David Peace - Red or Dead

Well, yes, said Bill Shankly. Yes. It was very disappointing to go out of the European Cup in the very first round. And I mean, we completely outplayed Forest. At Anfield, at home. In the second leg, the home leg. We completely outplayed them from start to finish. But you see, they had Peter Shilton and Kenny Burns. And Larry Lloyd, of course. And they were very strong. Very resolute. And so again, we were unable to score. And so yes, it was very disappointing, very depressing. But I am certain Forest will win it. I am sure Nottingham Forest will win the European Cup. And in fact, I am so certain. I am so sure. I’ve backed them myself. The day after the match. The goalless draw at Anfield. I put my money on Forest. That’s how certain I am. How sure I am Forest can win the European Cup. And that would be a tremendous thing. Not only for Forest, not only for Brian. But for Britain, too. It would be a tremendous thing. A really tremendous thing for Britain. And of course, our season is not over. Oh no. Not over by a long chalk. I mean, I think we have every chance we can win the League. We can win the title. Because I think it’ll come down to ourselves and Forest. And I feel Forest will be distracted. Distracted by the European Cup, you see? And so I think that gives us every chance. Every chance to win the League again …

And in the front room of Bill Shankly’s home. On the edge of their chairs, with their tea in their hands. These people who had come to his home, these people who were sat in his home. They asked Bill Shankly about Everton Football Club, too. And Bill Shankly smiled. And Bill Shankly laughed –

Well, yes, said Bill Shankly again. Yes. It was very disappointing to lose at Goodison. And so I hope we can put that right on Saturday. Because it’s always the worst thing in the world. If you lose a derby. It’s a horrible feeling, a terrible thing. Because the city is split in half and you get so much banter. So many arguments and so many bets. And so this week before the derby, it always seems such a long time. Such a very, very long time. The longest week of the season. Because there are no games like derby games. No thrills like derby thrills. Because these games, they mean so much to so many. People have so many memories of so many derbies. And thankfully, I have a lot of happy memories. Because if you look at the results. The results since Liverpool Football Club returned to the First Division. Then you’ll understand. Then you’ll see why I have so many happy memories. So many very happy memories. Because we have beaten Everton more times than they have beaten us. That’s a fact. A fact! And I can still see every goal that was scored in every game. In every derby game. And every time they got one. Every time they scored a goal. Well, that was like a knife in my back. But every one we got. Every one we scored. Then I was soaring, soaring with the astronauts. And so I have always wanted to win them all. Even when it was Liverpool reserves versus Everton reserves. I still wanted to win. To win every game, every derby. More than anything. And I remember the worst one. The worst one was when they came to Anfield and they beat us four — nil. At home, at Anfield. On the nineteenth of September, nineteen hundred and sixty-four. Oh yes, that’s a day I’ll never forget. A day I’ll always remember. But I remember, too, the following season. The twenty-fifth of September, nineteen sixty-five. When we beat them five — nil. Because that was our revenge. Our revenge with interest. With bloody interest! But you ask me which was the best? Well, that’s a difficult thing to say. Because I mean, there were so many great ones. So many great derbies, so many great victories. And I mean, I’ll never forget the rubbing we gave them in the Charity Shield. That was after the World Cup, in nineteen sixty-six. And the records might show we won one — nil, only one — nil. But we gave them a pasting, a real pasting. And in fact, it turned out to be the best thing we ever did for Everton Football Club. Because after that match, after that rubbing. Off they went, breaking transfer records, signing Alan Ball. And that transformed them, Alan Ball transformed them. And that got them back on the rails. Alan put them back on the rails. But that was really down to us, thanks to us, and to the pasting we gave them in the Charity Shield. But I think the hardest and the most thrilling was the one in the November of nineteen seventy. When we were two — nil down. And they were in their blue heaven, in their seventh heaven. But we came back. And we beat them three — two. And that was like a bad dream for the Everton fans. A bloody nightmare. A red nightmare for them! Because they were two — nil up, you see. And they thought they were in Easy Street. But there is no Easy Street at Anfield Road. Oh no. No Easy Street at Anfield Road. Because you see, we never give up. And I knew with the players we had. The players we had that day. That was Ray Clemence and Chris Lawler. Young Alec Lindsay. Tommy Smith, of course. And Larry Lloyd. Emlyn and Brian Hall. Phil Boersma, who I brought on for John McLaughlin. Steve Heighway, of course. Big John Toshack and Ian Ross. I knew we had the players who could come back. The players who could hit Everton like a whirlwind. And that is what they did. That is exactly what they did. They hit Everton like a whirlwind. A bloody whirlwind. A red whirlwind! And so we came back. And we beat them three — two. Three — bloody — two after being two — bloody — nil down. And so that was fantastic. A fantastic derby. The hardest but the most thrilling. And the best one for me, the best victory. And it tasted like champagne. Like red champagne. Because defeat is a bitter pill. A very bitter pill. But thankfully, we did not have too many of them. Not in my time.

And in the front room of Bill Shankly’s home. On their feet now. These people who had come to his home, these people who had sat in his home. They thanked Bill Shankly for his time. They thanked Bill Shankly and Nessie Shankly for their hospitality. And Bill Shankly smiled. Bill Shankly shook his head. And Bill Shankly thanked them all for coming. Bill Shankly shook their hands, Bill Shankly patted their backs. Bill Shankly asked them all to take care, Bill Shankly wished them all a safe journey home. And then Bill Shankly said goodbye. At his door, on the doorstep. Bill Shankly waved goodbye to them all. And then Bill Shankly closed the door. The door to their home on Bellefield Avenue. And in their home, in their kitchen. Nessie Shankly washed up the cups and the saucers. And the plates. Bill Shankly dried up the cups and the saucers. And the plates. And then Nessie Shankly went back to what she had been doing. Doing the housework, making their lunch. And Bill Shankly went back to what he had been doing. Doing the gardening, answering letters. Until the next time there was a knock on the door. Another ring on the bell. Or the next time the telephone rang.

Joe Mercer was the president of the Eastham Lodge Golf Club on the Wirral. Joe Mercer asked Bill if he would like to come to speak after one of their dinners at the Eastham Lodge Golf Club. Joe Mercer said the members of the Eastham Lodge Golf Club would like to hear Bill speak. They would be happy to hear Bill speak. Bill didn’t like golf and Bill didn’t like golf clubs. But Bill liked Joe. And so Bill said, Yes then, Joe. I’ll come to speak after one of your dinners. If that’s what your people want, if that’s what will make your people happy.

George Higham was the secretary of the Eastham Lodge Golf Club. George Higham was also a director of Tranmere Rovers Football Club. Bill knew George Higham and Bill liked George. George Higham wrote to Bill on behalf of the Eastham Lodge Golf Club to formally invite Bill to the club and to confirm the date that Bill would come to speak after one of their dinners. Bill checked his diary. Bill wrote the date in his diary. And Bill wrote back to George to accept the invitation to the Eastham Lodge Golf Club and to confirm the date he would come to speak after one of their dinners.