David Peace - Red or Dead

Four days afterwards, Liverpool Football Club travelled to the Dell, Southampton. But Tommy Lawrence did not travel to the Dell, Southampton. And Ian St John did not travel to the Dell, Southampton. In the forty-third minute, Alun Evans scored. And Liverpool Football Club beat Southampton Football Club one — nil. Away from home, away from Anfield. Three days later, Liverpool Football Club travelled to Highbury, London. Again, Tommy Lawrence did not travel to Highbury, London. And again, Ian St John did not travel to Highbury, London. In the eighty-third minute, Ron Yeats scored. But that afternoon, Arsenal Football Club scored once. And Arsenal Football Club scored again. And Liverpool Football Club lost two — one to Arsenal Football Club. Away from home, away from Anfield. That afternoon, Chelsea Football Club beat Watford Football Club five — one in the semi-final of the FA Cup. And Leeds United drew nil — nil with Manchester United in the other semi-final of the FA Cup.

Two days later, Sheffield Wednesday came to Anfield, Liverpool. That evening, thirty-one thousand, nine hundred and thirty-one folk came, too. Just thirty-one thousand, nine hundred and thirty-one folk. And not Tommy Lawrence. And not Ian St John. In the fiftieth minute, Chris Lawler scored. In the sixty-third minute, Ron Yeats scored. And in the eighty-eighth minute, Bobby Graham scored. And Liverpool Football Club beat Sheffield Wednesday three — nil. At home, at Anfield. In front of just thirty-one thousand, nine hundred and thirty-one folk.

On Saturday 21 March, 1970, Everton Football Club came to Anfield, Liverpool. This time, fifty-four thousand, four hundred and ninety-six folk came, too. And Ian St John. That morning, Everton Football Club were first in the First Division. Again. That morning, Liverpool Football Club were fifth in the First Division. Still. And that afternoon, Everton Football Club outclassed Liverpool Football Club. Easy! That afternoon, Everton Football Club outplayed Liverpool Football Club. Easy! Alan Ball ran the Everton midfield, Alan Ball overran the Liverpool midfield. Easy! Joe Royle outmuscled the Liverpool defence, Joe Royle outjumped the Liverpool defence. And Joe Royle scored. Easy! And Alan Whittle scored. Easy! And Everton Football Club beat Liverpool Football Club two — nil. At their home, at Anfield. Easy! Easy! Easy! And that evening, Everton Football Club had fifty-seven points. Everton Football Club were first in the First Division. And that evening, Liverpool Football Club had forty-three points. And Liverpool Football Club were nowhere –

In the wasteland, in the wilderness …

Three days afterwards, Ipswich Town came to Anfield, Liverpool. That evening, twenty-nine thousand, five hundred and forty-eight folk came, too. Just twenty-nine thousand, five hundred and forty-eight folk. And not Tommy Lawrence. And not Ron Yeats. And not Ian St John. In the thirty-second minute, Ian Callaghan scored. And in the forty-third minute, Tommy Smith scored a penalty. And Liverpool Football Club beat Ipswich Town two — nil. At home, at Anfield. In front of twenty-nine thousand, five hundred and forty-eight folk. Just twenty-nine thousand, five hundred and forty-eight folk.

On Saturday 28 March, 1970, Liverpool Football Club travelled to Upton Park, London. Tommy Lawrence did not travel to Upton Park, London. Ron Yeats did not travel to Upton Park, London. And Ian St John did not travel to Upton Park, London. That afternoon, Ray Clemence, Chris Lawler, Roy Evans, Tommy Smith, Larry Lloyd, Emlyn Hughes, Peter Thompson, Doug Livermore, Alun Evans, Ian Callaghan and Bobby Graham travelled to Upton Park, London. That afternoon, Ian Callaghan played in the centre of midfield. That afternoon, Ian Callaghan struggled in the centre of midfield. That afternoon, Alun Evans led the line. That afternoon, Alun Evans struggled to lead the line. And that afternoon, Liverpool Football Club lost one — nil to West Ham United. Away from home, away from Anfield. That afternoon, Everton Football Club beat Chelsea Football Club five — two. And that evening, Everton Football Club were five points clear of Leeds United at the top of the First Division.

