. And if you don’t agree with those routines, those ways, then you should come to us first, Mr Shankly.

Well, if you don’t want me to develop these boys, these lads …

We never said that, Mr Shankly. We are not saying that.

Then you need to let me buy some players. Some decent players. Because frankly speaking, the players you have got here are not good enough for Liverpool Football Club.

Tom Williams sat back in his chair. And Tom Williams said, And so who do you have in mind, Mr Shankly? Which players should we buy? Go on then, Mr Shankly. Please give us their names.

Well, said Bill Shankly. I can tell you two names.

Tom Williams said again, Go on …

Denis Law of Huddersfield Town, said Bill Shankly. And Jack Charlton of Leeds United. For starters, that is. Just for starters.

The directors of Liverpool Football Club smiled. The directors of Liverpool Football Club laughed. And one of them said, Denis Law? Mr Shankly, you must know better than any man how much Law would cost. Huddersfield are already asking over fifty grand for the lad. He’s a player for the likes of Arsenal or Spurs. For Manchester United or City. Not for Liverpool Football Club.

And there’s your problem, said Bill Shankly. Right there. Right bloody there. Your thinking is the problem. You should be thinking Denis Law
is
a player for Liverpool Football Club. That
only
players as good as Denis Law can play for Liverpool Football Club …

But we don’t have the money, Mr Shankly.

You don’t have the ambition!

Tom Williams sat forward in his chair. Tom Williams put his hands out before him. And Tom Williams said, Mr Shankly, Mr Shankly, please. We all want the best for Liverpool Football Club. The very best. But we simply don’t have the money for Denis Law. I wish we did. I really do. But we don’t. But now what about Jack Charlton? Do you honestly think Leeds United would sell him? They are fighting for their lives in the First Division. They are hardly likely to sell one of their best players now, are they, Mr Shankly? Their centre-half?

I think they might. I think it’s at least worth asking.

Well then, ask them, Mr Shankly. Ask them.

…

After their late lunch, in the late afternoon. The directors of Leeds United Association Football Club were sitting in the boardroom at Elland Road, Leeds. The directors of Leeds United Association Football Club heard the footsteps in the corridor outside. The fast steps, the heavy steps. The knocks upon the door. Fast and heavy.

The chairman of Leeds United said, Come!

Bill Shankly opened the door. Bill Shankly stepped into the
boardroom at Elland Road. Bill Shankly looked around the board room. From director to director. And Bill Shankly smiled –

My name is Bill Shankly. I am the manager of Liverpool Football Club. And I’m here to buy Jack Charlton.

The directors of Leeds United Association Football Club stared down the long table at Bill Shankly. And then their chairman asked, And how much would you be willing to pay for Charlton?

Fifteen thousand pounds, said Bill Shankly.

The directors of Leeds United Association Football Club shook their heads. And their chairman said, Charlton will cost you twenty thousand, Shankly. Twenty thousand pounds. And not a penny less.

How about eighteen thousand pounds, said Bill Shankly.

Twenty thousand pounds, Shankly.

Fine, said Bill Shankly. Twenty thousand pounds it is then. But I’ll need to make a telephone call.

The directors of Leeds United Association Football Club smiled. And their chairman said, Then make your call, Shankly.

After his early dinner, in the early evening. Tom Williams picked up the telephone in his hallway. And Tom Williams said, Yes?

Mr Williams? This is Bill Shankly.

Tom Williams said, Good evening, Mr Shankly. What can I –

I’m at Elland Road. At Leeds. And I have fantastic news. Unbelievable news! Leeds United will sell Jack Charlton to us. They will sell him. It’s unbelievable. It’s fantastic news!

Tom Williams said, I’m very glad to hear that, Mr Shankly. And so how much are they asking for Charlton?

Twenty thousand pounds. Just twenty thousand pounds, sir.

Tom Williams sighed. And Tom Williams said, But we sanctioned eighteen thousand pounds, Mr Shankly.

I know that. I know that, sir. But for two thousand pounds more, just two thousand pounds more, they will sell him. And then Jack Charlton will be a Liverpool player.

Tom Williams sighed again. And Tom Williams said, Mr Shankly, as you know, I have spoken with the other directors and I am afraid we can go no higher than eighteen thousand pounds. That is our final offer. Eighteen thousand pounds.

