Red Or Dead

by David Peace

  Oh, it’s the cruellest thing in the world, unemployment. You feel as if you are unwanted. I mean, this is a long time ago for me. But I can see them now. And it’s coming back now, the word redundancy. And it’s a terrible word.

  It means unwanted, said Sir Harold.

  Bill nodded again. And Bill said, It does. Exactly. And you could get into mischief and all kinds of things. It affects people’s minds. And I think it is possibly the cruellest thing in the world, for boys to leave school and not have a job. A terrible thing. And so I worry about the youngsters these days. I mean, I love youngsters. I can always find the time to talk to them or sign an autograph. I never turned a kid away, if I could help it. Because basically I am sorry for them. I look at them. And I think, What are you going to be when you grow up? What is your destiny? I think it is a terrible thing if a grown-up doesn’t help a youngster. Because kids can be hit terribly hard if an older person goes against them …

  And many times each day, the front door rings at our home in West Derby. And standing on the doorstep will be a kid. Or a group of kids. Real Liverpool types. And they say to my wife, they say to Ness, Can I speak to Bill? It’s never Mr Shankly. Oh no. But I don’t mind that. Oh no. My wife has hundreds of photographs of me holding the FA Cup. And I sign one of them personally for the kid and give it to him. Best wishes to Jim or Joe or Jackie, or whatever his name is.

  But there is one group of kids. Four or five of them who come up to the house every day while they are on holiday. They always ask me what I am doing. And whether I can come out to play football. They’ve had their autographed photographs by now, of course. But I usually end up giving them their bus fares back to Gillmoss. I don’t know how they found out where I live. But so many of them do. And I don’t mind, I don’t mind at all. Because if I can help a kid along, then I will. They are broken-hearted if you snub them. And that I will never do. And I never have. I mean, there were always kids knocking around Anfield when I was there. They are the future Liverpool supporters, you see? They are real people to me, Shelley. Real people …

  Shelley looked across at Sir Harold again –

  What did you find it did to your father emotionally, Sir Harold? Because he was only forty-eight, wasn’t he?

  He felt unwanted, said Sir Harold. He didn’t know if he would ever get a job again. I saw him one night, just in tears. He felt he had failed everybody.

  And even mining was suffering, said Shelley. At that time …

  Bill nodded. And Bill said, Oh yes. And it’s come back again.

  Do you feel, either of you, asked Shelley, that suffering of that kind helps build character. I know it’s a corny old excuse for a lot of the evils that go on. But is it character building?

  Bill said, Oh yes. You’ve got to fight back. If you can’t fight back, there is nothing for you.

  And those who collapse under it, said Sir Harold, they are never the same again.

  Bill said, No.

  But it’s not my recipe or yours, Sir Harold said to Bill, for training people, is it?

  Bill shook his head. And Bill said, No way. Not giving in is the thing. So you’ve got to try and fight it. I know that it is easy to talk and unemployment is a terrible thing. But you’ve got to try and fight it.

  So you had no choice, said Shelley. It was either unemployment or football. But what have you got out of football all these years?

  Well, everything I’ve got, everything I’ve got out of football, I owe to football. And the dedication I had and what I put into the game. You only get out of the game what you put into it, Shelley. And I put everything into it I could. And still do. For the people –

  The people I was playing for and the people I was manager for. I didn’t cheat them out of anything! So I put all my heart and soul, to the extent my family suffered.

  Do you regret that?

  Oh yeah. Yeah. I regret it very much. Yeah. Somebody said, Football is a matter of life and death to you. I said, Listen! It’s more important than that. And that’s true.

  It’s a religion, said Sir Harold.

  Bill nodded. And Bill said, It is a religion. And my family suffered. They’ve been neglected.

  How would you do it now, asked Shelley, if you had your time again. Would you do it the same way?

  I don’t know really. If I had the same thoughts, I’d possibly do the same thing again.

  Both of you have wives who are very private people, said Shelley. But did they in any way share in your great moments?

  Oh, Ness did to a certain degree. The Cup Finals, for instance. The sixty-five Cup Final …

  A-ha, said Shelley. Strange you should mention that. We do also have a clip of that …

  Have you?

  Well, we thought it might just be your greatest moment …

  Bill nodded. And Bill said, I think so, yeah.

