Red or Dead (58 page)

On the bench, the bench at Stamford Bridge. On the last Saturday of 1973, in the twenty-first minute, Bill watched Peter Cormack score. And Liverpool Football Club beat Chelsea Football Club one–nil. Away from home, away from Anfield.

On the bench, the Anfield bench. An hour early, at two o’clock. With frost on the pitch and with ice in the air. On the first day of 1974, in the eighteenth minute of the match, Bill and thirty-nine thousand, one hundred and ten folk watched Weller shoot. And Weller scored.
But in the sixty-seventh minute, they watched Peter Cormack shoot. And Cormack scored. And with frost on the pitch and with ice in the air. Liverpool Football Club drew one-all with Leicester City. At home, at Anfield. The first points Liverpool Football Club had dropped. At home, at Anfield. Bill walked into the dressing room. The home dressing room. And Bill looked around the dressing room. The Liverpool dressing room. And Bill said, You tried your very hardest, boys. You gave your very best. And so do not let your heads drop, boys. Do not be downcast. It takes two teams to make a game of it, boys. It always takes two teams.

On the bench, the Anfield bench. An hour early again, at two o’clock again. Bill and thirty-one thousand, four hundred and
eighty-three
folk were watching Liverpool Football Club play Doncaster Rovers in the Third Round of the FA Cup. Doncaster Rovers were ninety-second in the Football League. Doncaster Rovers were bottom of the Football League. In the third minute, Bill and thirty-one thousand, four hundred and eighty-three folk watched Phil Thompson pass to Steve Heighway. And Heighway passed to Ian Callaghan. Callaghan crossed for Kevin Keegan. And Keegan headed the cross. Into the net and into a goal. But three minutes later, they watched Doncaster Rovers win a corner. And Liverpool Football Club failed to clear the corner. Woods crossed the ball back into the Liverpool penalty area. Ray Clemence failed to hold the cross. Clemence fumbled the cross, Clemence dropped the ball. And Kitchen pounced on the ball. Kitchen stabbed the ball. Into the net and into a goal. And ten minutes later, they watched Murray cross. And again Liverpool Football Club failed to clear the cross. O’Callaghan shot. And O’Callaghan scored. And the ninety-second team in the Football League, the bottom club in the Football League, were beating the second team in the Football League, the Champions of England. At home, at Anfield. At half-time, Bill walked into the dressing room. The home dressing room. And Bill walked around the dressing room. The Liverpool dressing room. Bill went from player to player. From Clemence to Storton. From Lindsay to Thompson. From Rylands to Hughes. From Keegan to Cormack. From Heighway to Boersma. And from Boersma to Callaghan. Bill patted each of their backs, Bill put an arm around each of their shoulders. And Bill said, Come on, boys.
Come on now. This is the FA Cup, boys. So let’s get it going …

Back on the bench, the Anfield bench. In the fifty-seventh minute, Bill watched Callaghan cross the ball. Keegan met the cross. And Keegan scored. And then Bill watched Cormack shoot. But the shot was cleared off the line. And then Bill watched Wignall head the ball. But Lindsay cleared the header off the line. The Liverpool goal line. And in the last minute, Bill watched Kitchen meet a cross. And Kitchen headed the cross. But the header hit the bar. The Liverpool bar. And Liverpool Football Club drew two-all with Doncaster Rovers in the Third Round of the FA Cup. At home, at Anfield.

On the bench, the bench at Belle Vue, Doncaster. At half past one, on a Tuesday afternoon. In the fifteenth minute of the first half, Bill watched Phil Thompson send a long ball into the penalty area. And Alan Waddle headed down the long ball for Steve Heighway. Heighway chested down the ball. Heighway shot. And Heighway scored. And in the fifteenth minute of the second half, Bill watched Alec Lindsay send a free kick into the penalty area. And Peter Cormack headed the free kick. Into the net and into a goal. In the seventieth minute, Bill watched Doncaster Rovers score. But the goal was disallowed. Offside. The goal did not count, the goal did not matter. And Liverpool Football Club beat Doncaster Rovers two–nil in the Third Round replay of the FA Cup.

On the bench, the Anfield bench. An hour early again, at two o’clock again. In the fifteenth minute, Bill and thirty-nine thousand and ninety-four folk watched Kevin Keegan score. And in the
thirty-first
minute, they watched Keegan score again. And in the sixty-ninth minute, they watched Phil Thompson score. And Liverpool Football Club beat Birmingham City three–two. At home, at Anfield. That evening, Leeds United had forty-two points. Leeds United still unbeaten. And Liverpool Football Club had thirty-four points. Liverpool Football Club still eight points behind Leeds United.

