David Peace - Red or Dead

Later that afternoon, Manchester City beat West Ham United. Derby County beat Sheffield United. And Leeds United beat Stoke City. And that evening, Derby County had fifty-four points. Derby County were first again in the First Division. And Leeds United had fifty-three points. Leeds United second in the First Division. And Liverpool Football Club had fifty-two points. Liverpool Football Club third in the First Division. But Liverpool Football Club had played one match less than Derby County. And Liverpool Football Club had a game in hand. A game to come. More games to come –

One week afterwards, Liverpool Football Club travelled to Upton Park, London. In the ninth minute, Ian Callaghan passed the ball to Kevin Keegan. Keegan floated the ball to Chris Lawler. Lawler flicked on the ball to John Toshack. And Toshack swept the ball into the net. And into a goal. And in the forty-sixth minute, Steve Heighway robbed Moore. Heighway took six strides. And Heighway shot. Into the net and into another goal. And Liverpool Football Club beat West Ham United two — nil. Away from home, away from Anfield. And that evening, Derby County had fifty-six points. Derby County still first in the First Division. Manchester City had fifty-five points. Manchester City second. And Liverpool Football Club had fifty-four points. Liverpool Football Club still third in the First Division. But Liverpool Football Club still had played one game less than Derby County and Manchester City. Liverpool Football Club still had a game in hand. Still a game to come –

A match to come –

On Saturday 22 April, 1972, Ipswich Town came to Anfield, Liverpool. That afternoon, fifty-four thousand, three hundred and sixteen folk came, too. Fifty-four thousand, three hundred and sixteen folk to watch the last home game of the season. And in the thirty-ninth minute of the last home game of the season, Steve Heighway passed to Kevin Keegan. Keegan crossed for John Toshack. And Toshack headed home the ball. Into the net, into a goal. And in the sixty-sixth minute of the last home game of the season, Emlyn Hughes shot. And Toshack deflected the shot. Into the net and into another goal. And in the last home game of the season, Liverpool Football Club beat Ipswich Town two — nil. At home, at Anfield. Liverpool Football Club had won their eighth straight match. Over one million people had paid at the gates to watch Liverpool Football Club this season. Liverpool Football Club had the highest average gate in the First Division this season. And 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! And 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 the players of Liverpool Football Club ran to the Kop end. And the players of Liverpool Football Club thanked the Spion Kop. And the Spion Kop sang, Li-ver-pool, Li-ver-pool, Li-ver-pool. And Bill Shankly walked across the pitch. The Anfield pitch. And Bill Shankly stood before the Kop. And Bill Shankly thanked the Spion Kop. And the Spion Kop roared, SHANK-LEE —

SHANK-LEE, SHANK-LEE …

That afternoon, Manchester City beat Derby County. Manchester City had fifty-seven points. Manchester City were first in the First Division. But Manchester City had played all forty-two games of their season. Their season finished, their season over. Liverpool Football Club had fifty-six points and Derby County had fifty-six points, too. But Liverpool Football Club were second in the First Division. On goal average. And Liverpool Football Club still had two games in hand over Manchester City. And Liverpool Football Club still had one game in hand over Derby County. Derby County had only one more game, only one more game to play –

On May Day, 1972, Liverpool Football Club travelled to the Baseball Ground, Derby. Early in the first half, Hector shot. And Ray Clemence tipped the shot onto the bar. Early in the second half, Kevin Keegan beat Todd. With a change of direction, with a clever back-heel. Keegan crossed for John Toshack. A perfect cross. A perfect cross that needed only the slightest of touches from Toshack. The slightest of touches to find the net, to find a goal. But Toshack could not find the slightest of touches. And Toshack could not find the net, not find a goal. And in the sixty-second minute, Gemmill passed to Durban. Durban dummied and left the ball for McGovern. For McGovern to shoot. And for McGovern to score. And Liverpool Football Club lost one — nil to Derby County. Away from home, away from Anfield. And now Derby County had fifty-eight points. Now Derby County were first in the First Division. But Derby County had played all forty-two games of their season. Their season finished, their season over. But Liverpool Football Club still had a game to come. And Leeds United still had a game to come. And if Liverpool Football Club won their game to come. And if Leeds United lost their game to come. Then Liverpool Football Club would win the League. On goal average. Liverpool Football Club would be Champions. And Brian Clough walked down the touchline. The touchline at the Baseball Ground. Brian Clough shook the hand of Bill Shankly. And Brian Clough said, Of course, I hope you lose, Mr Shankly. And I hope Leeds lose, too. And I hope we’ll be the Champions. Of course I do. Of course I do. But if we are not to be the Champions. Then I hope it’ll be you, Mr Shankly. And not Leeds. I hope it will be you, Mr Shankly, sir …

On Saturday 6 May, 1972, Leeds United beat Arsenal Football Club one — nil in the one hundredth FA Cup Final. The Centenary Cup Final. Leeds United had won the FA Cup for the first time in the history of Leeds United Association Football Club. Two days later, Leeds United travelled to Molineux, Wolverhampton, and Liverpool Football Club travelled to Highbury, London. But in the mud, the Highbury mud. There were no favours from the players of Arsenal Football Club, the beaten finalists in the FA Cup. And in the first half, Emlyn Hughes shot. And the shot dipped. Dipped behind Barnett. And hit the bar. The Arsenal bar. And in the first half, Hughes shot again. And Barnett dived. And Barnett saved. And in the second half, the supporters of Liverpool Football Club inside Highbury knew Leeds United were losing to Wolverhampton Wanderers. And now the players of Liverpool Football Club knew Leeds United were losing to Wolverhampton Wanderers. But in the mud, the Highbury mud. There were still no favours from the players of Arsenal Football Club. And in the mud, the Highbury mud. Still the beaten finalists of the FA Cup were not tiring. And Radford crossed. And Kennedy rose to meet the cross. To head the cross. Against the post. And the supporters of Liverpool Football Club inside Highbury shouted, Li-ver-pool, Li-ver-pool, Li-ver-pool. And the supporters of Liverpool Football Club inside Highbury roared, LI–VER-POOL! LI–VER-POOL! LI–VER-POOL! From the first minute to the last. And in the last minute of the last game of the season, Hughes shot. And the shot flew across the goalmouth. The Arsenal goalmouth. And Kevin Keegan slipped the shot back to John Toshack. And Toshack sent the ball into the net and into a goal. And the players of Liverpool Football Club leapt into the air. The Highbury air. And the supporters of Liverpool Football Club inside Highbury jumped into the air. The Highbury air. Dancing and cheering. In the Highbury air. But the linesman had raised his flag. And the referee blew his whistle. The goal disallowed. Toshack offside. And in the mud, the Highbury mud. Liverpool Football Club drew nil — nil with Arsenal Football Club. Away from home, away from Anfield. Derby County were the Champions of England –

With their feet up, on their holidays.