The final whistle –
And Watford Football Club had beaten Liverpool Football Club one — nil in the Sixth Round of the FA Cup. And the players of Watford Football Club jumped into the air. And the supporters of Watford Football Club ran onto the pitch. And the players of Liverpool Football Club fell to their knees. In silence. And the supporters of Liverpool Football Club fell to their knees. In silence. As the players of Watford Football Club sang, 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! As the supporters of Watford Football Club sang, 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! As the whole of Watford sang, 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!
And after that whistle, that final, final whistle. In the dug-out. The dug-out at Vicarage Road. Bill Shankly tried to stand. Bill Shankly tried to get to his feet. His coat stuck to his jacket. His jacket stuck to his shirt. His shirt stuck to his vest. His vest stuck to his skin. And in the dug-out. The dug-out at Vicarage Road. Bill Shankly finally stood up. Bill Shankly finally got to his feet. His coat still stuck to his jacket. His jacket still stuck to his shirt. His shirt still stuck to his vest. His vest still stuck to his skin. Bill Shankly walked down the touchline. The Vicarage Road touchline. Bill Shankly went into the dressing room. The away dressing room. Bill Shankly looked around the dressing room. The Liverpool dressing room. Bill Shankly looked from player to player. From Lawrence to Lawler, Lawler to Wall, Wall to Strong, Strong to Yeats, Yeats to Hughes, Hughes to Callaghan, Callaghan to Ross, Ross to Evans, Evans to St John and from St John to Graham. His coat stuck to his jacket. His jacket stuck to his shirt. His shirt stuck to his vest. His vest stuck to his skin. Bill Shankly looked into their eyes. Bill Shankly looked into their hearts. And Bill Shankly opened his mouth. Bill Shankly tried to speak. But Bill Shankly could not speak. Bill Shankly had no words. In their eyes, in their hearts. They knew and Bill Shankly knew. The old were dying and the new could not be born. His coat stuck to his jacket. His jacket stuck to his shirt. His shirt stuck to his vest. His vest stuck to his skin. Bill Shankly knew there was nothing more to say. There were no more words. No other words. All redemption gone,
all salvation lost.
…
One week afterwards, Derby County came to Anfield, Liverpool. That day, forty-three thousand, five hundred and ninety-four folk came, too. But that day, Tommy Lawrence did not come to Anfield, Liverpool. And that day, Ron Yeats did not come to Anfield, Liverpool. And that day, Ian Ross did not come to Anfield, Liverpool. And that day, Ian St John did not come to Anfield, Liverpool. That day, Tommy Smith was no longer injured. Tommy Smith was fit again. So that day, Tommy Smith came to Anfield, Liverpool. And that day, Peter Thompson was no longer injured. Peter Thompson was fit again. So that day, Peter Thompson came to Anfield, Liverpool. And so did Ray Clemence. And so did Doug Livermore. And so did Chris Lawler, Peter Wall, Geoff Strong, Emlyn Hughes, Ian Callaghan, Alun Evans and Bobby Graham. That day, Liverpool Football Club made four changes to the side that lost one — nil to Watford Football Club the week before. But that day, Liverpool Football Club still lost two — nil to Derby County. At home, at Anfield. Liverpool Football Club still lost. And that night, Liverpool Football Club were ninth in the First Division.
Three days later, Liverpool Football Club travelled to Highfield Road, Coventry. But Tommy Lawrence did not travel to Highfield Road, Coventry. And Ian St John did not travel to Highfield Road, Coventry. And that night, Coventry City scored twice. But in the thirty-eighth minute, Emlyn Hughes scored. In the sixty-fifth minute, Alun Evans scored. And in the seventy-second minute, Evans scored again. And that night, Liverpool Football Club beat Coventry City three — two. And that night, Liverpool Football Club were fifth in the First Division. But that night, Liverpool Football Club were still nowhere. Liverpool Football Club still lost.
On Saturday 7 March, 1970, Leeds United Association Football Club came to Anfield, Liverpool. That afternoon, fifty-one thousand, four hundred and thirty-five folk came, too. Fifty-one thousand, four hundred and thirty-five folk to watch fifth play first. But that afternoon, fifth failed to score and first failed to score. And that afternoon, fifth drew nil — nil with first. And that evening, first were still first. And fifth were still fifth.
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 …