David Peace - Red or Dead

It’s a shame you’re not an Englishman, said Peter Robinson.

Oh no. Never say that, Peter. Never say that. I’ve never thought that, Peter. And I never will. But you’re right, Peter. You’re right. I could teach them a thing or two. I certainly could.

I know you could, said Peter Robinson. I know you could, Bill. Well, I best be off. I best get to my bed, Bill …

Aye. Well, you sleep well, Peter. You sleep well. And I’ll see you in the week, Peter. I’ll see you on Tuesday. And thanks for calling, Peter. Thanks. And goodnight, Peter. Goodnight.

In the house, in their hallway. In the night and in the silence. Bill put down the telephone. Bill went back into the front room. Bill sat back down in his chair. And then Bill got back up from his chair. Bill walked over to the television. Bill switched on the television. Bill pressed the buttons on the television. Bill changed the channels on the television. And then Bill switched off the television again. Bill walked back over to his chair. Bill sat back down in his chair. In the night and in the silence. Bill picked up the paper. The evening paper. Bill turned the pages. Bill turned the pages. Bill turned the pages. And then Bill put down the paper. In the night and in the silence. Bill got back up from his chair. Bill walked out of the front room. Bill walked into the hallway. Bill picked up the telephone. Bill dialled a number. In the house, in their hallway. Bill listened to the telephone ring. And ring. And ring. And then Bill heard Jock Dodds say, Hello, Bill …

Liverpool Football Club had not got their hat-trick. Liverpool Football Club had not retained the League Championship for a third season in a row. Liverpool Football Club had finished second in the First Division. Nottingham Forest had finished first in the First Division. Nottingham Forest were the Champions of England. Brian Clough was the Manager of the Year. Nottingham Forest had also won the League Cup. Nottingham Forest had beaten Liverpool Football Club in the final of the League Cup. Liverpool Football Club had not even reached the final of the FA Cup. Liverpool Football Club had been knocked out of the FA Cup by Chelsea in the Third Round. Ipswich Town had won the FA Cup. In the 1977–78 season, Liverpool Football Club had won nothing –

Yet.

Away from home, away from Anfield. In the first leg of the semi-final of the European Cup, Liverpool Football Club had lost two — one to Borussia Mönchengladbach. But back at home, back at Anfield. In the second leg of the semi-final of the European Cup, Liverpool Football Club had beaten Borussia Mönchengladbach three — nil. Now Liverpool Football Club were in the final of the European Cup. Liverpool Football Club had the chance to retain the European Cup. Real Madrid had retained the European Cup. Benfica had retained the European Cup. Internazionale had retained the European Cup. Ajax had retained the European Cup. And Bayern Munich had retained the European Cup. But no British football club had ever retained the European Cup. Now Liverpool Football Club had the chance to retain the European Cup. Now Liverpool Football Club had the chance to do something no other British football club had ever done before. If Liverpool Football Club could beat Football Club Bruges. At Wembley Stadium on Wednesday 10 May, 1978 –

Bill Shankly had been sent a ticket for the final. But Bill Shankly didn’t really want to go to London. Bill Shankly didn’t really want to stay in London. Bill Shankly didn’t really like to spend a night away from home. Not these days, not any more. But Bill Shankly didn’t want anyone to think he was a petty man. Bill Shankly didn’t want anyone to think he’d turned his back on Liverpool Football Club. Bill Shankly didn’t want anyone to think he didn’t care about Liverpool Football Club. Not anyone, not ever. And so Bill Shankly bought a train ticket to London. A day return –

And Bill Shankly sat on the first train to London. The first train to London full of the supporters of Liverpool Football Club. And some of the supporters of Liverpool Football Club spotted Bill Shankly. Bill Shankly in his seat on the train to London. And the supporters of Liverpool Football Club could not believe their eyes. They could not believe their luck. The supporters of Liverpool Football Club crowded around Bill Shankly. In his seat, on the train. And they said, Is that really you, Bill? Is it really you?

