David Peace - Red or Dead

Well played, Bertram. Very well played indeed. I thought we might have got a draw out of you, Bertram. But oh no. Not today …

Thank you, William, said Bertie Mee. Thank you very much. But you gave us a game and a half, William. You have some promise and you have some talent. In those young lads you have coming through, William. Some real promise and some real talent …

Thank you, Bertram. Thank you very much. And you are not wrong, Bertram. You are not wrong. And they are improving all the time. Because they are learning all the time. Every game they play. They are getting better. Better and better. And so mark my words. You mark my words, Bertram. You have not seen the best of these boys yet. And you’ve not heard the last of them. Not yet. Not by a long chalk, Bertram. Not by a very long chalk …

One week afterwards, Leeds United came to Anfield, Liverpool. That day, fifty-one thousand, three hundred and fifty-seven folk came, too. Leeds United were first in the First Division. And Liverpool Football Club were seventh in the First Division. And Liverpool Football Club struggled against Leeds United. Clemence struggled, Lawler struggled, Lindsay struggled, Smith struggled, Lloyd struggled, Hughes struggled, Hall struggled, McLaughlin struggled, Heighway struggled, Toshack struggled and Thompson struggled. And in the fiftieth minute, Cooper belted down the wing. Cooper crossed. Madeley met the cross. And Madeley scored. But the supporters of Liverpool Football Club did not surrender. They kept cheering and they kept singing. And so the players of Liverpool Football Club did not surrender. They kept struggling and they kept trying. Harder. Clemence struggled and Clemence tried. Harder. Lawler struggled and Lawler tried. Harder. Lindsay struggled and Lindsay tried. Harder. Smith struggled and Smith tried. Harder. Lloyd struggled and Lloyd tried. Harder. Hughes struggled and Hughes tried. Harder. Hall struggled and Hall tried. Harder. McLaughlin struggled and McLaughlin tried. Harder. Heighway struggled and Heighway tried. Harder. Toshack struggled and Toshack tried. Harder. And Thompson struggled and Thompson tried. Harder and harder. And Liverpool Football Club won a free kick. Tommy Smith took the free kick. Smith floated the free kick towards the far post. The Leeds far post. And there was John Toshack. In the air, the Anfield air. At the far post. To meet the free kick. To head the free kick. Into the net and into the goal. And the supporters of Liverpool Football Club cheered. The supporters of Liverpool Football Club sang. And the supporters of Liverpool Football Club roared. Roared for more. More and more. And Liverpool Football Club attacked and attacked. Harder and harder. For the next thirty minutes. The supporters of Liverpool Football Club roared and the players of Liverpool Football Club attacked. More and more, harder and harder. But Leeds United defended. For the last thirty-five minutes. They defended and they defended. And Liverpool Football Club drew one-all with Leeds United. At home, at Anfield. Bill Shankly walked down the touchline. The Anfield touchline. Bill Shankly shook the hand of Don Revie. And Bill Shankly smiled –

Well defended, Don. Very well defended. I thought we were going to beat you, Don. I really did. I thought we would win …

Not a chance, Bill. Not a chance. You were lucky today, Bill. Very lucky. We should have beaten you, Bill. We should have won.

Well, I don’t know what game you were watching, Don. I really don’t. But my advice to you, Don. My advice if you want to win a game of football. Would be to attack, Don. And not simply to defend.

Three days later, in a land of darkness, in a land of power cuts, Liverpool Football Club travelled to Easter Road, Edinburgh, to play Hibernian Football Club in the first leg of the Third Round of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. And in a land of darkness, in a land of power cuts, Liverpool Football Club attacked and attacked. Away from home, away from Anfield. And in a land of darkness, in a land of power cuts. In the seventy-fifth minute, John Toshack scored. And Liverpool Football Club beat Hibernian Football Club one — nil in the first leg of the Third Round of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. Away from home, away from Anfield. In a land of darkness, in a land of power cuts.

