David Peace - Red or Dead

I’m very sorry, said Bill Shankly. I am very sorry that this game had to be played today, Matt. Liverpool Football Club supported your request for a postponement. Because I know you would have done the same for us, Matt. So we were very disappointed that the Football League refused your request. We were very sorry that the game had to be played today, Matt …

Sir Matt Busby nodded. And Sir Matt Busby said, I know, Bill. I know. And thank you, Bill. Thank you for your support. And for the support of Liverpool Football Club. Thank you very much, Bill.

And I want you to know we are all hoping you win on Wednesday night, Matt. We are all hoping you thrash the Argentinians on Wednesday night. Hoping and praying, Matt …

Sir Matt Busby nodded. And Sir Matt Busby said, Thank you, Bill. Thank you very much …

Four days later, Estudiantes de La Plata came to Old Trafford, Manchester. Sixty-three thousand, four hundred and twenty-seven folk came, too. Sixty-three thousand, four hundred and twenty-seven folk and Bill Shankly. In the seventh minute, Juan Ramón Verón scored. In the eighty-eighth minute, George Best punched José Hugo Medina in the face. George Best pushed Néstor Togneri to the ground. And the referee sent off George Best and José Hugo Medina. And George Best spat at José Hugo Medina. And police and officials had to escort George Best and José Hugo Medina from the pitch. And some of the Old Trafford crowd threw coins at José Hugo Medina. And in the eighty-ninth minute, Willie Morgan scored for Manchester United. But it didn’t count, it didn’t matter. The game was drawn one-all. And Estudiantes de La Plata had won the 1968 Intercontinental Cup two — one on aggregate. And there was fighting on the pitch. After the final whistle. There were punches thrown on the pitch. After the final whistle. The players of Estudiantes de La Plata tried to run a lap of honour around the Old Trafford pitch. But some of the Old Trafford crowd threw coins and bottles at the players of Estudiantes de La Plata. And the players of Estudiantes de La Plata ran for cover, down the tunnel, onto their plane. And after that whistle, that final whistle. In the stand, the Old Trafford stand. Bill Shankly stared down at the pitch, the Old Trafford pitch. At the coins and at the bottles. The anger and the hate. People against people,

man against man.

On Saturday 19 October, 1968, Liverpool Football Club travelled to White Hart Lane, London. In the thirty-seventh minute, Tommy Lawrence saved from Jenkins. And Lawrence cleared. Roger Hunt chased the clearance. Hunt caught the clearance. Hunt sidestepped Mullery. Hunt wrong-footed Beal. And Hunt shot. And Hunt scored. But just before half-time, Greaves found an extra foot of pace, Greaves found an extra yard of space. And Greaves met a cross from Gilzean. And Greaves scored. In the fifty-fifth minute, Lawrence dived at the feet of Pearce on the edge of the Liverpool penalty area. The linesman raised his flag. The linesman said Lawrence had handled the ball outside the Liverpool penalty area. Lawrence argued with the linesman. Lawrence said only his body had crossed the line. The linesman disagreed. Lawrence argued with the referee. Lawrence said the ball and his hands had not crossed the line. The referee disagreed. The referee awarded a free kick to Tottenham Hotspur on the edge of the Liverpool penalty area. The referee marched the Liverpool wall back ten paces into the Liverpool penalty area. Venables stood over the ball with Greaves and Mullery. Venables feinted to take the free kick. The Liverpool wall moved forward to block the free kick. The referee blew his whistle. The referee marched the Liverpool wall back ten paces. The referee spoke to the Liverpool players. The referee warned the Liverpool players not to move forward until he had blown his whistle. Again, Venables feinted to take the free kick. Again, the Liverpool wall moved forward to block the free kick. Again, the referee blew his whistle. Again, the referee marched the Liverpool wall back ten paces. Again, the referee spoke to the Liverpool players. Again, the referee warned the Liverpool players not to move forward until he had blown his whistle. But as the referee was speaking to the Liverpool players, as the referee was warning the Liverpool players, Greaves took the free kick. Greaves bent the free kick around the Liverpool wall. And Greaves scored. And the referee blew his whistle. And the players of Liverpool Football Club looked at the referee. But the referee pointed to the centre of the pitch, to the centre circle. The referee awarded a goal to Tottenham Hotspur. And the players of Tottenham Hotspur celebrated. And the terraces erupted. In anger and in hate. And the police moved onto the terraces. In anger and in hate. And the police marched away some of the supporters of Liverpool Football Club. In anger and in hate. Just before full time, Collins bowled over Alun Evans in the Tottenham penalty area. And the players of Liverpool Football Club looked to the linesman. But the linesman did not raise his flag. The linesman shook his head. And the players of Liverpool Football Club looked at the referee. But the referee shook his head. The referee did not award a penalty to Liverpool Football Club. And Liverpool Football Club lost two — one at White Hart Lane, London. And again, the terraces erupted. In anger and in hate. And again, the police moved onto the terraces. In anger and in hate. And again, the police marched away some of the supporters of Liverpool Football Club. In anger and in hate –

People against people, man against man.

One week afterwards, Newcastle United came to Anfield, Liverpool. That afternoon, forty-five thousand, three hundred and twenty-three folk came, too. In the twenty-third minute, Alun Evans scored. And in the eighty-fifth minute, Peter Thompson scored. And Liverpool Football Club beat Newcastle United two — one. At home, at Anfield. That evening, Leeds United had twenty-three points, Everton Football Club had twenty-three points and Liverpool Football Club had twenty-three points, too. But that evening, Liverpool Football Club were still first in the First Division –

On goal average.

On Saturday 2 November, 1968, Liverpool Football Club travelled to the Hawthorns, Birmingham. That day, Liverpool Football Club did not score. That day, Liverpool Football Club drew nil — nil with West Bromwich Albion. Away from home, away from Anfield. That day, Everton Football Club beat Sunderland Football Club two — nil. That evening, Leeds United had twenty-four points and Liverpool Football Club had twenty-four points, too. But that evening, Everton Football Club had twenty-five points. That evening, Everton Football Club were first in the First Division.

One week afterwards, Chelsea Football Club came to Anfield, Liverpool. That afternoon, forty-seven thousand, two hundred and forty-eight folk came, too. In the fifth minute, Birchenall scored for Chelsea Football Club. In the twenty-fifth minute, Bonetti failed to hold a shot from Tommy Smith. And Ian Callaghan pounced. And Callaghan scored. Three minutes later, Houseman toppled over Chris Lawler in the Chelsea penalty area. The referee awarded a penalty to Liverpool Football Club. Smith put the ball on the penalty spot. Smith struck the ball. And Smith scored. That day, Liverpool Football Club beat Chelsea Football Club two — one. At home, at Anfield. That day, Leeds United drew at Tottenham Hotspur and Everton Football Club drew at Ipswich Town. That evening, Liverpool Football Club were first in the First Division. Again –

On goal average.

On Saturday 16 November, 1968, Liverpool Football Club beat Sheffield Wednesday two — one. Away from home, away from Anfield. That day, Everton Football Club beat Queens Park Rangers and Leeds United beat Coventry City. One week later, Coventry City came to Anfield, Liverpool. That afternoon, forty-four thousand, eight hundred and twenty folk came, too. In the thirty-sixth minute, Geoff Strong scored. And in the eighty-third minute, Ian Callaghan scored. And Liverpool Football Club beat Coventry City two — nil. That day, Everton Football Club lost two — one at Elland Road, Leeds. That evening, Leeds United had twenty-nine points and Liverpool Football Club had thirty points. That evening, Liverpool Football Club were still first in the First Division. But not by goal average. By points, a point –