Red Or Dead

by David Peace

Well, we were successful. And we’d won the Cup for the first time. I think that was a big thing, you know? That made them proud. I mean, the fact that they hadn’t won it. And they were speaking about hiding, you know? Kind of hiding with big coats on, so nobody would see them. That was one of the things, I think. Having won the Cup, and being successful, and going into Europe. And I was a people’s man, you understand? I’m a socialist.

  Still?

  Bill nodded. Bill nodded again. And Bill said, Yes, yes. But that doesn’t say that I’ve got very much time for politicians. Including socialist politicians. They’ve a difficult job. But I mean, they make a terrible mess of it. So that really and truly a man is his own politics. Your politics, you are born with. And so was I born with mine.

  That’s shades of Rabbie Burns in that …

  Yes. Exactly. Yes. Burns was a clever man. When he wrote To a Mouse, he was in the field, with his brother Gilbert. Ploughing. And he said to Gilbert, I need to go home. And when he went home, and Gilbert come home at night, he had written To a Mouse. The whole lot.

  Yeah, said the interviewer. Smashing …

  And Bill said, Yep.

  Why, asked the interviewer, just lastly, Bill, in the book, there’s this bit, which has attracted all the attention, where you say you are not welcome at Liverpool …

  Yeah.

  I mean, surely that isn’t true?

  Bill swallowed. And Bill said, I’ve written a book about people. Praising people. Talking about people. Ninety-nine per cent talking and praising people. One per cent a little bit of criticism. And people pick out the one per cent. And if anybody is annoyed at me saying that, then that appals me. Because it’s a fact. It’s fair comment. And if anybody writes a book. About sport or anything. And it’s ninety-nine per cent OK. Surely the one per cent is nothing, is it? You wouldn’t win an election if you only got one per cent …

  No, said the interviewer. But you see, what did strike me as odd in the book, you say that you went to Bruges with Liverpool …

  Yeah.

  After you stopped being manager …

  Yeah.

  And they wouldn’t let you stay in the same hotel. Now that seems awful to me. That the club would say, Go to another hotel. We don’t want you …

  Well, I went at the invitation of Radio City. And they must have got permission from the club for me to go on the plane. But I was in a different hotel, yeah. Oh yes.

  Well, I would have thought Bill Shankly could walk into Anfield every day of the week, all the time, for what you have done?

  Bill nodded. And Bill said, Oh, I could. For the home games, yeah. I could, yeah. But not the away games. I mean, I used to get tickets from Burnley. For the game at Burnley. I mean, maybe when I went to the home game, they might have said, Do you want a couple of tickets for the game next week? But no. No. It’s mentioned a bit because it happened to me. You understand?

  Yeah.

  It happened to me.

  Yes.

  My life was spent there. Fighting to get them somewhere –

  Bill stopped speaking. Bill stopped talking. And Bill looked away again. No cars passing, no dogs barking. Nothing. Nothing but silence. In the sunshine and in the street. Just the silence.

  Would you like to go back?

  No.

  Into management?

  Bill shook his head. And Bill said, No, no. I’d like to have some involvement. About games. And to help people.

  Two last questions, I suppose: would you go through it all again? And is the football now as good as when you started kicking the ball around in Ayrshire?

  Oh, I wouldn’t like to go through the whole thing again. But having gone through it, I would like to be involved in some way. Because I think that I can do the game a lot of good. I mean, my psychology. My knowledge of the game. My knowledge of people. And I think it would be a terrible pity for that to be wasted …

  And is the game today –

  Because I’m still as lucid as I was. Yeah, yeah …

  That’s great, said the interviewer. Thank you, Bill. Thank you very much. That was great, Bill.

  Bill nodded. Bill stuck out his hand. And Bill said, OK, then. If you’re sure you’ve got everything you need …

  More than enough, said the interviewer. More than enough. But thank you again, Bill. Thank you.

  Bill smiled. And Bill said, Well, if you want a cup of tea. And a biscuit. Before you head back …

  No, no, said the interviewer. We best get back. We best get off. But thank you, Bill. Thank you again. And to your wife, too.

  Bill nodded again. And Bill shook hands with the interviewer. And with the cameraman and the sound man. And Bill said, Well, you boys have a safe journey back now …

  Thank you, Bill.