On Saturday 12 December, 1970, in a land still in darkness, in a land still of power cuts, Liverpool Football Club travelled to Upton Park, London. And because of the darkness, because of the power cuts, the game between Liverpool Football Club and West Ham United kicked off thirty minutes early, at half past two. Because of the darkness, because of the power cuts. But in the darkness, among the power cuts, in the twenty-seventh minute, Jack Whitham scored for Liverpool Football Club. His first goal for Liverpool Football Club. And in the darkness, among the power cuts, in the forty-third minute, Phil Boersma scored for Liverpool Football Club. And in the darkness, among the power cuts, Liverpool Football Club beat West Ham United two — one. Away from home, away from Anfield. One week later, Liverpool Football Club travelled to Leeds Road, Huddersfield. But Liverpool Football Club did not score. And Huddersfield Town did not score. And Liverpool Football Club drew nil — nil with Huddersfield Town. Away from home, away from Anfield. Bill Shankly walked down the touchline. The Leeds Road touchline. And Bill Shankly shook the hand of Ian Greaves, the manager of Huddersfield Town –

Well played, Ian. Well played. And I wish you all the best, Ian. All the very best for the rest of the season. I know you have a battle on your hands, Ian. But I hope it is a battle you win. I really do, Ian. I really do. Because I’ve always said Huddersfield Town belong in the First Division, Ian. In the First Division. And I admire the job you have done, Ian. The success you have brought to Huddersfield Town.

Ian Greaves smiled. And Ian Greaves said, Thank you, Bill. Thank you very much. It means a lot to us. It really does …

Three days afterwards, Hibernian Football Club came to Anfield, Liverpool. That night, thirty-seven thousand, eight hundred and fifteen folk came, too. Thirty-seven thousand, eight hundred and fifteen folk to watch Liverpool Football Club play Hibernian Football Club in the second leg of the Third Round of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. In the twenty-third minute, Emlyn Hughes sent Steve Heighway through the middle. Heighway racing, Heighway accelerating. Leaving Hibernian standing, leaving Hibernian watching. And Heighway shot. And Heighway scored. And in the fiftieth minute, Phil Boersma crossed the ball from the right. Hibernian standing, Hibernian watching. The cross drop over the Hibernian keeper, the cross drop into the Hibernian net. And Liverpool Football Club beat Hibernian Football Club three — nil on aggregate in the Third Round of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.

Four days later, on Boxing Day, 1970, in blizzards and in ice, Stoke City came to Anfield, Liverpool. That afternoon, in the blizzards and in the ice, forty-seven thousand, one hundred and three folk came, too. But in the blizzards and in the ice, Liverpool Football Club did not score. And Stoke City did not score. And in the blizzards and in the ice, Liverpool Football Club drew nil — nil with Stoke City. At home, at Anfield. It was Liverpool Football Club’s tenth draw of the season, their sixth nil — nil draw of the season. And that evening, in the blizzards and in the ice, Liverpool Football Club had twenty-six points. And Liverpool Football Club were seventh in the First Division. In the blizzards and in the ice, Liverpool Football Club were still lost, Liverpool Football Club still missing –

Still nowhere.

On Saturday 2 January, 1971, Aldershot Football Club of the Fourth Division came to Anfield, Liverpool. That afternoon, forty-five thousand and five hundred folk came, too. Forty-five thousand and five hundred folk to watch Liverpool Football Club play Aldershot Football Club of the Fourth Division in the Third Round of the FA Cup. At home, at Anfield. Bill Shankly walked into the dressing room. The home dressing room. Bill Shankly looked around the dressing room. The Liverpool dressing room. From Clemence to Lawler, Lawler to Boersma, Boersma to Smith, Smith to Lloyd, Lloyd to Hughes, Hughes to Hall, Hall to McLaughlin, McLaughlin to Heighway, Heighway to Toshack and from Toshack to Callaghan. And Bill Shankly took a piece of paper from his coat pocket. And Bill Shankly read out the names on the piece of paper –