David Peace - Red or Dead

But what if it’s raining next week, said one of the boys. What will we do? Will you still come, Bill? Will you still be here?

Bill laughed. And Bill said, Don’t you worry, son. I’ll be here. Even if it snows, son. I’ll be here. Do you think Roger Hunt stayed in his bed when it rained? Or Ian St John or Kevin Keegan? Oh no, son. Oh no. I’ll be here. And I’ll be waiting for you …

And in his tracksuit. His red tracksuit bottoms, his red tracksuit top. Bill jogged away from the young lads. Across the rec. And Bill saw Mick Lyons. Mick Lyons stood beside the rec. Mick watching, Mick smiling. And Bill said, Hello, Mick. How are you, son?

I’m fine, said Mick Lyons. But how are you, Bill? How are you keeping? You’re looking well, Bill. You’re looking fit.

Bill laughed. And Bill said, Well, I am. I am, Mick. I’ve just had a great game. And we won. Nineteen — seventeen. A great game, it was. You should have joined in, Mick. You should have played.

Well, I’m taking the young Everton lads, said Mick Lyons. The under-twelves and the under-fourteens. I take them every Sunday afternoon. And we often come on here for a game.

That’s great, Mick. That’s fantastic. I’m very pleased to hear you’re doing that, Mick. Very pleased.

Well, you should join us, said Mick Lyons. You should play.

Bill smiled. And then Bill rubbed his shoulder. And Bill said, Well, I will, Mick. I will. Thank you, Mick. Thank you very much. I’d like that. I’d like that a lot, Mick. And I’d play today. I would, Mick. But I promised Ness I’d be back. Because my shoulder’s not too clever. I slipped and fell. Like a fool. And so I need to take it a wee bit easy until it’s right. But I’ll play next week, Mick. I promise. So thank you, Mick. Thank you. Because I’d like that. I’d like that very much.

Well, I’m very sorry to hear about your shoulder, said Mick Lyons. And I hope they’re looking after you at Anfield, Bill?

Bill shook his head. And Bill said, Well, to be honest, Mick. To be very honest with you. I don’t like to bother them, Mick. It’s not my way. I mean, I don’t want to be under their feet, Mick …

But you need to have that shoulder looked at, said Mick Lyons. You must, Bill. You must. So why don’t you pop into Bellefield tomorrow, Bill? I know Jim McGregor would love to see you. He’d be happy to have a look at that shoulder for you, Bill …

Bill shook his head again. And Bill said, Oh, I don’t know about that, Mick. I don’t want to be a bother. Or a nuisance, Mick …

Don’t be daft, said Mick Lyons. You could never be a bother, Bill. Never a nuisance. We’d all be glad to see you, Bill. Any time you want. You’re always welcome, Bill. Always very welcome.

Jim McGregor, the physiotherapist at Everton Football Club, was waiting for Bill Shankly at the Bellefield training ground. The Everton training ground. Jim McGregor shook Bill Shankly’s hand. And Jim McGregor said, Very good to see you, Bill. Great to see you. But Mick tells me your shoulder is giving you some gyp? I’m very sorry to hear that, Bill. I really am. But you’re going to let me have a look at it for you then, aren’t you? And let me get you fit and working again …

Thank you, Jim. Thank you, said Bill Shankly. But only if you’ve the time, Jim. If I’m not in the way. If it’s no bother …

Jim McGregor laughed. Jim McGregor shook his head. And Jim McGregor said, Of course it’s no bother, Bill …

And Jim McGregor led Bill Shankly down the corridors of Bellefield to the treatment room. Jim McGregor had a look at Bill Shankly’s shoulder for him. Jim McGregor gave Bill Shankly a massage. And then Jim McGregor said, How about you and me have a quick jog round Little Wembley now, Bill? But only if you’re feeling up to it. And only if you’ve got the time, Bill …

Oh, I’ve got the time, said Bill Shankly. That’s the one thing I’ve got now, Jim. But I’d like that. I’d like that very much …

Jim McGregor laughed again. And Jim McGregor said, I thought you would, Bill. I knew you’d not say no …

And Jim McGregor led Bill Shankly out of the treatment room. Back down the corridors of Bellefield. Out onto the training pitches. And Jim McGregor and Bill Shankly jogged together around one of the training pitches at Bellefield. The one the players of Everton Football Club called Little Wembley. And when they had jogged around Little Wembley three times, Jim McGregor turned to Bill Shankly. And Jim McGregor said, So how do you feel now, Bill?

