Red or Dead (55 page)

In the dressing room. The away dressing room. Drenched in rain, soaked in sweat. Bill sat on the bench. Drenched in rain and soaked in sweat. Bill listened to the joy of the players of Liverpool Football Club. Drenched in rain, soaked in sweat. Bill listened to the joy of the supporters of Liverpool Football Club. Drenched in rain and soaked in sweat. Bill heard the studs coming down the tunnel. Drenched in rain, soaked in sweat. Bill watched the dressing-room door open. Drenched in rain and soaked in sweat. Tommy Smith carried the huge UEFA Cup into the dressing room. Drenched in rain, soaked in sweat. Tommy Smith handed the huge UEFA Cup to Bill –

Here you are, Boss. There you go. It’s all yours, Boss.

Drenched in rain, soaked in sweat. Bill shook his head. Bill smiled. And Bill said, No, Tommy. It’s all ours …

…

At the airport, at Speke Airport. In the morning, at half past two in the morning. Bill and the players and the staff of Liverpool Football Club got off the plane from Germany. And Bill could not believe his eyes. Everywhere he looked, he saw faces. The faces of people. Everywhere. There were hundreds, there were thousands. Hundreds and thousands of people at the airport, at Speke Airport. In the morning, at half past two in the morning. The people waiting to greet the players and the staff of Liverpool Football Club, the people waiting to cheer the players and the staff of Liverpool Football Club. The people smiling, the people happy. And Bill could not believe his ears. The people all cheering and clapping, the people all shouting and singing,
LI-VER-POOL, LI-VER-POOL, LI-VER-POOL …

And the next evening there was a parade. A parade through the streets of Liverpool. On an open-top bus, on the top deck of the bus. With their two cups, with their two trophies. From Anfield to the centre of the city, to the heart of the city from Anfield. On the open-top bus, on the top deck of the bus. Again. Bill could not believe his eyes. Everywhere he looked, he saw faces. The faces of people. Everywhere. There were hundreds. There were thousands. Hundreds
of
thousands of people. The people smiling, the people happy. From Anfield to the centre of the city, to the heart of the city from Anfield. Again. Bill could not believe his ears. The people all cheering and clapping, the people all shouting and singing,
LI-VER-POOL
,

LI-VER-POOL, LI-VER-POOL …

On William Brown Street. Bill got off the bus with the players and the staff of Liverpool Football Club. On William Brown Street. Bill walked up the steps to the front of the Picton Library with the players and the staff of Liverpool Football Club. Before the Corinthian columns of the Picton Library. Bill stood with the players and the staff of Liverpool Football Club and their families. And before the Corinthian columns of the Picton Library. Bill still could not believe his eyes. Everywhere Bill looked, Bill saw more faces. The faces of more people. Everywhere. More and more people. Hundreds of thousands more people. More smiling people, more happy people. And before the Corinthian columns of the Picton Library. Bill still could not believe his ears. These hundreds of thousands of smiling
people all cheering and all clapping, these hundreds of thousands of happy people all shouting and all singing,
LI-VER-POOL,

LI-VER-POOL, LI-VER-POOL …

And on William Brown Street. Before the Corinthian columns of the Picton Library. With the players and with the staff of Liverpool Football Club and their families. Between the two cups, between the two trophies. Again. Bill fought back tears. Again. Bill struggled to breathe. And again. Bill stepped forward. Again. Bill opened his arms. And again. The people, the hundreds of thousands of people, all fell silent.
Just like that
. They all fell silent. All silent, all waiting –

Ladies and gentlemen. This is the greatest day of my career. The happiest day of my life. I have known nothing like it as a player or a manager. Because you are the greatest fans in the world. We have won for you. And that is all we are interested in, winning for you. And the reason we have won is because we believe in you and you believe in us. And it’s your faith and your interest that have won us something. Thank God you are all here. Thank God we are all here. Thank you. You don’t know how much we love you. Thank you …

And the people, the hundreds of thousands of people, all cheered and clapped, they all shouted and sang –

SHANK-LEE, SHANK-LEE –

SHANK-LEE …

On William Brown Street. Before the Corinthian columns of the Picton Library. With the players and with the staff of Liverpool Football Club and their families. Between the two cups, between the two trophies. Bill turned to Ness. Bill took her hand. Bill held her hand. Bill squeezed her hand. And Bill said, Thank you, love. Thank you.

Ness looked up at Bill. And Ness smiled at Bill –

Is this the day, love? Is this the day?