On the bench, the bench at the Victoria Ground. Bill watched Hurst score for Stoke City. And Bill watched Kevin Keegan score for Liverpool Football Club. But the goal was disallowed. For handball. The goal did not count, the goal did not matter. And in the ninetieth minute, Liverpool Football Club were losing one–nil to Stoke City. But in that minute, that very last minute, Bill watched Tommy Smith score
for Liverpool Football Club. And Liverpool Football Club drew
one-all
with Stoke City. Away from home, away from Anfield. And that afternoon, Leeds United drew, too. Leeds United still unbeaten. And Liverpool Football Club were still eight points behind Leeds United. Liverpool Football Club still with a mountain to climb.

On the bench, the Anfield bench. An hour early, at two o’clock. Bill and forty-seven thousand, two hundred and eleven folk were watching Liverpool Football Club play Carlisle United in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup. In the last round of the FA Cup, Carlisle United had beaten Sunderland Football Club. Last season, Sunderland Football Club had beaten Leeds United in the final of the FA Cup. Sunderland Football Club had been the holders of the FA Cup. And on the bench, the Anfield bench. Bill and forty-seven thousand, two hundred and eleven folk watched Liverpool Football Club attack and attack. Again and again. But Alan Ross, the goalkeeper for Carlisle United, saved and saved. Again and again. And Liverpool Football Club drew nil–nil with Carlisle United in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup. At home, at Anfield. There would have to be another replay –

On the bench, the bench at Brunton Park. At two o’clock, on a Tuesday afternoon. In the first half, Bill watched Liverpool Football Club have no chances. No shots on goal. But Bill watched Carlisle United have chances. Shots on goal. And Ray Clemence saved and saved. Again and again. But in the fiftieth minute, Bill watched John Toshack cross for Kevin Keegan. And Keegan turned the cross back for Phil Boersma. Boersma sidestepped a defender. Boersma shot. And Boersma scored. And thirty minutes later, Bill watched Brian Hall pass to Toshack. And Toshack scored. And Liverpool Football Club beat Carlisle United two–nil in the Fourth Round replay of the FA Cup. Away from home, away from Anfield. Liverpool Football Club were in the Fifth Round of the FA Cup.

On the bench, the Anfield bench. Still an hour early, still at two o’clock. In the sixty-third minute, thirty-one thousand, seven hundred and forty-two folk saw Bill take off Larry Lloyd. And Bill sent on Peter Cormack. And in the ninetieth minute, the very last minute, they watched Cormack score. And Liverpool Football Club beat Norwich City one–nil. At home, at Anfield. That evening, Liverpool Football Club had thirty-seven points. And Leeds United had forty-four points.
Leeds United still unbeaten. Liverpool Football Club still seven points behind Leeds United.

On the bench, the Anfield bench. At two o’clock, on a Tuesday afternoon. Because of the power saving, because of the energy rationing. Bill and twenty-one thousand, six hundred and fifty-six folk were watching Liverpool Football Club play Coventry City. Just twenty-one thousand, six hundred and fifty-six folk. The lowest attendance Liverpool Football Club had ever had for a First Division match. At home, at Anfield. Liverpool Football Club and Coventry City had asked the Football League to postpone the game. But the Football League had refused their request. Because Liverpool Football Club and Coventry City were both still in the FA Cup. And that afternoon, Bill and twenty-one thousand, six hundred and fifty-six folk watched Alan Waddle hit one post. And Waddle hit the crossbar. And Waddle hit the other post. And Waddle still could not score his second goal for Liverpool Football Club. But in the twenty-eighth minute, they watched Alec Lindsay score a penalty. And in the fifty-seventh minute, they watched Kevin Keegan score. And Liverpool Football Club beat Coventry City two–one. At home, at Anfield.

…

In the boardroom, the Anfield boardroom. On Friday 15 February, 1974. The Friday before Liverpool Football Club were to play Ipswich Town in the Fifth Round of the FA Cup. The chairman and the manager of Liverpool Football Club met the gentlemen of the sporting press. But the gentlemen of the press were not asking about the Cup. The gentlemen of the press were asking about Bill Shankly. About Bill Shankly’s future, about Bill Shankly’s new contract …

Mr Shankly’s present contract expires at the end of May this year, said John Smith, the chairman of Liverpool Football Club. The very end of May. But I have already spoken to Mr Shankly about his future. And Mr Shankly assures me he will be delighted to stay with the club to which he has brought so much success. And so I have told Mr Shankly that he can decide the terms of the new contract. And he can decide whatever length of contract he wants. And I would be happy if it were for life. Because it is my sincere hope that Mr Shankly will stay with us for life. But that decision is not for us to make. However, we are completely at Mr Shankly’s disposal.

Bill nodded. Bill nodded again. And then Bill said, It may be another year. Or two, or three. I don’t know. But I know one day I will decide that enough is enough. That that is that. And then I’ll leave straight away. Straight away. Because my career as a manager must have an abrupt end. I know that. I do know that …

But what would you do, asked Erlend Clouston of the
Liverpool Daily Post
, if you left, Bill? If you retired? What on earth would you do with yourself all day, Bill?

