…
On the bench, the Anfield bench. Bill and fifty-two thousand, five hundred and seventy-seven folk were watching Liverpool Football Club play Leeds United in the first leg of the semi-final of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. The last time fifty-two thousand, five hundred and seventy-seven folk could come to Anfield, Liverpool, this season. Because of the alterations to Anfield, because of the improvements to Anfield. If Liverpool Football Club beat Leeds United, if Liverpool Football Club reached the final of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, then the home leg of the final would have to be played at Goodison Park. Because of the alterations to Anfield, because of the improvements to Anfield. But on Wednesday 14 April, 1971, Liverpool Football Club were not yet in the final of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. And that night, Bremner won the toss. And Bremner elected to defend the Kop end in the first half. And so in the first half, the players of Liverpool Football Club attacked the Kop end, the players of Liverpool Football Club surged towards the Spion Kop end. Brian Hall and Steve Heighway sharp and searching. And in front of the Kop end, Sprake saved from Larry Lloyd. In front of the Spion Kop end, Sprake saved from Heighway. But the players of Leeds United attacked, too. And Madeley shot. But Ray Clemence turned the shot over the bar. The Liverpool bar. In the seventeenth minute, Ian Callaghan crossed. Alun Evans went for the cross. But Evans missed the cross. And in an instant, Leeds United attacked again. And Clarke beat Clemence. The ball in the net, the ball in the goal. But the goal was disallowed. And again the players of Liverpool Football Club attacked the Kop end, again the players of Liverpool Football Club surged towards the Spion Kop end. And in front of the Kop end, Sprake saved from Chris Lawler. Sprake saved from Lindsay. And Sprake saved from Heighway. But again in an instant, Leeds United attacked. Giles passed to Bremner. Bremner passed to Madeley. Madeley shot. But Clemence saved the shot. And at half-time in the home leg of the semi-final of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, Liverpool Football Club were drawing nil — nil with Leeds United Association Football Club. Early in the second half, John Toshack crossed the ball. And Sprake met the cross. But Sprake dropped the ball. The ball loose. On the ground. The Anfield ground. At the feet of Evans. Evans unmarked. The ball before him and the goal before him. The ball at his feet, the goal at his mercy. The goal unguarded, the goal open. Evans shot. And the ball hit the post. And the supporters of Liverpool Football Club gasped. The supporters of Liverpool Football Club groaned. And then the supporters of Liverpool Football Club wept. In the sixty-seventh minute, Bremner won a free kick for Leeds United. Giles took the free kick. Giles shot into the Liverpool penalty area. Towards the Kop. And Bremner leapt into the air. The Anfield air. Bremner flung himself at the ball. Through the air, the Anfield air. Bremner flicked on the free kick. In front of the Spion Kop. Into the net and into a goal. In front of the Kop. And Jack Charlton sprinted the length of the pitch. The Anfield pitch. Jack Charlton picked up Billy Bremner. In front of the Spion Kop. Jack Charlton lifted Billy Bremner into the air. The Anfield air. But the supporters of Liverpool Football Club did not fall silent. The supporters of Liverpool Football Club did not surrender. And the players of Liverpool Football Club did not fall to their knees. The players of Liverpool Football Club did not surrender. And on the touchline, the Anfield touchline. Bill took off Callaghan and Evans. And Bill sent on Bobby Graham and Peter Thompson. And the supporters of Liverpool Football Club roared and roared. And the players of Liverpool Football Club attacked and attacked. And the players of Liverpool Football Club caged Leeds United into their own half. They penned them into their penalty area. And Toshack shot. But Sprake saved from Toshack. And Lloyd shot. But Hunter cleared the shot off the line. And Heighway put Emlyn Hughes through. The ball at the feet of Hughes. But Charlton took the ball from his feet. And the game from Liverpool Football Club. And Liverpool Football Club lost one — nil to Leeds United in the first leg of the semi-final of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. The home leg, the Anfield leg. And on the touchline. The Anfield touchline. Bill shook the hand of Don Revie. And Bill said, Well played, Don. Well defended as usual. But never say it’s me with the charmed life, Don. Never say it’s me who leads a charmed life. That would be you, Don. You with the charmed life. You tonight, Don.
