David Peace - Red or Dead

On Saturday 26 February, 1972, Manchester City came to Anfield, Liverpool. That Saturday afternoon, there was no longer a State of Emergency. The Proclamation of Emergency had been lifted. The National Union of Mineworkers had won. The National Union of Mineworkers would return to work on Monday. And that Saturday afternoon, fifty thousand and forty-seven folk came to Anfield, Liverpool, to watch Liverpool Football Club play Manchester City. Manchester City first in the First Division. In the thirty-seventh minute, Larry Lloyd scored. In the fifty-third minute, Kevin Keegan scored. And in the sixty-fifth minute, Bobby Graham scored. And Liverpool Football Club beat Manchester City three — nil. At home, at Anfield. That evening, Liverpool Football Club had thirty-seven points. Liverpool Football Club fifth in the First Division. Fifth.

One week later, Everton Football Club came to Anfield, Liverpool. That afternoon, fifty-three thousand, nine hundred and twenty-two Merseyside folk came, too. But Harry Catterick did not come. The manager of Everton Football Club was recovering from a heart attack. And in the first minute, Wright scored an own goal. And in the sixty-sixth minute, McLaughlin scored a second own goal. And in the seventy-fourth minute, Chris Lawler scored for Liverpool Football Club. And in the eighty-seventh minute, Emlyn Hughes scored for Liverpool Football Club. And Liverpool Football Club beat Everton Football Club four — nil. At home, at Anfield. That evening, Liverpool Football Club had thirty-nine points. Liverpool Football Club fourth in the First Division. Fourth.

On Saturday 18 March, 1972, Newcastle United came to Anfield, Liverpool. That afternoon, forty-three thousand, eight hundred and ninety-nine folk came, too. Forty-three thousand, eight hundred and ninety-nine folk and Malcolm Macdonald –

In the tunnel. The Anfield tunnel. At the top of the stairs. The Anfield stairs. Malcolm Macdonald looked up at the sign on the wall. The new sign on the old wall. And Malcolm Macdonald laughed, This is Anfield, eh? Well, we’ve come to the right ground then, lads. That’s very helpful. At least we know where we are.

You think it’s funny, do you, asked Bill Shankly. Well, you’ll find out soon enough where you are, son …

In the ninth minute, Chris Lawler scored. In the twenty-second minute, Kevin Keegan scored. In the thirty-ninth minute, John Toshack scored. In the sixty-third minute, Emlyn Hughes scored. And in the eighty-first minute, Steve Heighway scored. And Liverpool Football Club beat Newcastle United five — nil. At home, at Anfield. That evening, Liverpool Football Club had forty-two points. Liverpool Football Club were still fourth in the First Division. Still fourth.

On Saturday 25 March, 1972, Liverpool Football Club travelled to the Dell, Southampton. And in the fifty-second minute, John Toshack scored. And Liverpool Football Club beat Southampton Football Club one — nil. Away from home, away from Anfield. That evening, Manchester City had fifty points. Manchester City were first in the First Division. Derby County had forty-seven points. Derby County were second. Leeds United had forty-six points. Leeds United third. And Liverpool Football Club had forty-four points. Liverpool Football Club fourth in the First Division. Still fourth.

Three days afterwards, Stoke City came to Anfield, Liverpool. That evening, forty-two thousand, four hundred and eighty-nine folk came, too. And Ritchie scored a goal for Stoke City. The first goal Liverpool Football Club had conceded in seven games. But Burrows scored an own goal. And in the fifty-third minute, Kevin Keegan scored for Liverpool Football Club. And Liverpool Football Club beat Stoke City two — one. At home, at Anfield.

On Saturday 1 April, 1972, West Bromwich Albion came to Anfield, Liverpool. That afternoon, forty-six thousand, five hundred and sixty-four folk came, too. In the thirty-first minute, Tommy Smith scored a penalty. And in the fifty-eighth minute, Chris Lawler scored. And Liverpool Football Club beat West Bromwich Albion two — nil. At home, at Anfield. That afternoon, Derby County beat Leeds United. And Stoke City beat Manchester City. And that evening, Derby County had fifty-one points. And Derby County were first in the First Division. Manchester City had fifty points. Manchester City were second. Leeds United had forty-eight points. Leeds United third. And Liverpool Football Club had forty-eight points. Liverpool Football Club were still fourth in the First Division. Still fourth. But just three points behind Derby County. Just three points off first.

Two days afterwards, Bill Shankly walked into the dressing room. The away dressing room. Bill Shankly looked around the dressing room. 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 Hall, Hall to Heighway, Heighway to Toshack and from Toshack to Callaghan –

Bill Shankly took out eleven plastic men from his jacket pocket. Bill Shankly put the eleven plastic men on the table in the middle of the dressing room. Bill Shankly stared down at the eleven plastic men on the table. Bill Shankly picked them back up. The plastic men. Bill Shankly held them up. One by one. These plastic men –

Alex Stepney. Rubbish. Tommy O’Neil. Rubbish. Tony Dunne. Rubbish. Martin Buchan. Rubbish. Steve James. Rubbish. Alan Gowling. Rubbish. Willie Morgan. Rubbish. Ian Storey-Moore. Rubbish. Expensive rubbish. Overpriced rubbish …

Bill Shankly walked over to the bin in the corner of the dressing room. Bill Shankly dropped the eight plastic men into the bin. Bill Shankly walked back over to the table in the middle of the dressing room. Bill Shankly stared down at the three plastic men left on the table in the middle of the dressing room –

One of these men is a drunkard. One of these men is a cripple. And one of these men is a pensioner. Now are you telling me, boys. Are you telling me you can’t go out there and beat a drunkard, a cripple and a pensioner? Are you telling me you can’t go out there and beat these three men, boys …

In the sixtieth minute, Chris Lawler scored. Two minutes later, John Toshack scored. And in the eighty-fourth minute, Emlyn Hughes scored. And Liverpool Football Club beat Manchester United three — nil. Away from home, away from Anfield. Bill Shankly walked down the touchline. The Old Trafford touchline. Bill Shankly shook the hand of Frank O’Farrell. And Bill Shankly smiled –

Bad luck, Frank. Hard luck. But at least today you can’t claim you were robbed, Frank. At least today everybody saw you were murdered. The way we played today. The way we murdered you today, Frank. It was men against men. I’m sure you’ll agree, Frank. My young men against your very old men …

That night, Derby County had fifty-one points. Derby County were first in the First Division. But that night, Liverpool Football Club had fifty points. And Liverpool Football Club were second in the First Division. Second. Liverpool Football Club had taken twenty-two points from their last twelve games. Liverpool Football Club had scored twenty-seven goals in those last twelve games and Liverpool Football Club had conceded just two goals in those last twelve games. And Liverpool Football Club were just one point behind Derby County. Just one point off first. First.

On Grand National Day, Coventry City came to Anfield, Liverpool. And that lunchtime, fifty thousand and sixty-three folk came, too. Fifty thousand and sixty-three folk and Ray Clemence, Chris Lawler, Alec Lindsay, Tommy Smith, Larry Lloyd, Emlyn Hughes, Kevin Keegan, Brian Hall, Steve Heighway, John Toshack and Ian Callaghan. The same eleven players who had started the last eight games for Liverpool Football Club. And that lunchtime, in the twenty-first minute, Keegan scored. In the sixty-seventh minute, Smith scored a penalty. And in the eighty-fifth minute, Toshack scored. And Liverpool Football Club beat Coventry City three — one. At home, at Anfield. And that lunchtime, Liverpool Football Club were first in the First Division. First. And that lunchtime, the supporters of Liverpool Football Club 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 …