David Peace - Red or Dead

And through the afternoon of the final. In his seat in the stands of the stadium. The stadium now a sea of red and white chequered flags, the stadium now a storm of red and white songs. Bill Shankly smiled. And smiled. Bill Shankly knew no one should ever underestimate the supporters of Liverpool Football Club. On the evening of the final. In his seat in the stands. On the edge of his seat in the stands. Bill Shankly stared down at the players. The players of Liverpool Football Club. Ray Clemence. Peter McDonnell. Alec Lindsay. Tommy Smith. Emlyn Hughes. Ray Kennedy. Ian Callaghan. Alan Waddle. Kevin Keegan and Steve Heighway. The old and the new. Phil Neal. Joey Jones. Jimmy Case. Terry McDermott. David Fairclough and David Johnson. The players of Liverpool Football Club coming out of the tunnel. The players of Liverpool Football Club walking out into the stadium. To a deafening roar, to a glorious reception. On the night of the final. On the edge of his seat in the stands. Bill Shankly smiled again. Bill Shankly knew there was no way Liverpool Football Club could lose. No way on earth –

Ee-aye-addio, we’ve won the Cup! We’ve won the Cup, we’ve won the Cup. Ee-aye-addio, we’ve won the Cup!

Bill Shankly got up from his seat. His seat in the stands. Bill Shankly began to make his way out of the stadium. But a British journalist recognised Bill Shankly. And the journalist asked Bill Shankly about the game. About the team. Down there is the side you helped to build. What about that, Bill –

What a night for you?

This is the greatest night in the history of Liverpool Football Club, said Bill Shankly. Liverpool Football Club have been working towards this night for years. This night is the result of planning, of simplicity, and of how to play the game in a simple manner. And I think the whole world now realises that that’s the way to play. The players were simply tremendous. And so were the crowd. They were unbelievable. This is what football is all about …

And the journalist thanked Bill Shankly. And Bill Shankly walked on. Among the supporters of Liverpool Football Club. In their thousands. Waving their banners, waving their flags. Their red and white chequered flags. In their thousands. Chanting and singing one song: Ee-aye-addio, we’ve won the Cup. Heading to the buses, heading back to town. Among the thousands. Bill Shankly headed back towards his bus. The bus back to the hotel. Among the thousands. Looking at all the flags waving. The red and white chequered flags. Listening to the one song being sung. Ee-aye-addio, we’ve won the Cup. Among the thousands. One supporter spotted Bill Shankly. And the supporter said, Is that really you, Bill? Is it really you, Bill?

Aye, said Bill Shankly. But keep it down, son. Keep it down. I don’t want to start a riot with all the fans around …

But what are you doing out here, Bill? Why aren’t you back in the stadium with the team, Bill? Your team …

Oh well now, said Bill Shankly. It’s not my team now. It’s Bob’s team now, son. It’s Bob’s night tonight. Not mine, son.

The supporter shook his head. And the supporter said, No offence, Bill. But that’s bloody rubbish, Bill. Everybody knows it’s your team, Bill. It’s your team, Bill. Everybody knows that, Bill. The team you built, Bill. The team you made, Bill. Everybody knows that, Bill. You should be celebrating with the players, Bill. With your players, Bill. With your team, Bill.

Well, thanks for saying that, said Bill Shankly. That’s a nice thing to say, son. Thank you …

No, Bill. No. Don’t thank me, Bill. Please don’t thank me, Bill. Because I’m not just saying it, Bill. I’m not just saying it, Bill. It’s true, Bill. It’s true, Bill. It’s us who should be thanking you, Bill. Us who should be thanking you, Bill. We wouldn’t be here without you, Bill. This wouldn’t have happened without you, Bill. Everybody knows that, Bill. It couldn’t have happened without you, Bill. It could never have happened without you, Bill. Never, Bill. Never.

No, no, said Bill Shankly. It couldn’t have happened without all of you , son. Without all of you supporters.

Well, come and join us then, Bill. Come and have a drink with us in town tonight, Bill …

Thank you, said Bill Shankly. Thank you, son. But I’m a wee bit tired now. I’ve been at the stadium all day, son. I’m going back to the hotel now …

But you haven’t even got a scarf on you, Bill. Not even a Liverpool scarf on, Bill. Will you not take mine, Bill? I would be proud if you would wear mine tonight, Bill –

And the supporter untied the scarf from around his neck. And the supporter tied the scarf around Bill Shankly’s neck.

And Bill Shankly looked down at the scarf around his neck. The Liverpool scarf. Bill Shankly touched the wool of the scarf. The red and white wool of the Liverpool scarf. And then Bill Shankly looked up at the supporter of Liverpool Football Club –

Thank you, said Bill Shankly. Thank you, son. And I will treasure this scarf. I will always treasure it. Because I know what this scarf must mean to you, son. On this great night for our great club …

The supporter of Liverpool Football Club nodded. And the supporter of Liverpool Football Club watched Bill Shankly walk on. Among the thousands of other supporters of Liverpool Football Club. Bill Shankly walked on towards the bus. The bus back to the hotel. Among the thousands. Other supporters now spotted Bill Shankly. In the coach park. And some of the supporters of Liverpool Football Club got down on their hands and on their knees. In the coach park. Thousands of supporters were now down on their hands and on their knees. In the coach park. On their hands and on their knees. Their heads bowed. The supporters quietly sang, Shankly, Shankly, Shankly. In the coach park. Bill Shankly walked among them. The thousands of supporters. On their hands and on their knees. Bill Shankly touched their bowed heads. Bill Shankly shook their outstretched hands. And then Bill Shankly climbed aboard the bus. The bus back to the hotel.

After the match, after the victory. There were the celebrations. And the party. In the dining room at the Holiday Inn. Bill Shankly looked around the room. In the centre of the room, tables had been arranged in a huge oblong. The tables covered with long white cloths. The tables piled high with food. But inside these tables. In the centre of these tables. There was another table. And on this table stood the European Cup. Bill Shankly walked over to the tables. Bill Shankly stood before the European Cup. Bill Shankly looked across the tables. The European Cup on the other side of the tables. Bill Shankly looked across the food. And Bill Shankly stared at the European Cup. Out of reach. Bill Shankly stared into the European Cup. Into the silver, the silver surface of the European Cup. And Bill Shankly saw his face reflected in the European Cup. Contorted and distorted. And Bill Shankly smiled. Some of the supporters of Liverpool Football Club had managed to get into the dining room of the Holiday Inn. The supporters were on their hands and on their knees. Under the cloths, under the tables. The supporters crawled into the centre of the tables. The supporters got to their feet. And the supporters touched the European Cup. The supporters had their photographs taken with the European Cup. And one of the supporters came back up from under the tables, from under the cloths. On his hands and on his knees. The supporter saw Bill Shankly. Bill Shankly standing at the table. Bill Shankly staring at the European Cup. And the supporter said, This is all down to you, Mr Shankly. All down to you, Mr Shankly …

Thank you, said Bill Shankly. Thank you, son.