Don Revie looked up at the sky. The Anfield sky. Don Revie looked down at the ground. The Anfield ground. And Don Revie frowned. And Don Revie shook his head –
Well, it would be about time …
On the bench, the bench at Elland Road. For ninety minutes, Bill watched the players of Liverpool Football Club attack and attack and attack. Shoot and shoot and shoot. And for ninety minutes, Bill watched the players of Leeds United defend and defend and defend. Block after block after block. For ninety minutes, Liverpool Football Club could not score. And Liverpool Football Club drew nil — nil with Leeds United in the second leg of the semi-final of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. Away from home, away from Anfield. Liverpool Football Club were out of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. And on the touchline, the touchline at Elland Road. Bill shook the hand of Don Revie. And Bill said, Congratulations, Don. Congratulations. And I hope you go on and win this cup. I really do, Don. I really mean that.
Don Revie looked up at the sky. The Yorkshire sky. And then Don Revie looked down at the ground. The Yorkshire ground –
Thank you, Bill. Thank you very much. That’s very kind of you, Bill. That’s very generous of you. Thank you, Bill …
Bill shrugged. And Bill said, But I’ll tell you this, Don. If you’re hoping to win this cup, then you’ll have to try and attack –
On the bench, the Anfield bench. Bill and thirty-eight thousand, four hundred and twenty-seven folk were watching Liverpool Football Club play Southampton Football Club in the last League game of the 1970–71 season. Among the building work, among the scaffolding. In the thirtieth minute, Emlyn Hughes scored. And Liverpool Football Club beat Southampton Football Club one — nil in the last League game of the season. At home, at Anfield. Among the building work and among the scaffolding. The supporters of Liverpool Football Club applauded the players of Liverpool Football Club. And the supporters of Liverpool Football Club saluted the manager of Liverpool Football Club. And the supporters of Liverpool Football Club sang, We’re going to win the Cup! We’re going to win the Cup! Ee-aye-addio, we’re going to win the Cup! They sang and they roared, EE-AYE-ADDIO, WE’RE GOING TO WIN THE CUP! WE’RE GOING TO WIN THE CUP! EE-AYE-ADDIO, WE’RE GOING TO WIN THE CUP!
…
In the temporary office. Because of the alterations to Anfield, because of the improvements to Anfield. Bill picked up the telephone. Again. And Bill said, Bill Shankly speaking. What can I do for you?
Hello, Bill. It’s me, Bob. I’m at Scunthorpe with Reuben. We’re watching this lad Keegan. And we should sign him. Immediately, Bill. Now. Tonight. This very minute …
And Bill said, Thanks, Bob. That’s all I wanted to hear. All I wanted to know, Bob. Thank you very much.
Bill put down the telephone. Bill picked up the telephone again. And Bill dialled a number. Bill listened to the telephone on the other end of the line ring. Bill listened to the voice on the other end of the line. And then Bill said, Good evening, Mr Roberts. And I’m very sorry to call you at home, at this hour. But I want us to buy this boy Keegan from Scunthorpe United. I want us to sign him now. Tonight. This very night. This very minute …
In the temporary office, the very next day. Bill put down the telephone on his desk. Again. And Bill got up from his desk. The telephone ringing again. Bill walked around the bags and bags of mail. The telephone ringing. The mountain of bags and bags of mail. The telephone ringing. Bill went out of his temporary office. The telephone still ringing. Bill walked down the corridor. The telephones ringing, all the telephones ringing. Bill opened the door. The telephones still ringing. And Bill saw this boy Keegan. This boy Keegan sat on a dustbin outside Anfield. Among the building work, among the scaffolding. Bill shook hands with this boy Keegan. And Bill said, Welcome to Anfield, son. Now for your medical …