Two days later, Liverpool Football Club travelled to Molineux, Wolverhampton. Again, Tommy Lawrence did not travel to Molineux, Wolverhampton. And again, Ian St John did not travel to Molineux, Wolverhampton. But Ron Yeats did travel to Molineux, Wolverhampton. And so did Ray Clemence, Chris Lawler, Tommy Smith, Larry Lloyd, Emlyn Hughes, Ian Callaghan, Doug Livermore, Alun Evans, Bobby Graham and Peter Thompson. And this time, Ian Callaghan played on the right of midfield. And this time, Ian Callaghan did not struggle. And Alun Evans still led the line. And Alun Evans still struggled to lead the line. But in the forty-third minute, Lawler scored. And Liverpool Football Club beat Wolverhampton Wanderers one — nil. Away from home, away from Anfield. That afternoon, Leeds United lost four — one to Derby County and Everton Football Club beat Stoke City one — nil. And that evening, Everton Football Club needed just one more win, just two more points, to be the Champions of England –

On Wednesday 1 April, 1970, West Bromwich Albion came to Goodison Park, Liverpool. That evening, fifty-eight thousand, five hundred and twenty-three folk came, too. In the nineteenth minute, Harvey shot. And the shot was blocked. But Whittle controlled the rebound. Whittle shot. And Whittle scored. In the sixty-fifth minute, Harvey pounced on a loose ball in midfield. First Harvey went one way, dragging the defenders this way. Then Harvey went the other way, dragging the defenders that way. The defenders left, the defenders standing. Harvey shot. And Harvey scored. And Everton Football Club were the Champions of England. For the seventh time, the Champions of England. And the supporters of Everton Football Club cheered. And the supporters of Everton Football Club sang, Ever-ton, Ever-ton, Ever-ton. And the supporters of Everton Football Club ran onto the pitch. The Goodison pitch. And the supporters of Everton Football Club sang We Shall Not Be Moved . And the supporters of Everton Football Club watched Alan Ball and the players of Everton Football Club parade the Football League trophy around the pitch. The Goodison pitch. And the supporters of Everton Football Club sang, We are the Champions, Champions, Champions! We are the Champions, Champions, Champions! We are the Champions,

Champions, CHAMPIONS!

And after the celebrations, after the champagne. Alan Ball said, The average age of this Everton side is twenty-four. Just twenty-four years old! So I can see five great seasons ahead. At least five great seasons ahead of us. This team is certain to go better. We have lots of skill and every player works hard for each other. So with that behind us, how can we fail? Who can catch us –

Who can stop us?

In the house, in their front room. In his armchair, on the edge of his armchair. Bill stared at the television. Thirteen million, one hundred and forty-five thousand, one hundred and twenty-three folk had voted for the Conservative Party. Twelve million, two hundred and eight thousand, seven hundred and fifty-eight folk had voted for the Labour Party. The Conservative Party had won three hundred and thirty seats in the House of Commons. The Labour Party had won two hundred and eighty-eight seats in the House of Commons. And the Conservative Party had won the 1970 General Election. Edward Heath, the Member of Parliament for Bexley in Kent, who had been born in Broadstairs and who supported Burnley Football Club, would be the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Harold Wilson, the Member of Parliament for Huyton in Liverpool, who had been born in Huddersfield and who supported Huddersfield Town Football Club, would no longer be the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. In his armchair, on the edge of his armchair. Bill tried to stand. Bill tried to get back on his feet. Bill knew you had to stand. You had to get back on your feet. Bill knew if you did not stand. If you did not get back on your feet. Then you were finished. You were dead. And the people who supported you. The people who believed in you. They were finished, too. They were dead, too. And so Bill knew you had to stand. You had to get back on your feet. For the people, for the people. You always had to stand. You always had to get back on your feet. And Bill stood. Bill got back on his feet. And Bill walked over to the television. Bill switched off the television. And Bill walked over to the window. Bill drew back the curtains. In the front window, in the morning light. Bill stared out through the glass, out at the street. The boys in the street, the boys with their ball. Their ball at their feet, their ball in the air. Bill saw the ball in the air, Bill saw the clouds in the sky. The promise of rain, the threat of storms. The drops of rain in the air, the spits of rain on the window, And Bill turned away from the window. Bill walked out of the front room. Bill walked down the hall. Bill went out of the front door. Bill went into the street. And Bill said, Come on, boys. Come on then, lads. Let’s have a quick game. One last game,