  It’s coming up on that monitor there, said Shelley. Can you talk us through it …

  Bill stared across at the monitor. And Bill nodded again. And Bill said, Well, that’s the Cup Final. After extra time. And we beat Leeds United two–one. That was Ronnie Yeats picking up the Cup for the first time ever. After seventy-three years.

  Seventy-three years?

  Bill said, Yes. And that’s the hardest cup in the world to win. It’s a one-off job. Never mind the European Cup. That’s virtually new. Winning the FA Cup is the hardest cup. It took seventy-three years. And I thought that was a terrible disgrace that we had to suffer the taunts of people saying you hadn’t won the Cup. Now that was the greatest moment of my life, winning the Cup. Not for me –

  But for the people in Liverpool.

  And you are still living in Liverpool, of course?

  Yes. We’re still living in the same house we moved into when we came to Liverpool. But it’s not a house, it’s a home. And I feel at home in Liverpool, with the people of Liverpool. I mean, the last holiday we had was a couple of years ago in Glasgow. Ness cannot really take long journeys and there’s everything I need right here in Liverpool. And so I thank God for the wonderful people of Merseyside. I mean, the attitude of the people of Liverpool towards me and my family is stronger now than it ever was. You know, I never cheated them and they’ve never let me down. We are the same, you see? I mean, I’m just one of the people that stands on the Kop. They think the same as I do and I think the same as they do. So that it is a kind of marriage of people that like each other …

  What is it about Liverpool that breeds this sort of fanaticism, asked Shelley. Whether it is politics or football or religion?

  Or Everton, said Sir Harold.

  Bill smiled. And Bill said, We’re talking about the city of Liverpool now, Sir Harold. I think Shelley means Merseyside …

  And Tranmere Rovers, said Sir Harold.

  It is Anfield, though, said Shelley, that has something special for you, Bill …

  Oh, Anfield has got everything for me. I mean, Anfield is the greatest shrine of all time. I mean, I would like to be buried at Anfield.

  Not yet, I hope, said Sir Harold.

  And the audience laughed –

  Don’t laugh, said Shelley. This is serious, isn’t it?

  Bill nodded. And Bill said, Oh yes.

  There is a casket of somebody buried there, asked Shelley.

  Yes, at the Kop end. In the net, behind the goals. There is a casket, a foot down. And all over the rest of the ground, around the Kop end. It is all spread with ashes …

  But are you serious, asked Shelley, when you say you would like to be buried there?

  Oh no. I’m not serious. No. I am serious. Oh yes. I mean, I’ll be buried in spirit there. Even if my body does not go there. Because Anfield was the greatest thing that happened to me.

  You also seem to have a particular affection for the players who have passed through your hands, said Shelley. So what are the qualities of a good footballer?

  Oh, ability. And of course, dedication to the game. And living the life of an athlete. And giving people the
ir money’s worth. I mean, you go there and you pay your money and so you expect effort. And so all the players have got an obligation to do that.

  You sound as if it is more of an entertainment, said Shelley.

  Bill shook his head. And Bill said, Well, entertainment comes second for me. It’s too serious for an entertainment. Entertainment is something you can laugh at. I don’t laugh at football.

  It’s a religion, said Sir Harold again.

  And Bill said, I think so, yes.

  A way of life, said Sir Harold.

  Bill nodded. And Bill said, Yes. It’s a way of life. That’s a good expression, Sir Harold. It is a way of life. And it’s so serious, it is unbelievable. And I wonder what all the rest of the world does …

  They become prime minister, laughed Shelley.

  … I mean, they don’t see the same things as me. And so I see the whole world differently, possibly.

  89. WHO NOW WAVES THE BRIGHT RED FLAG?

  Liverpool Football Club had had a very mixed season. They had been knocked out of the FA Cup in the Fourth Round by Everton Football Club. But Liverpool Football Club had beaten West Ham United in the final of the Football League Cup. In the replay of the final of the Football League Cup. Liverpool Football Club had won the Football League Cup for the first time in the history of Liverpool Football Club. But Liverpool Football Club had had their worst season in the Football League since the 1970–71 season. Liverpool Football Club had finished fifth in the First Division. But the 1980–81 season was not over yet. Liverpool Football Club were in the final of the European Cup. Liverpool Football Club would play Real Madrid of Spain in the Parc des Princes, in Paris, in France, on Wednesday 27 May, 1981.