  In the sunshine. In the street. With cars passing and with dogs barking. Bill walked back to his gate. Bill walked back up the drive. Bill opened his front door. Bill went back into the house. Bill closed the front door. Bill went back up the stairs. Bill went back into the bedroom. Bill went back over to the bed. Bill took off his jacket. The freshly cleaned grey jacket. Bill picked up the coat hanger from the bed. Bill hung the jacket back on the hanger. Bill went back over to the wardrobe. Bill opened the wardrobe door. Bill hung the jacket back inside the wardrobe. Bill stepped back from the wardrobe. Bill looked at the mirror on the back of the wardrobe door. Bill stared at the mirror on the back of the wardrobe door. Into the mirror on the back of the wardrobe door. The man in the mirror on the back of the wardrobe door. In his red shirt. The collar too big. Bill looked at the man. Bill stared at the man. The man shaking his head. Fighting back tears, struggling to breathe. And Bill said, I have not written anything derogatory about anyone. I have just stated facts. My book is ninety-nine per cent about people and one per cent of criticism. And people have dived in to talk about that one per cent. But that one per cent is fair comment. About fact, about what has happened.

  67. AND HIGHLAND SCAB AND HUNGER

  People did want Bill Shankly to be involved in some way. People at big clubs, people at small clubs. People did think Bill Shankly could do the game a lot of good. At big clubs, at small clubs. His knowledge of the game. His knowledge of people. People called Bill Shankly. People invited Bill Shankly to their big club and to their small club. To share his knowledge of the game, to share his knowledge of people. Derby County called Bill Shankly. Derby County asked Bill Shankly if he would consider taking on an advisory role at the Baseball Ground. To share his knowledge of the game, to share his knowledge of people. I’m seriously thinking about this offer, Bill Shankly told the gentlemen of the local press. Because I would feel as if I were part of something again. I envisage going to the Baseball Ground once or twice a week. But that does not affect Colin Murphy’s position at all. And I’m not being pushed for a decision. It’s not like being asked to get a spade out and dig the road. But I would feel as if I were part of the game again without having the worries of a manager. When you are a manager, you have more worries than the prime minister. And he’s got enough. But I would feel as if I were part of something. I would be helping with the training and the playing side of the club, working on little details like where to eat and what time to go to bed and so on. I could come and go as I please, maybe just going in one day a week, which suits me fine. But I would feel as if I were part of something again. I go to the games anyway, so I wouldn’t be away from home any more than I am now. But I would feel as if I were part of something. I have been in football forty-three years and sometimes I get a bit moody and fidgety. Going to the games is fine but, having been involved, it’s better if you go with the official party. And I would feel as though I were part of something again …

  And Bill Shankly did seriously think about the offer. Bill Shankly seriously thinking, Bill Shankly seriously wondering. Whether he should go or whether he should not go. Bill Shankly knowing and Bill Shankly not knowing. Whether he should go or whether he should not go. Round and around. Bill Shankly th
inking, Bill Shankly wondering. Whether he should go or whether he should not go. Until Bill Shankly did know. And Bill Shankly did not go. Bill Shankly stayed at home. In Liverpool. Bill Shankly waiting. Still waiting, always waiting. For the letter on the mat, the knock on the door. Or the call on the phone –

  Tommy Docherty rang Bill Shankly. Tommy Docherty invited Bill Shankly to Old Trafford. For the match against Liverpool Football Club. Tommy Docherty asked Bill Shankly if he would like to be the guest of Manchester United. For the match against Liverpool Football Club. And to share his knowledge of the game, his knowledge of people. And before the match at Old Trafford. The match against Liverpool Football Club. Tommy Docherty invited Bill Shankly into the dressing room at Old Trafford. The Manchester United dressing room. Bill Shankly walked around the dressing room at Old Trafford. The Manchester United dressing room. Bill Shankly shook hands with Alex Stepney, Jimmy Nicholl, Brian Greenhoff, Martin Buchan, Stewart Houston, Steve Coppell, Lou Macari, Sammy McIlroy, Gordon Hill, Jimmy Greenhoff, Stuart Pearson and David McCreery. Bill Shankly patted the backs of the players of Manchester United. Bill Shankly wished the players of Manchester United the best of luck. The best of luck for the match. The match against Liverpool Football Club.