But I know they will not sell him for eighteen thousand pounds,
Mr Williams. They are asking for twenty thousand pounds. Just another two thousand, Mr Williams …

Tom Williams said, But our offer is eighteen thousand pounds.

Mr Williams, I have watched Jack Charlton since he was in his teens. I have watched him many times. He plays with authority. He plays with courage. He will be the very backbone of Liverpool Football Club. The very backbone, Mr Williams. And all they want is another two grand. Another two grand and he’ll be ours. Ours …

Tom Williams said, I am sorry, Mr Shankly. It’s eighteen thousand pounds. That is our final offer. Goodbye, Mr Shankly.

After their brandies, with their cigars. The directors of Leeds United Association Football Club were sitting in the dining room at Elland Road. The directors of Leeds United Association Football Club heard the knock upon the door. Not so fast and not so heavy.

The chairman of Leeds United said, Come!

Bill Shankly opened the door. Bill Shankly stepped into the dining room. Bill Shankly looked around the table. From director to director. And Bill Shankly waited.

The chairman of Leeds United said, Well then, Shankly? What do you have to say for yourself?

Our offer is eighteen thousand pounds, said Bill Shankly.

Close the door on your way out, Shankly.

…

On Saturday 30 January, 1960, Manchester United came to Anfield, Liverpool. That afternoon, fifty-six thousand, seven hundred and thirty-six folk came, too. In the rain and in the wind. Fifty-six thousand, seven hundred and thirty-six folk to watch Liverpool Football Club play Manchester United in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup. At home, at Anfield. In the dressing room, the home dressing room. The players of Liverpool Football Club looked up from the benches. The players of Liverpool Football Club looked at Bill Shankly. Bill Shankly in his best coat, Bill Shankly in his best hat. Bill Shankly looked around the dressing room. From player to player. From Slater to Molyneux, Molyneux to Moran, Moran to Wheeler, Wheeler to White, White to Leishman, Leishman to Melia, Melia to Hunt, Hunt to Hickson, Hickson to Harrower and Harrower to A’Court. Bill Shankly rubbed his hands together. And Bill Shankly smiled –

What a day this is, boys. What a great day! The crowd that are here, the people that are here. There must be sixty thousand. Sixty bloody thousand. And the team that is here, the manager who is here. Just across that corridor, in that dressing room. I mean, I know Matt well. Very well. He was a player I admired and he is a manager I admire. A man I admire. The things Matt has done at United. The teams he has built, the club he has built. The way United play, the way United work. It is an inspiration, boys. An inspiration to us all. I mean, I don’t need to tell any of you what he has been through, what that team have been through. I mean, I’ll never forget that day. I was in my office at Leeds Road when the telephone rang with the news. The news from Munich. And I drove straight back home. I put on the television and I waited for news. I waited and I prayed. But then I heard Harold Hardman, the chairman of Manchester United. I heard him say that Matt had died. That Matt was dead. And I could not believe it, boys. I refused to believe it. And I don’t mind telling you, I got down on my knees and I prayed. I prayed like I had never prayed for anything before. And my prayers were answered. Thank God. Matt survived. But Tommy Curry was one of the dead. One of those twenty-three dead. And I knew Tommy well, from my time at Carlisle. And Tommy was dead. And eight of those players. Men we knew. Men who died. But Matt survived. Against all the odds. He refused to give in, he refused to surrender. And he went back to work, he went back to United. He began again. He built them back up again. He resurrected them. And here they are. A new team, a new United. And so Matt is an inspiration to me, boys. An inspiration. And so let his team be an inspiration to you, boys. An inspiration. But don’t you forget to beat them, boys. And if you cannot beat them, then make sure you learn from them. And you enjoy every bloody minute of the lesson …

In the thirteenth minute, Charlton scored. In the thirty-sixth minute, Wheeler equalised. In the forty-fourth minute, Charlton scored again. In the sixty-ninth minute, Bradley scored. And Liverpool Football Club lost three–one to Manchester United in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup. At home, at Anfield –

After the match, after the final whistle. In the rain and in the wind. Matt Busby walked down the touchline. The Anfield touchline. Matt Busby smiled at Bill Shankly. Matt Busby put a hand on Bill
Shankly’s shoulder. Matt Busby shook Bill Shankly’s hand. And Matt Busby said, You showed plenty of fight today, Bill. And plenty of spirit, too. So you’ll be all right, Bill. You’ll be all right.