I feel great, said Bill Shankly. Really well. Thank you, Jim. In fact, I wouldn’t mind dropping dead right now. On the spot.

Jim McGregor laughed. And Jim McGregor said, You what, Bill? You wouldn’t mind dropping dead? You what?

Well, just imagine, said Bill Shankly. I’d be in my coffin. And folk would walk past. And they’d say, Look at Bill. Doesn’t he look well today? In fact, he’s the fittest dead man I’ve ever seen. There lies a fit, dead man. That’s what they’d say, Jim.

Jim McGregor laughed again. And Jim McGregor said, Well, don’t be dropping dead just yet, Bill. Not before Saturday …

Why, asked Bill Shankly. What’s happening on Saturday, Jim?

Well, I told the Boss you might be coming in. And if you’re not doing anything, Bill. If you’ve got no plans. The Boss has left a ticket for the match on Saturday for you, Bill. Because the club would love you to come to Goodison. And to sit in the directors’ box, Bill. You’d be very welcome. Very welcome indeed, Bill …

At Goodison? I’m not sure about that, Jim. They’ll be throwing eggs at me. Fruit, the lot, Jim. I’ll be lynched!

Jim McGregor laughed. And Jim McGregor said, Don’t be daft, Bill. You’ll be very welcome. More than welcome, Bill. You mark my words. You’ll see, Bill …

…

That Saturday, the first Saturday of the season. Billy Bingham, the manager of Everton Football Club, was waiting for Bill Shankly at Goodison Park, Liverpool. The Everton Football Club ground. Billy Bingham shook Bill Shankly’s hand. And Billy Bingham said, It’s great to see you, Bill. Very good of you to come …

No, said Bill Shankly. No. It’s good of you to invite me, Billy. Very good of you. Thank you, Billy. Thank you. I just hope I’m not disturbing you, Billy. Not intruding …

Billy Bingham shook his head. And Billy Bingham said, No, Bill. No. Not at all, Bill. We are all delighted you are here. It’s a great honour for us, Bill. And a great pleasure. I only hope you’ll see us win, Bill. That you’ll be a lucky sign …

Well, it’s a tough one for you, Billy, said Bill Shankly. Derby County always are. And for your first match of the season, Billy. Very tough indeed. But then again, a big match at the start, it can help a lot, Billy. To get the players in the right frame of mind. Out of their deckchairs and off their sofas. To get them up on their toes, Billy …

Billy Bingham nodded. And Billy Bingham said, You’re right, Bill. You’re right. And we’ll certainly need to be on our toes today, Bill. And no mistake. Up and running from the off …

And Billy Bingham led Bill Shankly up the stairs to the directors’ box. And Billy Bingham said, Now you make yourself at home, Bill. And you enjoy the game. And I’ll see you after, Bill …

Thank you, Billy, said Bill Shankly. Thank you. And good luck to you, Billy. The very best of luck to you all …

And Bill Shankly shook hands again with Billy Bingham. Bill Shankly walked into the directors’ box at Goodison Park, Liverpool. And Bill Shankly shook hands with the directors of Everton Football Club. And with their other guests. In the directors’ box at Goodison Park, Liverpool. Bill Shankly took his seat. And Bill Shankly looked down onto the pitch at Goodison Park. And then up and around the stands of Goodison Park. At the folk in the stands at Goodison Park. And the folk in the stands at Goodison Park saw Bill Shankly. And the folk in the stands at Goodison Park began to applaud Bill Shankly. To salute Bill Shankly. And to sing his name –