  After the match at Old Trafford. The match against Liverpool Football Club. The nil–nil draw with Liverpool Football Club. Tommy Docherty invited Bill Shankly to have a meal with him in the restaurant at Old Trafford. And Bill Shankly sat with Tommy Docherty in the restaurant at Old Trafford. Bill Shankly ate with Tommy Docherty. Bill Shankly talked with Tommy Docherty. Joked with Tommy Docherty, laughed with Tommy Docherty. Joked a lot and laughed a lot. Until Tommy Docherty needed a piss. And Tommy Docherty got up from their table in the restaurant at Old Trafford. Tommy Docherty walked across the restaurant at Old Trafford. Past the table of the directors. The directors of Manchester United and the directors of Liverpool Football Club. And Sidney Reakes stopped Tommy. And Sidney Reakes said, I see Bill Shankly is here …

  Aye, said Tommy. Bill is welcome here.

  68. O TELL NA ME O’ WIND AN’ RAIN

  Bill drove to Manchester again. In the wind and in the rain. Bill parked in the car park at Maine Road. In the wind and in the rain. Bill got out of his car. In the wind and in the rain. Bill put on his hat, Bill turned up his collar. In the wind and in the rain. Bill went into the ground. In the wind and in the rain. Bill took his seat in the corner of the stand behind the goal. In the wind and in the rain. And Bill waited for the match to kick off. In the wind and in the rain. The FA Cup semi-final replay between Liverpool Football Club and Everton Football Club. In the wind and in the rain. Bill sat among the little boys and little girls who had travelled from Liverpool to Manchester. In the wind and in the rain. The little boys and little girls with no hats and with no collars. In the wind and in the rain. The little boys and little girls in their T-shirts and their singlets. In the wind and in the rain. The little boys and little girls soaked to their skins. In the wind and in the rain. Through to their bones. In the wind and in the rain. Bill watched the match with the little boys and little girls. In the wind and in the rain. Bill listened to them cheer. In the wind and in the rain. To cheer and to cheer. In the wind and in the rain. Liverpool Football Club. In the wind and in the rain. After the match. In the wind and in the rain. The match Liverpool Football Club had won. In the wind and in the rain. Bill got up from his seat. In the wind and in the rain. Bill soaked to his skin and through to his bones. In the wind and in the rain. Bill walked out of the ground. And in the wind and in the rain. Bill was recognised by a journalist. In the wind and in the rain. Bill was stopped by the journalist. In the wind and in the rain. The journalist asked Bill about the game. And in the wind and in the rain. Bill said, There was water dripping on me throughout the match. And there were little boys and little girls with only singlets on. They had spent all their money to get here. And they were soaked to their skins for their trouble. And then you people come out in the media and you say, These are the people we don’t want. They are hooligans. Hooligans. And we don’t want them here. And that really appals me. It appals me. The way you make them sit or stand in the rain in pens. The way you treat them like animals, worse than animals. Branding them as animals, branding them as hooligans. And hoping they will not come. Don’t you realise that without these people, these boys and girls, there would be no game? Don’t you realise that throughout the country these are the people who will spend all their money and do without a pair of shoes to support their team? Don’t you bloody realise? Don’t you fucking care?

  69. IF PROVIDENCE HAS SENT ME HERE

  Liverpool Football Club had won the League Championship again. For the first time, Liverpool Football Club had retained the League Championship. Then Liverpool Football Club had gone to Wembley Stadium. And Liverpool Football Club had lost the FA Cup Final to Manchester United. But Liverpool Football Club still had another cup final to come. The European Cup Final –

  For the first time.

  Liverpool Football Club travelled to Rome to play Borussia Mönchengladbach Football Club of West Germany at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. And they were not alone. In their thousands. The supporters of Liverpool Football Club travelled to Rome. In their thousands. On planes or on trains. In their thousands. By car or by thumb. In their thousands. With tickets and without tickets. In their thousands. With their banners. JOEY ATE THE FROGS LEGS, MADE THE SWISS ROLL, NOW HE’S MUNCHING GLADBACH. In their thousands. With their flags. Their red and white chequered flags. In their thousands. With their songs: Tell me ma, me ma, I’m not coming home for tea, I’m going to I-ta-lee, Tell me ma, me ma. In their thousands. They were not alone –

  Not alone.