In the empty, semi-detached house on Bellefield Avenue, West Derby, Liverpool. Bill and Ness went through the rooms. Bill and Ness went up the stairs. Bill and Ness went into one of the bedrooms. Bill and Ness stood in the window. Through the glass, through the trees. Bill and Ness could see men kicking footballs on a pitch.

What team is that, asked Ness.

Bill said, Everton.

Is that where Everton train then, asked Ness.

Bill nodded. And Bill said, Yes. That’s Bellefield, love.

That’s handy then, said Ness. You’ll be able to keep your eye on them then, love, won’t you?

Bill smiled. And Bill said, Aye, I will. I certainly will, love.

So you like this house then, asked Ness.

Bill said, If you do.

I do, love.

...

In the office, at the desk. Bill opened up the newspaper. Again. Bill looked down at the final League table for the 1959–60 season. Aston Villa were Second Division Champions with fifty-nine points. Cardiff City were runners-up with fifty-eight points. Cardiff City had been promoted to the First Division with Aston Villa. Liverpool Football Club were third with fifty points. Liverpool Football Club had not been promoted. Huddersfield Town had not been promoted either. Huddersfield Town had finished sixth with forty-seven points. Since Bill had left Leeds Road, since Bill had come to Anfield, Liverpool Football Club had won eleven games, drawn five and lost five. In the office, at the desk. Bill opened a drawer. Bill took out a pair of scissors and a pot of glue. Bill cut out the final League table for the 1959–60 season from the newspaper. Bill opened his book. His book of names, his book of notes. Bill stuck the final League table in his book. His
book of names, his book of notes. In the office, at the desk. Bill turned the pages of his book. The pages of names, the pages of notes. The names of players, the notes on players. Bill had moved on Doug Rudham, Fred Morris, Reg Blore and Barry Wilkinson. Bill had brought in Kevin Lewis from Sheffield United. Bill had brought in Alf Arrowsmith from Ashton United. Alf Arrowsmith was seventeen years old. Bill had wanted to bring in more players. More experienced players. Better players. Bill still wanted to bring in more players. In the office, at the desk. Bill closed his book. His book of names, his book of notes. Again.

...

In the car park at Anfield. In his tracksuit bottoms, in his sweater, Bill was standing in the car park at Anfield. Bill was looking for the bus to Melwood. The bus was not here. The players of Liverpool Football Club came out of the stadium. In their tracksuits, in their sweaters. Bill greeted every one of the players of Liverpool Football Club. Bill shook their hands, Bill patted their backs. Bill asked after their families, Bill asked after their holidays. Bob, Joe, Reuben, Arthur and Albert came out of the stadium. And Bill looked at his watch. Bill looked at Bob, Joe, Reuben, Arthur and Albert. And Bill said, Where’s the bloody bus? It’s the first day of pre-season training. And the bus is not here, the bus is late. What’s going on?

We don’t use the bus in the summer, said Albert. We never have, Boss. Not in the first week. The first week we always run out to Melwood, Boss. And then we run back here ...

Bill said, You run to Melwood?

Yes, said Albert. We run to Melwood. It’s road-work. To build up their fitness, their strength ...

Bill shook his head. Bill took Bob, Joe, Reuben, Arthur and Albert to one side. And Bill said, I don’t believe in road-work. I never have. The players do their playing on grass. So they should do their running on grass. Not on roads. Not on concrete. There’s no surer way for a player to pull a muscle or to injure himself than on a road. On the grass. That’s the way to build up their fitness, to build up their strength. That’s my way. On the grass. And with a ball. A bloody football!

Bob, Joe, Reuben, Arthur and Albert looked at each other. Bob, Joe, Reuben, Arthur and Albert nodded. And then Bob said, I’ll go and
ring the driver then, Boss. I’ll go and give him a call ...

Bill looked at his watch again. And Bill said, Thank you, Bob. But we’re wasting time. There’s no bloody time. So we’ll walk out to Melwood today. Slowly. But then we’ll get the bus tomorrow.

...

