In the dressing room, the home dressing room. On the Saturday, the next Saturday. Bill looked from player to player. From Ray to Chris, from Chris to Alec, from Alec to Phil, from Phil to Larry, from Larry to Emlyn, from Emlyn to Kevin, from Kevin to Peter, from Peter to Steve, from Steve to Tosh and from Tosh to Cally. And Bill said, Well, boys. I know you are all still hurting from Tuesday night. I know you are all still bitterly disappointed, boys. But I also know you all played your hearts out on Tuesday night. You all gave everything you had, boys. All played your hearts out for the supporters of Liverpool Football Club. All gave everything you had for Liverpool Football Club, boys. And so I know you can all hold your heads up high today. When you go out there today, boys. Because I know you’ll all play your hearts out again. You’ll all give everything you have again, boys. Because you’ll have to play your hearts out, boys. You’ll have to give everything you have, boys. If we are to catch Leeds United. If we are to be Champions again, boys. Because only if we catch Leeds United. Only if we are Champions again, boys. Only then will we play in the European Cup again. Only then will we have the chance to win the European Cup, boys. To give these supporters the one cup they have never had. The one thing that would make them happier than anything else, boys. The European Cup, boys. If we catch Leeds United and we are Champions again. That is the only ways, boys. The only way to get over the disappointment. To get over the hurt, boys. That is the only ways, boys. To be Champions again. And to play in the European Cup again. The only way, boys. The Liverpool way …
And on the bench, the Anfield bench. Bill and the thirty-eight thousand and eighty-eight folk inside Anfield watched the players of Liverpool Football Club give everything they had. They watched them play their hearts out. And in the twenty-second minute, they watched Steve Heighway score. And Liverpool Football Club beat Wolverhampton Wanderers one — nil. At home, at Anfield. That evening, Leeds United were still first in the First Division. Leeds United still unbeaten. But Liverpool Football Club were now fourth in the First Division. Liverpool Football Club now climbing …
On the bench, the Anfield bench. In the seventeenth minute, Bill and thirty-seven thousand, four hundred and twenty-two folk watched Kevin Keegan score. And five minutes later, they watched Keegan score again. And in the forty-fourth minute, they watched Peter Cormack score. And in the last minute, the very last minute, they watched Keegan score again. A penalty. And a hat-trick. And Liverpool Football Club beat Ipswich Town four — two. At home, at Anfield. That evening, Leeds United had twenty-eight points. Leeds United still first in the First Division. Still unbeaten. But Liverpool Football Club had twenty-one points. Liverpool Football Club now third in the First Division. Still climbing.
…
In the office, at his desk. Bill looked up from his typewriter. Bill saw Tommy Smith. And Bill said, Hello, Tommy …
Don’t you hello Tommy me, said Tommy Smith. What the hell is all this about Stoke City? About me going on loan to them?
Bill held out the palms of his hands. And Bill said, Are you not pleased, are you not happy, Tommy? Is it not what you wanted, son?
Not what I wanted, said Tommy Smith. I didn’t know anything about it until Tony Waddington called me up at Melwood. Half an hour ago. That was the first I heard about it. Half an hour ago …
Bill nodded. And Bill said, Tony called me. He asked me if he could take you on loan. Just for a month. And I know you want to play. That’s what you want. And so I thought you’d be pleased. Thought you’d be happy. And so I said yes. I said yes, Tommy.
But you never thought to ask me, said Tommy Smith. After all the years I’ve been here. After all the games I’ve played. As captain, as club captain. You never thought to talk to me? You never thought to ask me what I think about going to Stoke?
Bill shook his head. And Bill said, You told me you want to play. You told me that’s all you want to do. To play. And they called me and told me they want you to play. So what is there to talk about, Tommy? What is there to think about, son? I thought you’d be happy. I thought you’d be pleased. Because you’d got what you wanted.
What I want is to play for Liverpool Football Club, said Tommy Smith. That’s all I want, Boss. All I want …
And Tommy Smith turned his back on Bill. And Tommy Smith walked out of the office. Down the corridor,
out of Anfield.
…
In the cold, the bitter cold. The bus stopped at Skipton. In the cold, the bitter cold. Bill and the players and the staff of Liverpool Football Club got off the bus. In the cold, the bitter cold. Bill and the players and the staff had a meal at Skipton. In the cold, the bitter cold. Bill and the players and the staff ate their steak and chips. Their tinned fruit and cream. In the cold, the bitter cold. Bill and the players and the staff got back on the bus to Roker Park, Sunderland. But in the cold, the bitter cold. The heating on the bus had broken down. And in the cold, the bitter cold. The players and the staff of Liverpool Football Club were freezing to death, shivering to death. And in the cold, the bitter cold. Bill got up from his seat on the bus. In the cold, the bitter cold. Bill walked up the aisle of the bus to Jack Cross, one of the directors of Liverpool Football Club. And in the cold, the bitter cold. Bill said, This is unacceptable. Unacceptable for the players of Liverpool Football Club. And so my lads will not be getting back on this bus, Mr Cross. My lads are not travelling back to Liverpool on this bus. So as soon as we get to Sunderland. I want this bus sent back. And I want a new bus sent. A bus with heating. Waiting for us after the match, waiting to take us back home. Back home to Liverpool.
In the cold, the bitter cold. Jack Cross nodded. And in the cold, the bitter cold. At Roker Park, Sunderland, Jack Cross arranged for a new bus. A bus with heating. And in the cold, the bitter cold. On the bench, the bench at Roker. In the twelfth minute, Bill watched Kevin Keegan score. In the forty-seventh minute, Bill watched John Toshack score. And Liverpool Football Club beat Sunderland Football Club two — nil in the Third Round of the Football League Cup. Away from home, away from Anfield. But in the cold, the bitter cold. In the dressing room, the away dressing room. Bill kept pacing up and down. Bill waiting for the new bus. The bus with heating. The bus to take them back home. Back home to Liverpool. And in the cold, the bitter cold. In the car park, the car park at Roker Park. At last Bill saw the new bus. The bus with heating. The bus to take them back home. Back home to Liverpool. And in the cold, the bitter cold. His coat stuck to his jacket. His jacket stuck to his shirt. His shirt stuck to his skin. Bill said, Come on, boys. Come on. The new bus is here. The bus to take us back home. Back home to Liverpool.
…
On the bench, the bench at Loftus Road. In the twenty-sixth minute, Bill watched Steve Heighway cross the ball. And Larry Lloyd headed the ball. Into the net, into a goal. But early in the second half, Bill watched Bowles equalise for Queens Park Rangers. In the seventy-fifth minute, Bill watched John Toshack score. But late in the second half, Bill watched McLintock equalise for Queens Park Rangers. And Liverpool Football Club drew two-all with Queens Park Rangers. Away from home, away from Anfield. That evening, Leeds United had twenty-nine points. Leeds United still first, Leeds United still unbeaten. That evening, Liverpool Football Club had twenty-two points. And Liverpool Football Club were fifth again. Falling again, not climbing. Falling and falling …
…
In the office, at his desk. Bill looked up from his typewriter. Bill saw Tommy Smith. And Bill said, Hello, Tommy. Hello, son …
What the bloody hell is going on, said Tommy Smith.
Bill smiled. And Bill said, Lovely to see you and all, Tommy. Good to have you back, son. Chris has done his cartilage in. Be out for a while. So I want you to play right-back for us, Tommy. You think you can do for that us, son? Play right-back for a while?