  Bill Shankly travelled to Rome, too. Along with the wives of the players of Liverpool Football Club. Along with the parents of the players of Liverpool Football Club. Bill Shankly was a guest of Liverpool Football Club. For the first time. An official guest in the official hotel. The Holiday Inn St Peter’s Hotel in the centre of Rome. The Holiday Inn where the wives of the players of Liverpool Football Club were staying. Where the parents of the players of Liverpool Football Club were staying. And where the players of Liverpool Football Club were staying. But Bill Shankly did not hang around in the corridors and the dining room of the Holiday Inn St Peter’s Hotel in the centre of Rome. Oh no. Bill Shankly did not want to be in anybody’s way. Bill Shankly did not want to be under anybody’s feet.

  Bill Shankly woke up early. On the morning of the final. Bill Shankly went out to the Stadio Olimpico. On the morning of the final. Bill Shankly sat in his seat in the stands of the Stadio Olimpico. On the morning of the final. Bill Shankly was the first person in his seat. On the morning of the final. Bill Shankly was the only person in his seat. In his seat in the stands. Bill Shankly looked around the stadium. The empty seats, the waiting seats. In his seat in the stands. Bill Shankly looked down at the pitch. The grass and the lines. The posts and the nets. And Bill Shankly waited. And Bill Shankly worried. Bill Shankly worried that the players of Liverpool Football Club would be drained. The players of Liverpool Football Club would be tired. Drained and tired by the FA Cup Final defeat to Manchester United. Drained and tired by the heat of the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. On the morning of the final it was already eighty degrees. But in his seat in the stands of the stadium. Bill Shankly waited. And Bill Shankly hoped. Bill Shankly hoped Bob Paisley would make sure the players of Liverpool Football Club regained as much of their strength as possible. And Bill Shankly prayed. Bill Shankly prayed the players of Liverpool Football Club would find as much of their strength as possible. On the morning of the final. In his seat in the stands of the stadium. Bill Shankly smiled. Bill Shankly knew no one should underestimate Bob Paisley. Bill Shankly knew no one should underestimate the players of Liverpool Football Club. And Bill Shankly waited. And waited. Through the afternoon of the final. Bill Shankly waited. And Bill Shankly watched the supporters of Liverpool Football Club begin to arrive at t
he Stadio Olimpico. Through the afternoon of the final. Bill Shankly watched the supporters of Liverpool Football Club begin to fill the Stadio Olimpico. Through the afternoon of the final. Bill Shankly saw the banners and the flags of the supporters of Liverpool Football Club begin to take over the Stadio Olimpico. The red and white chequered flags. Through the afternoon of the final. Bill Shankly heard the chants and the songs of the supporters of Liverpool Football Club begin to overwhelm the Stadio Olimpico. Ee-aye-addio, we’re going to win the Cup. We’re going to win the Cup, we’re going to win the Cup. Ee-aye-addio, we’re going to win the Cup!

  And through the afternoon of the final. In his seat in the stands of the stadium. The stadium now a sea of red and white chequered flags, the stadium now a storm of red and white songs. Bill Shankly smiled. And smiled. Bill Shankly knew no one should ever underestimate the supporters of Liverpool Football Club. On the evening of the final. In his seat in the stands. On the edge of his seat in the stands. Bill Shankly stared down at the players. The players of Liverpool Football Club. Ray Clemence. Peter McDonnell. Alec Lindsay. Tommy Smith. Emlyn Hughes. Ray Kennedy. Ian Callaghan. Alan Waddle. Kevin Keegan and Steve Heighway. The old and the new. Phil Neal. Joey Jones. Jimmy Case. Terry McDermott. David Fairclough and David Johnson. The players of Liverpool Football Club coming out of the tunnel. The players of Liverpool Football Club walking out into the stadium. To a deafening roar, to a glorious reception. On the night of the final. On the edge of his seat in the stands. Bill Shankly smiled again. Bill Shankly knew there was no way Liverpool Football Club could lose. No way on earth –

  Ee-aye-addio, we’ve won the Cup! We’ve won the Cup, we’ve won the Cup. Ee-aye-addio, we’ve won the Cup!

  Bill Shankly got up from his seat. His seat in the stands. Bill Shankly began to make his way out of the stadium. But a British journalist recognised Bill Shankly. And the journalist asked Bill Shankly about the game. About the team. Down there is the side you helped to build. What about that, Bill –