In their new house in Liverpool, in their new bedroom in the old bed. Bill waited for the dawn, Bill waited for the light. The new dawn and the new light. And then Bill jumped out of bed. Bill shaved and Bill washed. Quickly. Bill put on his suit and Bill put on his tie. Quickly. Bill went down the stairs and Bill ate breakfast with Ness and their daughters. Quickly. Bill kissed them goodbye and Bill went out of the house. Quickly. Bill got into his car and Bill drove to Anfield.

In the ground, in the office. Bill looked at his watch. And Bill paced and Bill paced. And Bill heard the people coming, coming to Anfield. Through the turnstiles, into the stands. And then Bill stopped pacing. Bill looked at his watch again. And now Bill smiled.

In the dressing room, the home dressing room. Bill looked from player to player. From Slater to Byrne. From Byrne to Moran. From Moran to Wheeler. From Wheeler to White. From White to Leishman. From Leishman to Lewis. From Lewis to Hunt. From Hunt to Hickson. From Hickson to Melia. From Melia to A’Court. And Bill clapped his hands. Bill smiled. And Bill said, This is it, boys. The start. The real start, lads. The start of it all. The first game of the new season, boys. At home to Leeds United. A great chance to lay down our marker, lads. A great opportunity to show the world what we are about.

And there will be over forty thousand people here to see us, boys. To see what we are about. And so this is our chance, lads. Our chance to show the people that we mean business. The business of promotion. Because that is the only business that matters, boys. The only thing that matters. And so you go out there today, lads. And you show these people who have come here today, who have paid their money today. You show these people that they were right to come, right to pay to see us play today, boys. Because this season we mean business. This season we will win the League, lads. And we’ll get promoted.

In the dug-out, on the bench. The Anfield bench. Bill stared out at the players of Liverpool Football Club on the pitch. The Anfield pitch. In the sun, the players of Liverpool Football Club shining. In the
sun, in their kits. Their red shirts, their white shorts. And their white socks. And in the dug-out, on the bench. The Anfield bench. Bill heard the whistle blow, Bill heard the crowd roar. The Anfield crowd. And in the dug-out, on the bench. Bill sat forward on the edge of his seat. On the very edge of his seat. His eyes darting, his hands moving. And his legs twitching. With every ball, with every kick. And with every pass. With every tackle and with every shot. His eyes darting, his hands moving. His legs twitching. With every ball. Every kick and every pass, every tackle and every shot. And in the twenty-eighth minute, Kevin Lewis scored his first goal for Liverpool Football Club. Seven minutes later, Dave Hickson scored a second. And in the
dugout
, on the bench. Bill heard the final whistle blow. And Bill heard the crowd cheer. The Anfield crowd. And in the dug-out, on the bench. The Anfield bench. Bill smiled. Bill got to his feet. And Bill walked down the touchline. The Anfield touchline.

In the dressing room, the home dressing room. Bill danced from player to player. From Bert to Gerry. From Gerry to Ronnie. From Ronnie to Johnny. From Johnny to Dick. From Dick to Tommy. From Tommy to Kevin. From Kevin to Roger. From Roger to Dave. From Dave to Jimmy. And from Jimmy to Alan. Bill danced and Bill sang. Bill sang the praises of every player, of every man. Patting their backs and shaking their hands. Patting Bob and Reuben on their backs, shaking Bob and Reuben by their hands. And Bill said, Well done, boys. Well done. You were magnificent, lads. Magnificent. Each and every one of you, boys. I could not have asked for more. But this is only the start, lads. Only the start. You know that, boys. We all know that. But if you play like that, lads. If you play like that every game. Every match, boys. Then this will be our season. Our season, lads.

...

In the dressing room, the home dressing room. On the bench, in the silence. Bill shook his head and Bill sighed. Bill shook his head again and Bill closed his eyes. Four days after Liverpool Football Club had beaten Leeds United, Liverpool Football Club had lost four–one at Southampton. Three days after that, Liverpool Football Club had drawn one-all at Middlesbrough. And then today, Liverpool Football Club had lost one–nil to Southampton. At home, at Anfield. Today, Liverpool Football Club had just three points from their first four
games. And in the dressing room, the home dressing room. On the bench, in the silence. Bill opened his eyes again, Bill shook his head again. Bill cursed. And Bill said, It’s not good enough. Not good enough for me and not good enough for Liverpool Football Club. For the supporters of Liverpool Football Club. Not bloody good enough!

...

In the boardroom, the Anfield boardroom. In the chair at the end of the long table. Bill said, Well, what?

