David Peace - Red or Dead

On Saturday 30 December, 1972, Crystal Palace came to Anfield, Liverpool. That afternoon, that last Saturday afternoon of 1972, fifty thousand, eight hundred and sixty-two folk came, too. In the sixty-sixth minute, Peter Cormack scored. And Liverpool Football Club beat Crystal Palace one — nil. At home, at Anfield. And that Saturday evening, that last Saturday evening of 1972, Leeds United were still third in the First Division. Arsenal Football Club still second in the First Division. And Liverpool Football Club were still first in the First Division. Still first,

by two points.

…

After their training. At Melwood. After their baths. At Anfield. Bill Shankly and the players and the staff of Liverpool Football Club went upstairs for their lunch. Bill Shankly and the players and the staff ate their steak and chips. Bill Shankly and the players and the staff ate their tinned fruit and cream. And then Bill Shankly and the players and the staff went back out into the car park. Bill Shankly and the players and the staff got back on the bus. Bill Shankly and the players and the staff went to Lime Street Station on the bus. Bill Shankly and the players and the staff got off their bus at Lime Street Station. And Bill Shankly and the players and the staff got onto the front coach of the Liverpool Pullman at Lime Street Station. Bill Shankly and the players and the staff sat on the train to London. Bill Shankly with his book. His book of names, his book of notes. The players with their cards. Their packs of cards, their schools of cards. All the way to London, all the way to Euston Station. And then Bill Shankly and the players and the staff stood up. Bill Shankly and the players and the staff put on their coats. Bill Shankly and the players and the staff picked up their bags. Bill Shankly and the players and the staff got off the Liverpool Pullman at Euston Station. Bill Shankly and the players and the staff stepped onto Platform Three at Euston Station. And now Bill Shankly saw the lights. The bright lights. Bill Shankly saw the cameras. The television cameras. Bill Shankly saw the microphone. The television microphone. And Bill Shankly saw the book. The red book –

Bill Shankly, said Eamonn Andrews –

This is your life …

On the bench, the bench at Upton Park. In the seventy-fifth minute, Bill watched Emlyn Hughes pass to Steve Heighway. Heighway took the pass on his chest, Heighway killed the pass with his chest. Heighway wrong-footed McDowell and Heighway crossed for Kevin Keegan. Keegan jumped, Keegan leapt. On spring heels. Keegan headed the ball. Into the net and into the goal. The winning goal.

In the dressing room, the away dressing room at Upton Park. Bill pulled the brim of his trilby down low. Bill stepped into the corridor at Upton Park. And Bill grinned at the gentlemen of the London sporting press. And Bill said, What you gentlemen saw today, what you were lucky enough to watch, what you were privileged enough to witness, was total commitment. Total dedication. Total enthusiasm. Total self-belief. And total skill. And so that is what I call ‘Total Football’, gentlemen. Total Liverpool football.

…

On the bench, the bench at Turf Moor. Bill watched Liverpool Football Club play Burnley Football Club in the Third Round of the FA Cup. Burnley Football Club were top of the Second Division, Liverpool Football Club top of the First Division. And on the bench, the bench at Turf Moor, Bill watched John Toshack have chance after chance. But Toshack missed chance after chance. And Liverpool Football Club did not score. And Burnley Football Club did not score. And Liverpool Football Club drew nil — nil with Burnley Football Club in the Third Round of the FA Cup. Away from home, away from Anfield. Another draw, another bloody draw. There would have to be another replay, another bloody replay. Another game, another bloody game.

…

In the office, at his desk. With his glue and with his scissors. Bill put down the newspaper. And Bill put on his thinking cap –

In the week before Christmas, the chairman and the directors of Manchester United had sacked Frank O’Farrell. And the chairman and the directors of Manchester United had appointed Tommy Docherty as their new manager. Bill knew Tommy, Bill liked Tommy. Bill hoped Tommy would do well. And Bill had wished Tommy good luck. Before he was appointed as the manager of Manchester United, Tommy had been the manager of the Scottish national team. Tommy had been bringing new players into the Scottish national team, young players. Players like Kenny Dalglish, players like Lou Macari. Bill knew Tommy would have to bring new players to Manchester United, young players. Players like Lou Macari. Lou Macari played for the Celtic Football Club. But Bill knew Lou Macari was not happy playing for the Celtic Football Club. Not happy playing for Jock Stein. Lou Macari wanted more money to play for the Celtic Football Club. And Jock Stein would not pay him more money to play for the Celtic Football Club. Lou Macari had had enough of the Celtic Football Club. And Lou Macari had had enough of Jock Stein. And Jock Stein had had enough of Lou Macari. Jock had called Bill. And Jock had told Bill that Lou Macari was unhappy. That Lou Macari wanted away. Away from Celtic, away from Scotland. Bill had seen Lou Macari play for the Celtic Football Club and for the Scottish national team. And Bill had liked what he had seen. Bill liked Lou Macari. Jock told Bill he would sell Lou Macari to Liverpool Football Club if Bill wanted Lou Macari. Bill did want Lou Macari. Bill thought Lou Macari was just the player they needed. Just the player they needed to stay first in the First Division. Just the player they needed to guarantee they finished the season first in the First Division. Champions of England –

And so how much do Celtic want for Macari, asked the chairman of Liverpool Football Club. How much are they asking?

Two hundred thousand pounds. And before you say another word. I know two hundred thousand pounds is a lot of money. But this player is still only twenty-three years old. Just twenty-three years old. And this player has already scored fifty-seven goals in just one hundred games. And he has scored many of those goals as a substitute. And many of those goals have been vital goals. Winning goals. I believe this player has that knack. That magic knack of getting vital goals. Vital goals that win vital matches. Goals that win cups, goals that win trophies. Goals that win championships …

Very well, said the chairman of Liverpool Football Club. If you believe this is the player we need. The player we need to secure the League. And if the Celtic Football Club are willing to sell Lou Macari for two hundred thousand pounds. Then we will give you the money to buy him, Mr Shankly.

Back in the office, back at his desk. Bill phoned Jock Stein. And then Bill phoned Lou Macari. Bill invited Lou Macari down to Liverpool, down to Anfield, to watch Liverpool Football Club play Burnley Football Club in the replay of the Third Round of the FA Cup. And Lou Macari came down to Liverpool, down to Anfield. Lou Macari was the guest of honour of Liverpool Football Club. Lou Macari sat in the stands with the chairman and the directors of Liverpool Football Club. That night, fifty-six thousand, one hundred and twenty-four folk were in the stands at Anfield, Liverpool, too. And Lou Macari watched John Toshack score twice. And Peter Cormack score once. And Lou Macari watched Liverpool Football Club beat Burnley Football Club three — nil in the replay of the Third Round of the FA Cup. And after the game, after the match, Bill invited Lou Macari down to his office. And Bill put a contract down on his desk in front of Lou Macari. And Bill put a pen on top of the contract in front of Lou Macari. And Bill said, After what you have seen tonight, son. After what you have heard tonight. The team you have seen and the supporters you have heard. I’m certain I do not need to convince you to sign for Liverpool Football Club, son. I am sure you need no more persuading. I am certain you are already convinced. I am sure you are already persuaded. This team is as good as the one you are leaving, these supporters as great as the ones you are leaving. And I’ve always said this city is very similar to Glasgow, son. So I think you’ll find Liverpudlians very similar to Glaswegians. In their humour and in their warmth. And so you’ll feel at home, son. Very much at home.