Aye, I’ll do it, said Tommy Smith. I’ll play anywhere. You know that. I’ll do it for the team, I’ll do it for the club. And for the supporters. But not for you. Not for you.
Bill smiled again. And Bill said, Great, Tommy. Thanks, son.
…
On the bench, the bench at Boothferry Park. In a time of energy rationing, in a time of power saving. At two fifteen on a Tuesday afternoon. To save power, to ration energy. Bill watched Liverpool Football Club play Hull City of the Second Division in the Fourth Round of the Football League Cup. And Bill watched Liverpool Football Club draw nil — nil with Hull City of the Second Division in the Fourth Round of the Football League Cup.
On the bench, the bench at Anfield. An hour earlier than usual, at two o’clock in the afternoon. Because of the power saving, because of the energy rationing. On a pitch that was too soft in some places, too hard in others. In a game that should never have been played. In the fourteenth minute, Bill and thirty-four thousand, eight hundred and fifty-seven folk watched Peter Cormack score. And Liverpool Football Club beat West Ham United one — nil. At home, at Anfield. And that evening, Leeds United had thirty points. Leeds United still first in the First Division, Leeds United still unbeaten. But the Champions of England had twenty-four points. And now the Champions of England were second in the First Division –
Climbing again.
On the bench, the Anfield bench. Bill and just seventeen thousand, one hundred and twenty folk were watching Liverpool Football Club play Hull City in the Fourth Round replay of the Football League Cup. At two o’clock, on a Tuesday afternoon. Because of the power saving, because of the energy rationing. And in the twelfth minute, they watched Ian Callaghan score. In the nineteenth minute, they watched Callaghan score again. And in the seventy-third minute, they watched Callaghan score his third. In his fourteenth season for Liverpool Football Club, in his six hundred and eighteenth game for Liverpool Football Club, Ian Callaghan had scored his first hat-trick for Liverpool Football Club. And Liverpool Football Club had beaten Hull City three — one in the Fourth Round replay of the Football League Cup. At home, at Anfield.
On the bench, the bench at Goodison Park. An hour early, at two o’clock. Because of the power saving, because of the energy rationing. Bill and fifty-six thousand and ninety-eight folk were watching Liverpool Football Club play Everton Football Club. But John Toshack was not playing for Liverpool Football Club. John Toshack still injured. And Steve Heighway was not playing for Liverpool Football Club. Steve Heighway had the flu. Alan Waddle was playing for Liverpool Football Club. And in the sixty-seventh minute, Alan Waddle scored. His first goal for Liverpool Football Club. The only goal of the match. And Liverpool Football Club beat Everton Football Club one — nil. Away from home, away from Anfield.
On the bench, the bench at Carrow Road. Blackouts had been expected and floodlights had been forbidden. But Liverpool Football Club had still travelled to Carrow Road. And Liverpool Football Club drew one — one with Norwich City. Away from home, away from Anfield. On the bench, the bench at Molineux. With overtime banned and with three-day working weeks about to start. Amid bomb scares and amid train crashes. At two o’clock, on a Wednesday afternoon. In the forty-sixth minute, Bill watched Tommy Smith try to head a long ball down to Emlyn Hughes. But the ball did not reach Hughes. Or Hughes did not reach the ball. Richards reached the ball. And Richards scored. And Liverpool Football Club lost one — nil to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Fifth Round of the Football League Cup. And Liverpool Football Club were out of another cup. Liverpool Football Club off the pace. With overtime banned, with three-day working weeks about to start. Amid bomb scares and amid train crashes. The gentlemen of the press were talking about a time of crisis. A state of emergency. And the End of the World –
On the bench, the Anfield bench. An hour early, at two o’clock. Bill and forty thousand, four hundred and twenty folk were watching Liverpool Football Club play Manchester United. Manchester United were fourth from the bottom of the First Division. Manchester United were in crisis, Manchester United were in trouble. In a state of emergency. And in the thirtieth minute, Bill and the forty thousand, four hundred and twenty folk watched Kevin Keegan score. A penalty. And in the sixty-fifth minute, they watched Heighway score. And Liverpool Football Club beat Manchester United two — nil. At home, at Anfield. In a time of crisis, in a state of emergency. Manchester United were still fourth from the bottom of the First Division. And Liverpool Football Club were still second from the top of the First Division. Leeds United still top of the First Division. After twenty-one games. Leeds United were still unbeaten.