In the summer of 1973, in the second week of July. In the pavilion, the pavilion at Melwood. Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan, Reuben Bennett, Ronnie Moran and Tom Saunders stood before the players of Liverpool Football Club. And Bill Shankly looked around the pavilion.
The pavilion at Melwood. From player to player. From Phil Boersma to Derek Brownbill, from Derek to Ian Callaghan, from Ian to Ray Clemence, from Ray to Peter Cormack, from Peter to Roy Evans, from Roy to Brian Hall, from Brian to Steve Heighway, from Steve to Emlyn Hughes, from Emlyn to Kevin Keegan, from Kevin to Frankie Lane, from Frankie to Chris Lawler, from Chris to Alec Lindsay, from Alec to Larry Lloyd, from Larry to Hughie McAuley, from Hughie to John McLaughlin, from John to Dave Rylands, from Dave to Tommy Smith, from Tommy to Peter Spiring, from Peter to Trevor Storton, from Trevor to Peter Thompson, from Peter to Phil Thompson, from Phil to John Toshack, from John to Alan Waddle and from Alan to John Webb. Bill Shankly nodded. And Bill Shankly smiled –

Thanks for last year. Thank you very much, boys. Your medals and your plaques are in that box over there in the corner. But now forget them. Because now we start again. And we start again at the bottom. The very bottom. So come on now, boys –

Come on. Let’s get it going, boys …

…

In the summer of 1973, at the end of the second week of July. In the corridor, the Anfield corridor. Emlyn Hughes knocked on the door to the office of Bill Shankly. And Emlyn Hughes opened the door.

Bill Shankly looked up from his desk. Up from his typewriter –

Hello, Emlyn. How are you today, son? Sit yourself down …

Thank you, Boss. And how are you, Boss? Are you well, Boss? And how are your family, Boss? Are they all well, Boss?

They are all very well, Emlyn. Thank you, son. And how about you and your family, Emlyn? Are they are all well, son? And your father, Emlyn? How is your father, son?

He’s very well, Boss. Thank you, Boss. But it was actually something my dad said that made me want to have a word, Boss.

Oh? And what was that, son? What did he say?

Well, we were talking, Boss. Me and my dad, Boss. About my new contract. And so we were talking about my future, Boss. Me and my dad. Because you know I always talk to him about everything, Boss. You and him. You are the two people I always talk to, Boss. And he knows, and you know, how much I love playing for this club. And playing for you, Boss. And how I’d never want to play for anyone
else. Not for Manchester United or Arsenal or any of them clubs that have been sniffing around, Boss. Like they always do. I wouldn’t want to, Boss. Especially not now, not after the season we’ve just had. But the thing is, Boss. The thing is, I’m playing for England now. And I love playing for England, Boss. And I want to be the captain of England, Boss. It’s my dream. It’s been my dream for as long as I can remember, Boss. And so me and my dad were talking about it. About me being captain of England, Boss. But my dad said he doesn’t think I’ll ever be captain of England. Not if I’m not even captain of Liverpool, Boss. My dad thinks it’ll never happen. If I’m not even captain of my own club, Boss. He thinks I’ll never be captain of England. But he thinks it might happen if I was at Manchester United. Or at Arsenal. Or Leeds. Or even Everton, Boss. He thinks if I was playing for any of them. Then I’d be captain, Boss –

And then the captain of England …

Bill Shankly leapt to his feet –

So you’re saying to me, son. You’re telling me, unless I make you captain of Liverpool Football Club, then you’re off, son. Off to play for Manchester United. Arsenal or Leeds. Or even bloody Everton. Is that what you’re saying, son? Is that what you’re telling me?

No, Boss, no. Not at all, Boss. No, Boss. I’d never do that, Boss. But I’m confused, Boss. Confused about what to do, Boss. About whether to give up on my dream or not, Boss. I mean, you told me, Boss. You told me when I first came here I was a future captain of Liverpool, Boss. And a future captain of England, Boss. And I believed you, Boss. I believed you and so did my dad, Boss …

So now you’re calling me a liar, are you?

No, Boss, no. Not at all, Boss. No, Boss. I’d never do that, Boss. After my own father, Boss. You are the man I respect most, Boss …

So what are you saying, son? What are you asking me?

I’m just asking you if I should forget my dream, Boss? My dream of captaining England, Boss. That’s all, Boss. I just want to know if I should give up even thinking about it, Boss. Because I know
you
know how much it means, Boss. You told me the thing you wanted most was to play for Scotland, Boss. And how proud you were the day you captained Scotland. At Hampden, against England …

Bill Shankly sat back down behind his desk –

Aye, the day you beat us three–one.