Aye, said Bill Shankly. It’s me, lads. It’s me. But sit yourselves down, lads. Sit yourselves down with me here. You don’t want to be blocking the aisles now, lads. You don’t want to be getting yourselves in trouble with the guard. And getting yourselves kicked off …

The supporters of Liverpool Football Club nodded. And some of the supporters of Liverpool Football Club took it in turns to sit with Bill Shankly at his table on the train to London. And they asked Bill Shankly for his autograph. And Bill Shankly smiled. And Bill Shankly signed his autograph for them. And the supporters of Liverpool Football Club asked Bill Shankly questions –

That same question –

Well, I hope we win, boys. Of course, I hope we win. But to be honest with you, boys. To be very honest with you. I do have my worries, boys. I mean, we’ve not had much luck at Wembley of late. It’s not been a good ground for us, boys. Not since we won the Cup in seventy-four. That was the last time we won at Wembley, boys. And I mean, with no Tommy Smith. You know we’ve never won a cup without Tommy Smith, boys? And with Tommy being injured. With Tommy being out, boys. It’ll be hard. It’ll be tough, boys. Because Tommy is tremendous. A tremendous player, boys. And Tommy always makes a difference. Makes a very big difference, boys. And he’s always been like that. Always been like that, boys. I tell you, from the start. From the very start, boys. Always ambitious. And with that arrogance, boys. That ambition and that arrogance. That arrogance you need, boys. If you’re going to make something of yourself. If you’re going to succeed in life, boys. I remember, Tommy was only sixteen. Only sixteen, boys. The same age as some of you, no doubt. The same age as some of you boys. And I remember one game when he played for the reserves. Against City, boys. Manchester City. And Tommy was playing for us at right-half, boys. And Johnny Morrissey was at outside-left for us. And Johnny was a cunning player, boys. Very cunning, very crafty. And so I knew Johnny would be lying deep for us, boys. And so I said to Tommy. I said, When they are all down at your end, Tommy. They’ll all be encroaching on this side. And they’ll be leaving Johnny clear. You understand, boys? I knew what they would do. I knew they would leave Johnny Morrissey clear. And so I said to Tommy. I said, You make sure you hit the balls across for Johnny. And then Johnny will do the rest. And Tommy went out. And Tommy slashed the ball across the face of the pitch. Time and time again. Tommy was such a good kicker of the ball. Even then, boys. Even when he was only sixteen year old. Time and time again, Tommy slashed that ball across the face of the pitch. And Johnny cut City to pieces. He annihilated them, boys. And we won six — nil. Six — bloody — nil. And that was when Tommy was just sixteen year old. Unbelievable. Bloody unbelievable.

And the supporters of Liverpool Football Club sat on the edges of their seats. The supporters of Liverpool Football Club hanging on Bill Shankly’s every word. And Bill Shankly smiled –

But come on then, boys. Come on. Who are your favourite players then, boys? Come on, who do you all like the best then?

And one of the supporters of Liverpool Football Club said, Emlyn Hughes, Bill. I just love Crazy Horse …

Oh yes, said Bill Shankly. Yes! What a player he is, what a great player he is. I remember, I saw Emlyn play his first game for Blackpool. His very first game for Blackpool. It was at Blackburn. It was at Ewood Park, I think. And I remember, Matt Busby was there and all. And I think Matt might have been there to see Mike England. To watch Mike England. But I remember within the first minute. The very first minute. I was watching Emlyn. Only watching Emlyn. And I mean, they were playing Emlyn at left-back. They’d played him all over. But by Christ, he didn’t half play. He did everything. Bloody everything. And I remember, straight after the game, straight after the match. I went straight up to their chairman and their directors. And they were all puffing away on their fat cigars. Their big fat cigars. And I said, I’ll give you twenty-five thousand now for Emlyn Hughes. You can have it now. No bother, no danger. But they were not in a generous mood. Not that night. They were getting offers for Alan Ball. Lots of offers, lots of big offers. And so they knew they’d be getting big money for Alan. And so they were in no hurry. They were not in a generous mood. Not that night. But I knew Emlyn Hughes was something special. And so I had my eye on him. And I kept my eye on him. And I followed him. And I watched him. And in the end I got him when he was still only nineteen. And I paid sixty-five thousand pound for him. But that was stealing. Sixty-five grand. For a player like that. It was still bloody stealing. One of the major signings of all time!