  Liverpool Football Club had asked Bill Shankly if he would like to attend the final of the European Cup in Paris as an official guest of Liverpool Football Club. To travel on the plane to Paris with Liverpool Football Club and to stay in the hotel in Paris with Liverpool Football Club. And Bill Shankly had smiled –

  Yes, said Bill Shankly. I would love to attend the final of the European Cup. To travel on the same plane and to stay in the same hotel. Thank you. Thank you very much indeed.

  At Speke airport, some of the supporters of Liverpool Football Club saw Bill Shankly. Bill Shankly standing with the players of Liverpool Football Club, Bill Shankly talking with the staff of Liverpool Football Club. And some of the supporters of Liverpool Football Club patted his back and shook his hand. And they asked him about the European Cup. And Bill Shankly smiled –

  Oh yes. It’s been quite a journey. But a wonderful journey. I mean, the First Round was quite a cruise. In the end. But the Second Round, that was quite different. A very different tie, a much tougher tie. But that was a beautiful chip by McDermott up at Pittodrie. One of the goals of the season. And on his weaker foot, you know. But then we were very disciplined. And you need to be. In the Granite City. Very efficient. And then the return leg, the Anfield leg. Well, that was an excellent performance. Possibly the best performance of the season. I mean, Aberdeen held out fairly comfortably for the first twenty, twenty-five minutes. And I admit, I was beginning to worry. Because you see, we seemed a bit tensed up. Very tense. And we were perhaps a bit fortunate, possibly a wee bit lucky. I mean, the own goal from Willie Miller. But after that, after that own goal. We relaxed and we played some superb football. And as I say, for me, possibly the best football of the season. And Aberdeen had no answer. Simply no answer to the football we played. But having said that, I was still concerned about the Bulgars. Because I mean, in all our years in Europe. We had never played a Bulgarian team. And so it was a journey into the unknown. And I think, I do think, we were very fortunate to play the first leg at Anfield, at home. Now I would usually say, I would always say, it’s better to play the first leg away. But not in these circumstances, not when they were something of an unknown quantity. Though a team we did know had beaten Forest, had knocked out Forest. And I know Brian did call Bob. And Brian did tell Bob a few things about Sofia. But still, to beat them, to beat the Bulgars five–one. That set us up, set us up very well. For the away leg, the leg in Sofia. And by all accounts, that was a hard game. And we paid a price, a price in injuries. And then I did worry, worry when I saw we would be playing Bayern Munich in the semi-final. And when I saw we would be playing the first leg at home, I was very worried. And of course, it was not a great game. We were not at our best. Without Souness, without Johnson. And then with Ray Kennedy not fully fit and Terry McDermott going off at half-time. I mean, I think we were lucky to draw. And that they did not score. But you see, Bayern made a mistake. They just thought about closing us down. And yes, they closed us down. But they missed their chance. If they had gone for a goal at Anfield, if they had scored at Anfield. Then we would have had problems, big problems. But I know Bob was still depressed by the result, very disappointed with the result. And I was worried, too. Very worried. And I did not go, I did not go to Munich. But I saw the game, of course. On the television. And I mean, we were without Phil Thompson. Without Alan Kennedy. And having to use Colin Irwin and Richard Money. Good players, yes. Don’t misunderstand me, don’t get me wrong. But not our first choice, not our first team. And that has been the story of this season, the story of our season. And then to go and lose Dalglish so early in the game. I mean, that was a shocking tackle. Bloody shocking. And so I did think maybe we were out of luck, I did worry maybe this was not to be our season. But I have to say, the players responded. The team responded magnificently. And I don’t like to single out individual players. That is never my way. Not my way. But I do think three players made the difference for us that night. I mean, for Gayle to come on so early in the game. In a game like that. Well, I think he did a magnificent job. And he gave their fullback a game and a half. He ran him bloody ragged. And then Ray Kennedy, of course. He kept his cool, he showed his class. I mean, with only minutes to go. And Johnson breaking on the right. And that was some break, too. And Johnson with a torn muscle, too. But Ray saw his chance, Ray went forward. And when that ball came, that centre came. He kept his cool and he took his time. You saw the way he turned, the way he tucked the ball into the net. Now that was cool, now that was class. Because many a striker, many top-class strikers. They would have possibly whacked that ball first time and they would have probably wasted the opportunity. But not Ray, not Ray Kennedy. I mean, I was out of my chair. On my feet, in sheer delight. And so that goal, that goal was the away goal that took us through, that got us here. But I mean, another player stood out for me, too. Another player, in a different way. In a different way, Sammy Lee. The way he marked Breitner, the way he stuck to him like bloody glue. I mean, the man hardly had a kick, hardly had a touch. And it served Breitner right, it served the man bloody right. The things he had said after the first leg, the way he had gone on in the press about Liverpool being unimaginative. And unintelligent. Now you see, that was him being unintelligent. Breitner being stupid. Because that kind of thing, those kinds of words. They are like a red rag to a bull. They will always get a reaction, a reaction from Liverpool Football Club. And so that is what we got, that is what we saw. And I know Bob thinks that was possibly our best-ever European performance, the way we contained them, the way we were so considered and so thoughtful in everything we did. And with everything stacked up against us. The injuries and so forth. And so Bob is possibly right. I am sure he is right. And so as I say, it’s been quite a journey. Oh yes. And a wonderful journey. But it’s not over yet. Oh no. This journey is not finished. Not finished yet …

