How old are you, lad? How old are you, son?
I’m seventeen, Boss, said Max Thompson.
Aye, said Bill Shankly. I know, son. I know that. You’re seventeen years, one hundred and twenty-nine days old, son. Bob told me. And Bob told me you are the youngest player ever to play for Liverpool Football Club. Did you know that, son?
Yes, Boss. Bob told me and all …
And so are you nervous, son?
Yes, Boss. Very nervous.
That’s natural, son. That’s only natural. But you should be excited, too. Excited and proud. Proud to be pulling on that shirt, proud to be playing for Liverpool Football Club. For the supporters of Liverpool Football Club. And remember, son. There are fifty thousand men and boys on the Kop who dream of pulling on that shirt. Who dream of playing for Liverpool Football Club. Who dream of being in your shoes. In your boots, in that shirt. That red shirt. And believe me, son. Once you’ve pulled on that shirt. Once you’ve played for Liverpool Football Club. You’ll never want to take off that shirt again. You’ll never want it to stop, you’ll never want it to end. So enjoy it, son. Enjoy every second and every minute of it. Every single second of every single minute. Because one day it will stop –
Believe me, son. One day it will end.
…
On Wednesday 8 May, 1974, early in the second half, Chris McGrath scored for Tottenham Hotspur. But in the sixty-seventh minute, Steve Heighway equalised. And Liverpool Football Club drew one-all with Tottenham Hotspur. Away from home,
away from Anfield.
THE SECOND HALF — EVERYDAY IS SUNDAY: Shankly Agonistes
46. THE BEST LAID SCHEMES
In the house, in their front room. After the whistle, before the whistle. In his chair, before the television. The World Cup on, the World Cup off. Bill turned to Ness. And Bill said, I’ve decided, love. I’ll go now.
Are you sure that’s what you want to do, asked Ness.
Bill shook his head. And Bill said, No, I’m not, love. I’m not sure at all. But I’m not enjoying life, love. I need to get it sorted out.
Well, if it’s making you miserable, love. If it is making you unhappy. All this talking, all this thinking. Then you have to make a decision, love. One way or the other. It’s like living with a time bomb.
Bill nodded. And Bill said, I know, love. And I’m sorry. Because it’s hard on you, love. It’s wearing you out, too. I know that, love. I can see that. But I thought you would bite off my hand, love. I thought you would jump for joy. And say, Yes, love. Now is the time.
I just don’t want you to do anything you don’t want to do, love. Football is your whole life. Liverpool Football Club is your whole life, love. I know that. And I know what a wrench it’ll be for you, love.
Bill shook his head. And Bill said, I’d be leaving Liverpool Football Club. But I’d not be leaving the game, love.
I know that, said Ness. And nor would I ever ask you to, love. It would be too cruel. It would be too heartless.
47. O’ MICE AN’ MEN, GANG AFT AGLEY
After the season, before the season. In the boardroom, the Anfield boardroom. John Smith looked down the long table at Bill Shankly. John Smith shook his head. And John Smith said, But if it’s a question of the new contract. If it’s a question of the money. Then we are willing to double your salary. We’re willing to triple your salary …
Thank you, said Bill Shankly. But it’s not a question of money. It’s never been a question of money. When I hear of the money that’s bandied about, it makes my blood boil. There are men with tennis courts and swimming pools who haven’t even got a Championship medal. But I have never asked for money. I came to Liverpool to make a success of this job for this club and for this city. Maybe I didn’t get enough out of it for my family. I regret I didn’t give Ness more. We’re still living in the same house we moved into when we came to Liverpool. But at least it’s a home, not a house. And I’m not looking for Buckingham Palace. And Matt is the same as me. They still live in the same semi-detached house in Chorlton-cum-Hardy they have always lived in. And perhaps my family are all right after all. They’ve all got a place to live and something to eat and I’ve got five bonny grandchildren. All girls. And every one with a Scouse accent. Now what more could a man want? So no, it’s not a question of money. It is a question of time. And I have been around a long time. Twenty-five years as a manager, seventeen as a player. But during my time, I have always been so single-minded. And so my family has suffered. And I regret that. I regret that Ness has had to bear the brunt of my being away so much. And so I think I would like a rest, to spend more time with my family, and maybe get a bit of fun out of life. Because whilst you love football, it is a hard, relentless task which goes on and on like a river. There is no time for stopping and resting. That is not an option. So I’m retiring. Because that is my only option. And I think now is the right time. If we had lost the final, I would have carried on. But I thought, We’ve won the Cup now and maybe it’s a good time to go. So I knew then, that day in May, I was going to finish.
John Smith shook his head again. And John Smith said, But what if we were to offer you a position as general manager? With an office here at the ground. Where you could come in when you want. And do what you want. At a different pace. At your own pace.
Thank you, said Bill Shankly. But that hasn’t worked at United. It hasn’t worked for Matt or for the club. They have been relegated. They are in the Second Division now. No, I’ve always said, when I go. When I leave. It will be a complete break. It must be a complete break. For you and for me. That is the only way.
John Smith said, But the thought of you leaving. Of you making a complete break. It is an horrendous thought for us. Would you not even consider becoming a director, Mr Shankly?
Thank you, said Bill Shankly again. But I’m not a committee man. So I could never be a director. That isn’t me.
48. AN’ LEA’E US NOUGHT
In the semi-detached house on Bellefield Avenue, West Derby, in their bedroom. Bill put on his shirt. His tangerine shirt. Bill went to the dressing table. Bill opened the top drawer. Bill took out his cufflinks. His gold cufflinks. Bill closed the drawer. Bill did up the cuffs of his shirt. His tangerine shirt. Bill went to the wardrobe. Bill opened the doors. Bill took out his suit. His freshly cleaned grey herringbone suit. Bill left the wardrobe doors open. Bill walked over to the bed. Bill laid out the suit on top of the bed covers. Bill took the trousers from the coat hanger. Bill put on the trousers of his suit. His freshly cleaned grey herringbone suit. Bill went back to the dressing table. Bill opened the second drawer of the dressing table. Bill took out a tie. The red tie his daughters had once given him for Christmas. The red tie he had worn ever since. Bill closed the drawer. Bill walked back to the wardrobe. The doors still open. Bill stood before the mirror on the back of one of the doors. Bill put on his tie. His red tie. Bill went back over to the bed. Bill picked up the jacket from the bed. Bill took the jacket from the coat hanger. Bill put on the jacket of his suit. His freshly cleaned grey herringbone suit. Bill walked back over to the dressing table. Bill opened the top drawer of the dressing table again. Bill took out one white handkerchief and one red pocket square. Bill closed the drawer. Bill put the white handkerchief in his left trouser pocket. Bill laid the red pocket square on the top of the dressing table. It looked like a red diamond. Bill brought the bottom point of the red pocket square up to the top point. It looked like a red triangle. Bill brought the left corner of the triangle to the right corner and then the right corner to the left corner. It looked like a long red rectangle with a point at the top. Bill folded the bottom almost to the top. Bill walked over to the mirror on the back of the wardrobe door. Bill stood before the mirror. Bill placed the red pocket square in the breast pocket of his grey jacket. Bill looked in the mirror. Bill adjusted the pocket square until just enough of the point was coming out of the pocket. The red point out of the grey pocket. Bill stepped back. In the semi-detached house on Bellefield Avenue, West Derby, in their bedroom. Bill looked at himself in the mirror. The suit too big, the tie too tight. And Bill saw a sixty-year-old man. The shadows around his eyes too dark, the lines in his face too deep. And Bill did not recognise him.