Bill laughed. And Bill said, I’ll get out my tracksuit and my sweater. And I’ll jog around. People will laugh at me, people will think I’m mad. But some of them will drop dead the next day. The very next day. And so I’ll have the last laugh –

And die a healthy man.

…

On the bench, the Anfield bench. Half an hour early, at half past two. In the thirty-third minute, Bill and forty-five thousand, three hundred and forty folk watched Emlyn Hughes pass to Brian Hall. And Hall passed to Ian Callaghan. Callaghan passed back to Hall. Hall shot. And Hall scored. And in the fifty-fifth minute, they watched Alan Waddle pass to Kevin Keegan. And Keegan shot and Keegan scored. And Liverpool Football Club beat Ipswich Town two–nil in the Fifth Round of the FA Cup. At home, at Anfield. Liverpool Football Club were in the Sixth Round of the FA Cup.

On the bench, the bench at St James’ Park. In the first half, Bill watched Alan Waddle mis-hit one shot. And then Waddle
mishit
another. And in the second half, Bill watched Phil Boersma pass to Waddle. Waddle with the goal at his mercy. An open goal, a yawning goal. And Waddle shot and Waddle missed. And then Bill watched Waddle have another chance. Another open goal, another yawning goal. And again Waddle missed. And Waddle still could not score his second goal for Liverpool Football Club. And Liverpool Football Club drew nil–nil with Newcastle United. Away from home, away from Anfield. But that afternoon, Stoke City beat Leeds United. And Leeds United were no longer unbeaten. But Leeds United were still first in the First Division. Leeds United still had forty-eight points. And Liverpool Football Club had forty points. Liverpool Football Club still eight points behind Leeds United. But in the corridor. The corridor at
St James’ Park. Before the press, the sporting press. Bill stuck out his chin. And Bill said, Let no one dare suggest we have given away our title yet. Liverpool Football Club never give away anything. Not without a fight. A fight until the end. And there is still a long way to go. A very, very long, long way to go …

On the bench, the Anfield bench. At three o’clock, on a Tuesday afternoon. Because of the power saving, because of the energy rationing. Three minutes before the end, before the end of the game, Bill and twenty-seven thousand and fifteen folk watched Phil Boersma score. And Liverpool Football Club beat Southampton Football Club one–nil. At home, at Anfield. That afternoon, Leeds United did not win. Leeds United only drew. And in the corridor, the Anfield corridor. Bill stuck out his chin again. And Bill said, You can rest assured that the doubts will be niggling at Leeds United now. Because we are closing in on them now. We are breathing down their necks. And they can feel our breath. Hot upon their necks. I am not saying it
will
happen, gentlemen. But it’s
possible
. It’s always possible. Because anything is possible …

On the bench, the Anfield bench. In the last minute, the very last minute of the game, Bill and forty-two thousand, five hundred and sixty-two folk watched Peter Cormack cross for Kevin Keegan. And Keegan headed on the cross for John Toshack. Toshack spun, Toshack shot. And Toshack scored. And Liverpool Football Club beat Burnley Football Club one–nil. At home, at Anfield. That evening, Leeds United had fifty points. And Liverpool Football Club had forty-four points. Liverpool Football Club were now six points behind Leeds United. With a game in hand, with a game to come. And with a game against Leeds United to come, too. At home, at Anfield.

On the bench, the bench at Ashton Gate. In the forty-eighth minute, Bill watched Phil Thompson pass to Alec Lindsay. And Lindsay passed to Steve Heighway. Heighway passed to Peter Cormack. Cormack passed to Kevin Keegan. Keegan crossed for John Toshack. Toshack shot. And Toshack scored. And Liverpool Football Club beat Bristol City one–nil in the Sixth Round of the FA Cup. Away from home, away from Anfield. Liverpool Football Club were in the semi-finals of the FA Cup. That afternoon, Newcastle United played Nottingham Forest in the Sixth Round of the FA Cup at St
James’ Park, Newcastle. Early in the second half, the referee sent off a Newcastle United player. The referee awarded a penalty to Nottingham Forest. Nottingham Forest scored the penalty. And Nottingham Forest were beating Newcastle United three–one in the Sixth Round of the FA Cup. And some of the supporters of Newcastle United in the Leazes End ran onto the pitch. Some of the supporters of Newcastle United attacked some of the players of Nottingham Forest. And two of the players of Nottingham Forest were injured. The referee took the players of Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United off the pitch. The referee waited until order had been restored. Until the players had recovered. Then the referee restarted the game. And Newcastle United won the game four–three. That afternoon, one hundred and three people needed medical treatment. That afternoon, thirty-nine people were arrested. That evening, the secretary of Nottingham Forest wrote to the Football Association. Nottingham Forest protested about the events at St James’ Park, Newcastle. Nottingham Forest protested about the result at St James’ Park, Newcastle. Ted Croker, the secretary of the Football Association, said the Football Association would investigate the events at St James’ Park, Newcastle. Ted Croker said Newcastle United could be disqualified.