Well, what do you have to say about the start we have made to the new season, asked the directors of Liverpool Football Club.

It’s not good enough, I know that.

And so what are you planning to do about it, Mr Shankly?

Bill smiled. And Bill said, I was going to ask you the same question. The very same question.

What do you mean by that, Mr Shankly? You are the manager. We are asking
you
what
you
are going to do about the results. We are asking
you
, Mr Shankly.

Bill smiled again. And Bill said, But I asked you for Brian Clough. And you would not give me Brian Clough. I asked you for Dave Mackay. But you would not give me Dave Mackay. I asked you for Jack Charlton but you would not give me Jack Charlton.

But you also asked us for Kevin Lewis, said the directors of Liverpool Football Club. And we gave you the money for Kevin Lewis. We gave you thirteen thousand pounds for Kevin Lewis. A club record. And just last week, you asked us for Gordon Milne. And we gave you the money for Gordon Milne. We gave you sixteen thousand pounds for Gordon Milne. Again, a club record. And you asked us for this lad Arrowsmith. And we gave you the money. And let’s not forget we also gave you the money for Sammy Reid. Eight thousand pounds for a man who never played for the first team. Eight thousand pounds for a man we have now sold to Falkirk. So we have given you the money, Mr Shankly. We have given you the best part of forty thousand pounds. So we have given you the money, Mr Shankly.

Bill shook his head. And Bill said, But I was promised sixty thousand pounds. When I accepted the position as manager of Liverpool Football Club, I was promised sixty thousand pounds to spend on new players. Sixty thousand pounds to rebuild the team.

That is not quite true, said Tom Williams. We told you money was available if the right players became available. And we have given you that money. We have given you forty thousand pounds, Mr Shankly. But it is not a bottomless pit. We do have our limits.

Bill looked up the long table at the chairman of Liverpool Football Club. And Bill said, So you are saying there is no more money? Is that what you are saying, Mr Williams?

No, said Tom Williams. That is not what we are saying. What we are saying is you have had money. But there are limits to that money, Mr Shankly. There have to be limits.

Bill shook his head again. And Bill said, So what would you have me do? You’d have me make do, would you? Make do with the players we have? When I have already told you some of these players are not good enough. Not good enough to win us promotion.

But can you be so sure of that, Mr Shankly, asked one of the directors of Liverpool Football Club. What makes you so certain? Players don’t become bad players overnight. Bill laughed. And Bill said, Who exactly are you talking about? Which players would these be?

Liddell.

Bill laughed again. And Bill said, Billy Liddell is thirty-eight years old. Thirty-eight years old!

But he has been a fantastic servant to this club, said another of the directors of Liverpool Football Club. A great player.

Bill said, I know Billy Liddell
was
a great player. He had a powerful shot with either foot. He could head the ball like the blast from a gun. He was as hard as granite. And he was fast. But not any more. Not now. Not these days. Not today!

Maybe he just needs more games, said another director.

Bill shook his head. And Bill said, More games? Billy Liddell has played over five hundred games for Liverpool Football Club. The man needs a testimonial. Not more bloody League games.

Mr Shankly, said Tom Williams. Mr Shankly, please. All we are saying is perhaps we already have the players we need. Perhaps you should look again at the players we have.

At Billy Liddell? Thirty-eight-year-old bloody Billy Liddell?

Perhaps not Billy Liddell, said Tom Williams. But what about
Harrower or Morrissey? They have not played this season ...

Bill looked up the long table at the chairman and the directors of Liverpool Football Club. And Bill said, So now you’re telling me who to select? Who to pick? Is that it?

No, said Tom Williams. We are not telling you who to pick, who to select. We are simply asking you to look again at the players we have, to think again ...

Bill got up from the chair at the end of the long table. Bill looked from director to director. And Bill said, Fine then. I’ll think again, I will think again. I promise you that, gentlemen.

...

In his car. Bill cursed. It had been the same at Carlisle. On the road to Manchester. Bill cursed again. The same at Grimsby, the same at Workington. In the car park at Old Trafford. Bill cursed again. The same at Huddersfield. And in the office at Old Trafford. Bill cursed and Bill said, It’s always the same. Fight and argue. That is all I ever do. It’s always the same. And I’ve had enough, Matt. I’m going to quit, I’m going to resign. I swear to you, Matt.