I’m sorry about that, Boss. But at least you can always say you captained your country, Boss. You had that honour, sir –

It was not just a dream for
you
…

…

In the summer of 1973, at the start of the third week of July. In the car park, the Anfield Road car park. Tommy Smith had changed into his training gear. Tommy Smith was standing in the car park with the other players of Liverpool Football Club. Tommy Smith was about to get on the bus. The bus to take him and the other players of Liverpool Football Club out to Melwood. Out to training. Tommy Smith laughing, Tommy Smith joking. In the car park, the Anfield Road car park. In his tracksuit and in his sweater. Bill Shankly walked towards the players of Liverpool Football Club. Bill Shankly greeted the players. Bill Shankly shook their hands, Bill Shankly patted their backs. Bill Shankly asked after their weekends, Bill Shankly asked after their families. Bill Shankly laughing and Bill Shankly joking. Bill Shankly turned to Tommy Smith. Still smiling, still smiling –

Morning, Tommy. Morning, son. How are you today, Tommy? And can I have a word, son? A quick word, Tommy?

Tommy Smith nodded. And Tommy Smith followed Bill Shankly back into the stadium. Down the corridor, into the office. And Bill Shankly closed the door. Bill Shankly sat down at his desk –

Sit down, Tommy. Have a seat, son.

Tommy Smith sat down.

I have decided to make Emlyn captain, Tommy. You’ll still be the club captain, son. But Emlyn will be the captain of the team, Tommy. On the pitch, during the game. Is that OK with you, son?

Tommy Smith stared across the desk at Bill Shankly. And Tommy Smith nodded. And Bill Shankly leapt back up onto his feet –

OK then, Tommy. Thanks for coming in, son. I’ll see you up at Melwood, Tommy. See you up at training, son …

Tommy Smith stood up. Tommy Smith walked out of the office. Down the corridor, out of the stadium. Into the car park and onto the bus. The bus waiting for Tommy Smith. But Tommy Smith was not laughing, Tommy Smith not joking –

Not any more.

…

In the summer of 1973, in the fourth week of July. All the players of Liverpool Football Club had to go and see Bill Shankly –

At the end of the last season, during the parade through the streets of Liverpool, John Smith, the new chairman of Liverpool Football Club, had climbed on board the open-top bus. John Smith had stood on the top deck of the bus. Between the two cups, between the two trophies. And John Smith had told the players of Liverpool Football Club they would all be getting new contracts for the following season. The new season. Now all the players of Liverpool Football Club had come to see Bill Shankly to discuss their new contracts for the following season. The new season. All the players of Liverpool Football Club standing in a line in the corridor outside the door to the office of Bill Shankly. Each player rehearsing the words he would say to Bill Shankly. Each player getting his words straight in his mind. And now Brian Hall was the player standing at the front of the line to the door to the office of Bill Shankly. Brian Hall rehearsing his words, Brian Hall getting those words straight in his mind. Brian Hall had decided he wanted a forty-pound-a-week rise as part of his new contract for the following season. The new season. But Brian Hall knew what Bill Shankly was like. Brian Hall knew Bill Shankly always got the better of him. Brian Hall knew if he asked Bill Shankly for a forty-pound-a-week rise, then Bill Shankly would blame the government and give him a twenty-pound-a-week rise. And that would be that. The end of that. And so Brian Hall had decided he would ask Bill Shankly for an eighty-pound-a-week rise. And then Brian Hall would let Bill Shankly beat him down to a forty-pound-a-week rise. Brian Hall smiled to himself. It was possible he might even get a
fifty-pound
-a-week rise. Brian Hall chuckled to himself …

The door to the office of Bill Shankly opened. And Chris Lawler stepped out of the office of Bill Shankly. Chris Lawler looked at Brian Hall, Chris Lawler smiled at Brian Hall. And Chris Lawler winked at Brian Hall. Chris Lawler held open the door to the office of Bill Shankly for Brian Hall. Brian Hall stepped into the office of Bill Shankly. And Brian Hall saw Bill Shankly –

Bill Shankly looked up from the pile of contracts on his desk. And Bill Shankly smiled –

Hello, Brian. How are you, son? Sit yourself down, son …

Brian Hall closed the door. And Brian Hall sat down.

Right, son. What do you think you’re worth?

Brian Hall looked across the desk at Bill Shankly. Brian Hall took a deep breath. And Brian Hall said, I think an eighty-quid-a-week rise, Boss. I think that’s what I’m worth …

Bill Shankly stared back across his desk at Brian Hall. Bill Shankly stuck out his chin. Bill Shankly stroked his chin. And then Bill Shankly stroked the sides of his face –

An eighty-pound-a-week rise, eh? That’s a lot of money, son. That’s a big rise. A very big rise, son.