  And at Speke airport. The supporters of Liverpool Football Club thanked Bill Shankly for his time. They thanked him for his kindness. They shook his hand and they wished him well. And Bill Shankly smiled. And Bill Shankly shook their hands. And Bill Shankly thanked them all. And Bill Shankly wished them all a safe journey. A safe trip to Paris. And the supporters of Liverpool Football Club watched Bill Shankly board the plane to Paris with the players of Liverpool Football Club and with
the staff of Liverpool Football Club.

  But on the plane to Paris. In the skies to Paris. There was thunder and there was lightning. Lightning which struck the plane, thunder which shook the plane. In the skies to Paris. On the plane to Paris. There was silence. And there were memories. Memories of other planes. Other weather. And there was perspective. And there were prayers. Answered prayers this time, thank God.

  On the ground, at Orly airport. Some of the supporters of Liverpool Football Club saw Bill Shankly. Bill Shankly with the players of Liverpool Football Club, Bill Shankly with the staff of Liverpool Football Club. And some of the supporters of Liverpool Football Club patted his back and shook his hand. And said, We are so glad to see you, Bill. So pleased you are here. So very glad you could make it, Bill. So very happy you are …

  And so am I, said Bill Shankly. So am I. But thank you, lads.

  Outside Paris, at Versailles. Near the palace, the Grand Canal. The fountains and the gardens. The hotel was quiet, the hotel was tranquil. Away from the city, away from the pressure. Bill Shankly stayed with the players and the staff of Liverpool Football Club. But Bill Shankly did not bother the players of Liverpool Football Club, Bill Shankly did not trouble the staff of Liverpool Football Club. Bill Shankly walked around the hotel, Bill Shankly walked among its gardens. And a few of the supporters of Liverpool Football Club who had come out to Versailles saw Bill Shankly. In the hotel or in the garden. They stopped Bill Shankly. They patted his back and they shook his hand. And they asked him for his autograph. And they said, You know everyone is saying Real Madrid will win, Bill? Helenio Herrera and Paul Breitner. They are all saying Real Madrid will beat us, Bill. And the coach of Real Madrid, he sounds very confident …

  Oh well, yes, said Bill Shankly. They have a clever coach. A very shrewd coach in Boskov. And I know he has said he thinks this Liverpool team are too old. He has called us veterans, yes. And so I know he thinks his team can outrun us. But I can tell you this, boys. When a coach starts making claims like that, starts saying things like that. Then it shows he is tense, it shows he is worried. And I know for a fact, the more they say things like that, the more they talk like that. Then the better Bob likes it, the happier Bob will be. Because I was always like that, I was always the same. Let them talk and then we’ll play. Because that is where you win a game of football. On a pitch, not in a newspaper. And yes, they might have some good players. Some very good players in Camacho, of course. And Santillana and Stielike. And Cunningham, of course. If the boy plays, if the lad is fit. Because I know they have their worries, they have had their injuries. And I mean, this season Anfield has been more like a bloody hospital than a football ground! But I think from what Bob has said, I think Kenny and Sammy Lee will both be fit. And so I think we can name our strongest side. And so let them talk, but then we will play …