After the whistle, the final whistle. In the dressing room, the home dressing room. The players of Liverpool Football Club looked at Bill Shankly. Bill Shankly standing in the dressing room, Bill Shankly staring at the players. From player to player. From Slater to Molyneux. From Molyneux to Byrne. From Byrne to Campbell. From Campbell to White. From White to Leishman. From Leishman to Lewis. From Lewis to Hunt. From Hunt to Hickson. From Hickson to Harrower. From Harrower to A’Court. And Bill Shankly said, You tried your best, boys. You tried your very best. Each and every one of you, lads. Every single one of you. And so I could not have asked for more, boys. Nothing more. But I know we have lost twice in a row now, lads. And no one likes it. None of us, boys. Not one single one of us. But we went fourteen games without losing, lads. And so I know we can go another fourteen games without losing. Another forty, boys! I know we can, I know we can. So this is not the end, lads. Not the end. This can still be our season, boys. I know it can be. Our season for promotion, lads!
…
On Saturday 7 January, 1961, Coventry City came to Anfield, Liverpool. That afternoon, fifty thousand, nine hundred and nine folk came, too. Fifty thousand, nine hundred and nine folk to watch Liverpool Football Club play Coventry City in the Third Round of the FA Cup. In the thirty-seventh minute, Roger Hunt scored. In the fortieth minute, Kevin Lewis scored. In the sixty-first minute, Jimmy Harrower scored. And Liverpool Football Club beat Coventry City three — two in the Third Round of the FA Cup. At home, at Anfield. One week later, Liverpool Football Club lost to Brighton and Hove Albion in the League. One week after that, Sunderland Football Club came to Anfield, Liverpool. That afternoon, forty-six thousand, one hundred and eighty-five folk came, too. Forty-six thousand, one hundred and eighty-five folk to watch Liverpool Football Club play Sunderland Football Club in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup. In the third minute, Hooper scored. In the fourteenth minute, Lawther scored. And Liverpool Football Club lost two — nil to Sunderland Football Club in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup. At home, at Anfield. Liverpool Football Club were out of the FA Cup. Again.
…
In February, 1961, Liverpool Football Club beat Scunthorpe United. They beat Leyton Orient. They beat Derby County. And they beat Lincoln City. In March, 1961, Liverpool Football Club drew with Portsmouth Football Club. They beat Huddersfield Town. They lost to Swansea Town and they drew with Plymouth Argyle. On the last day of March, 1961, Liverpool Football Club beat Bristol Rovers three — nil. At home, at Anfield. That evening, Liverpool Football Club were third in the Second Division. Sheffield United were second and Ipswich Town were first. But just one point separated Liverpool Football Club and Sheffield United. Just one point, one single point –
On Tuesday 4 April, 1961, Liverpool Football Club travelled to Bramall Lane, Sheffield. In the seventy-second minute, Johnny Morrissey scored for Liverpool Football Club. But Liverpool Football Club could only draw one-all with Sheffield United. That night, Liverpool Football Club had forty-seven points. Sheffield United had forty-eight points and Ipswich Town had fifty-two points. Three days later, Liverpool Football Club travelled to the Eastville Stadium, Bristol. Bristol Rovers were fighting for their lives, Liverpool Football Club were fighting for promotion. And Bristol Rovers beat Liverpool Football Club four — three. That day, Sheffield United won. Four days after that, Liverpool Football Club beat Charlton Athletic two — one. That same day, Sheffield United won again. On Saturday 15 April, 1961, Liverpool Football Club travelled to Carrow Road, Norwich. And Norwich City beat Liverpool Football Club two — one. That day, Sheffield United won again. That night, Liverpool Football Club had forty-nine points. Sheffield United had fifty-four points and Ipswich Town had fifty-five points. Four days later, Sheffield United beat Derby County. Sheffield United now had fifty-six points. That night, Sheffield United were promoted in second place and Ipswich Town were promoted as Champions. Liverpool Football Club were not promoted. Liverpool Football Club finished third in the Second Division. Third again.
6. P.S. FIND PEOPLE WHO ARE TOUGHER
In the boardroom, in the chair at the end of the long table. Bill looked at the directors of Liverpool Football Club. And Bill waited.
It’s been a good season, said Tom Williams. Quite a good season, Mr Shankly. Yes, we have finished third again. Yes, we have missed out on promotion again. But we have two more points than we did at the end of last season. And so that is an improvement, Mr Shankly. A visible improvement. Unfortunately, our home gates are a little down on last season. But not by much, not so very much. And we all know Rome was not built in a day, we all know that. So keep up the good work, Mr Shankly. And better luck next season.
…
In the office, at the desk. Bill opened up the newspaper. Again. Bill looked down at the final League table for the 1960–61 season. Liverpool Football Club had played forty-two games in the Second Division in the 1960–61 season. They had won fourteen games at home, at Anfield. Lost five and drawn two. They had won seven games away, away from Anfield. Drawn five and lost nine. Liverpool Football Club had scored forty-nine goals at home and thirty-eight goals away. They had conceded twenty-one goals at home and thirty-seven away. In the office, at the desk. Bill opened a drawer. Bill took out a pair of scissors and a pot of glue. And Bill began to cut out the final League table for the 1960–61 season from the newspaper. Bill did not believe in luck. Bad luck or good. Bill knew it was never a matter of luck, never a question of luck. Bill knew luck was just another excuse for failure. Bill knew luck was what men like the directors of Liverpool Football Club told men like him when things did not work out, when things did not go the way men like him wanted them to go. Bill thought the word luck should be cut out of the dictionary, struck from the English language. Banished and forgotten. In the office, at the desk. Bill heard footsteps in the corridor. Slow and careful steps. And a knock upon the door. A slow and careful knock. Bill put down the scissors. Bill looked up from the desk. And Bill said, Yes?
The door opened. Slowly and carefully. A round-faced man in an ill-fitting suit stood in the doorway.
Bill said, Can I help you?
Mr Shankly, said the man. I don’t think we’ve been properly introduced, but my name is Eric Sawyer. I’ve just been appointed to the board of directors. I wondered if you had a moment?
In the office, behind the desk. Bill smiled. Bill stood up. And Bill said, I’ve always a moment. Please come in, please have a seat. And would you like a cup of tea, Mr Sawyer?
That would be very nice, Mr Shankly, said Eric Sawyer. If you have the time. Thank you very much, Mr Shankly.
Bill went out of the office. Bill went down the corridor. And Bill asked one of the secretaries to bring in a pot of tea. Then Bill came back up the corridor. Bill came back into the office. Bill sat back down behind the desk. Bill smiled at Eric Sawyer. And Bill said, The tea will be just a minute. Now what can I do for you, Mr Sawyer?
Well, said Eric Sawyer. Like most directors, I’m afraid I don’t know very much about football, Mr Shankly. Not very much at all.
Bill laughed. And Bill said, That’s a very honest thing for you to say, Mr Sawyer. In fact, that’s the most honest thing I’ve ever heard a director say in my life. Maybe the only honest thing!
But I know you know about football, said Eric Sawyer. I know you know a lot, Mr Shankly. Perhaps all there is to know about football. And so I also know you must be bitterly disappointed that we have not been promoted this season.
I am, Mr Sawyer. I am.
Well, I want you to know, Mr Shankly, that I am here to help you. I am here to help you gain promotion. To help you get Liverpool Football Club back into the First Division. That is why I have been appointed to the board of Liverpool Football Club.