Brian Hall shifted in his seat. And Brian Hall said, I know that, Boss. I know that. I know it is …

There won’t be many folk who pay to see you play who have ever had an eighty-pound-a-week rise in their pay. In fact, I doubt there’s one, son. Not one …

Brian Hall nodded. And Brian Hall said, I know that, Boss.

Well then, just as long as you do, son. As long as you remember that. Then OK, son. If that’s what you think you’re worth. Then that’s what I’ll give you, son. An eighty-pound-a-week rise. Now send in the next one, son …

Brian Hall stood up. And Brian Hall said, Thank you, Boss.

Bill Shankly looked back down at the pile of contracts on his desk. And Bill Shankly smiled –

After the parade, after John Smith had climbed down from the open-top bus, the new chairman of Liverpool Football Club had told Bill Shankly each player of Liverpool Football Club could have a
one-hundred
-pound-a-week rise as part of their new contract for the following season. The new season. Bill Shankly knew that was no way to run a football club. To run Liverpool Football Club. Bill Shankly knew no player of Liverpool Football Club would expect a
one-hundred
-pound-a-week pay rise. Bill Shankly knew no player of Liverpool Football Club would ever ask for a hundred-pound-a-week pay rise. And no player had asked him for a one-hundred-pound-a-week pay rise. Not one. Just as Bill Shankly knew no player would ever ask Matt Busby for a one-hundred-pound-a-week pay rise. Or ask Bill Nicholson, or ask Don Revie –

Not one player,

ever.

…

On Friday 24 August, 1973, the Friday before the first game of the 1973–74 season. The first match of the new season. At home, at Anfield. The players and the staff of Liverpool Football Club gathered around the table in the centre of the dressing room. The home dressing room. Around the green baize cloth on the table in the centre of the dressing room. The Liverpool dressing room. The eleven plastic men on the green baize cloth. The eleven red plastic men, each with a number on their back. Bill Shankly picked up the players one by one –

We need our keeper to get the ball out quick to the full-backs. To feed them fast. That’s the way. OK, Clem?

And Ray Clemence nodded.

Bill Shankly picked up the two plastic men with the numbers two and three on their backs –

And so we need numbers two and three to always be making themselves available. Always ready to push up. OK, Chris? OK, Alec?

And Chris Lawler nodded. And Alec Lindsay nodded.

Bill Shankly picked up the two plastic men with the numbers four and five on their backs –

Geoff Hurst will be up front for them tomorrow. You all know what he’s like. Big man, strong man. And good in the air. But he’ll be on his own. So numbers four and five, you should take it in turns to mark him. That way one of you gets a wee rest, but he never does. So talk to each other, work it out. OK, Larry?

And Larry Lloyd nodded. And Tommy Smith waited, waited for Bill Shankly to say his name. But Bill Shankly picked up the two plastic men with the numbers six and eight on their backs –

Six and eight. You need to be closing them down, cutting their supply lines. Starving them. And then feeding the ball out wide, fast as you can, out to the wings. To Cally and to Steve. OK, Emlyn? OK, Peter? You got that? You know what you’re doing?

And Emlyn Hughes nodded. Peter Cormack nodded. And Tommy Smith waited. And waited. And Tommy Smith looked across the room at Bob Paisley. Bob Paisley looking down at his feet. And Tommy Smith looked across the room at Joe Fagan. Joe Fagan looking
down at his feet. And at the end of the meeting, Tommy Smith stood up. Tommy Smith walked over to Bill Shankly. And Tommy Smith said, Can I have a word please, Boss?

Sure, Tommy. Sure, son.

Bill Shankly and Tommy Smith stepped out of the dressing room. The home dressing room. Bill Shankly and Tommy Smith stood outside the dressing room in the corridor. The Anfield corridor. And Tommy Smith said, I never heard my name, Boss. I never heard you say my name. So I was just wondering if I’ll be playing, Boss?

I have no made my mind up, Tommy. No yet, son.

Tommy Smith nodded. And Tommy Smith said, OK, Boss.

…

The next day, Stoke City came to Anfield, Liverpool. That afternoon, fifty-two thousand, nine hundred and thirty-five folk came, too. Fifty-two thousand, nine hundred and thirty-five folk to watch the first game of the new season. At home, at Anfield. Bill Shankly walked into the dressing room. The home dressing room. Bill Shankly took out a piece of paper from his pocket. And Bill Shankly read out the names on the piece of paper –