On the bench, the bench at Turf Moor. In the mist, the Boxing Day mist. In the third minute, Bill watched James take a corner. And Dobson headed on the corner. Fletcher ran on to the header. And Fletcher scored. In the mist, the Boxing Day mist. In the sixtieth minute, Bill watched Kevin Keegan take a penalty. And Bill watched Keegan miss the penalty. But in the mist, the Boxing Day mist. In the eighty-fourth minute, Bill watched Peter Cormack equalise. But in the mist, the Boxing Day mist. One minute later, Bill watched Collins pass to Ingham. And Ingham passed to Hankin. Hankin shot. And Hankin scored. And in the mist, the Boxing Day mist. Liverpool Football Club lost two — one to Burnley Football Club. Away from home, away from Anfield. And in the mist, that Boxing Day mist. Liverpool Football Club had twenty-nine points. And Leeds United had thirty-eight points. In the mist, the Boxing Day mist. The Champions of England were nine points behind Leeds United. And in the mist, the Boxing Day mist. Bill knew the Champions of England had a mountain to climb.
On the bench, the bench at Stamford Bridge. On the last Saturday of 1973, in the twenty-first minute, Bill watched Peter Cormack score. And Liverpool Football Club beat Chelsea Football Club one — nil. Away from home, away from Anfield.
On the bench, the Anfield bench. An hour early, at two o’clock. With frost on the pitch and with ice in the air. On the first day of 1974, in the eighteenth minute of the match, Bill and thirty-nine thousand, one hundred and ten folk watched Weller shoot. And Weller scored. But in the sixty-seventh minute, they watched Peter Cormack shoot. And Cormack scored. And with frost on the pitch and with ice in the air. Liverpool Football Club drew one-all with Leicester City. At home, at Anfield. The first points Liverpool Football Club had dropped. At home, at Anfield. Bill walked into the dressing room. The home dressing room. And Bill looked around the dressing room. The Liverpool dressing room. And Bill said, You tried your very hardest, boys. You gave your very best. And so do not let your heads drop, boys. Do not be downcast. It takes two teams to make a game of it, boys. It always takes two teams.
On the bench, the Anfield bench. An hour early again, at two o’clock again. Bill and thirty-one thousand, four hundred and eighty-three folk were watching Liverpool Football Club play Doncaster Rovers in the Third Round of the FA Cup. Doncaster Rovers were ninety-second in the Football League. Doncaster Rovers were bottom of the Football League. In the third minute, Bill and thirty-one thousand, four hundred and eighty-three folk watched Phil Thompson pass to Steve Heighway. And Heighway passed to Ian Callaghan. Callaghan crossed for Kevin Keegan. And Keegan headed the cross. Into the net and into a goal. But three minutes later, they watched Doncaster Rovers win a corner. And Liverpool Football Club failed to clear the corner. Woods crossed the ball back into the Liverpool penalty area. Ray Clemence failed to hold the cross. Clemence fumbled the cross, Clemence dropped the ball. And Kitchen pounced on the ball. Kitchen stabbed the ball. Into the net and into a goal. And ten minutes later, they watched Murray cross. And again Liverpool Football Club failed to clear the cross. O’Callaghan shot. And O’Callaghan scored. And the ninety-second team in the Football League, the bottom club in the Football League, were beating the second team in the Football League, the Champions of England. At home, at Anfield. At half-time, Bill walked into the dressing room. The home dressing room. And Bill walked around the dressing room. The Liverpool dressing room. Bill went from player to player. From Clemence to Storton. From Lindsay to Thompson. From Rylands to Hughes. From Keegan to Cormack. From Heighway to Boersma. And from Boersma to Callaghan. Bill patted each of their backs, Bill put an arm around each of their shoulders. And Bill said, Come on, boys. Come on now. This is the FA Cup, boys. So let’s get it going …