Not alone.
Bill Shankly travelled to Rome, too. Along with the wives of the players of Liverpool Football Club. Along with the parents of the players of Liverpool Football Club. Bill Shankly was a guest of Liverpool Football Club. For the first time. An official guest in the official hotel. The Holiday Inn St Peter’s Hotel in the centre of Rome. The Holiday Inn where the wives of the players of Liverpool Football Club were staying. Where the parents of the players of Liverpool Football Club were staying. And where the players of Liverpool Football Club were staying. But Bill Shankly did not hang around in the corridors and the dining room of the Holiday Inn St Peter’s Hotel in the centre of Rome. Oh no. Bill Shankly did not want to be in anybody’s way. Bill Shankly did not want to be under anybody’s feet.
Bill Shankly woke up early. On the morning of the final. Bill Shankly went out to the Stadio Olimpico. On the morning of the final. Bill Shankly sat in his seat in the stands of the Stadio Olimpico. On the morning of the final. Bill Shankly was the first person in his seat. On the morning of the final. Bill Shankly was the only person in his seat. In his seat in the stands. Bill Shankly looked around the stadium. The empty seats, the waiting seats. In his seat in the stands. Bill Shankly looked down at the pitch. The grass and the lines. The posts and the nets. And Bill Shankly waited. And Bill Shankly worried. Bill Shankly worried that the players of Liverpool Football Club would be drained. The players of Liverpool Football Club would be tired. Drained and tired by the FA Cup Final defeat to Manchester United. Drained and tired by the heat of the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. On the morning of the final it was already eighty degrees. But in his seat in the stands of the stadium. Bill Shankly waited. And Bill Shankly hoped. Bill Shankly hoped Bob Paisley would make sure the players of Liverpool Football Club regained as much of their strength as possible. And Bill Shankly prayed. Bill Shankly prayed the players of Liverpool Football Club would find as much of their strength as possible. On the morning of the final. In his seat in the stands of the stadium. Bill Shankly smiled. Bill Shankly knew no one should underestimate Bob Paisley. Bill Shankly knew no one should underestimate the players of Liverpool Football Club. And Bill Shankly waited. And waited. Through the afternoon of the final. Bill Shankly waited. And Bill Shankly watched the supporters of Liverpool Football Club begin to arrive at the Stadio Olimpico. Through the afternoon of the final. Bill Shankly watched the supporters of Liverpool Football Club begin to fill the Stadio Olimpico. Through the afternoon of the final. Bill Shankly saw the banners and the flags of the supporters of Liverpool Football Club begin to take over the Stadio Olimpico. The red and white chequered flags. Through the afternoon of the final. Bill Shankly heard the chants and the songs of the supporters of Liverpool Football Club begin to overwhelm the Stadio Olimpico. Ee-aye-addio, we’re going to win the Cup. 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 through the afternoon of the final. In his seat in the stands of the stadium. The stadium now a sea of red and white chequered flags, the stadium now a storm of red and white songs. Bill Shankly smiled. And smiled. Bill Shankly knew no one should ever underestimate the supporters of Liverpool Football Club. On the evening of the final. In his seat in the stands. On the edge of his seat in the stands. Bill Shankly stared down at the players. The players of Liverpool Football Club. Ray Clemence. Peter McDonnell. Alec Lindsay. Tommy Smith. Emlyn Hughes. Ray Kennedy. Ian Callaghan. Alan Waddle. Kevin Keegan and Steve Heighway. The old and the new. Phil Neal. Joey Jones. Jimmy Case. Terry McDermott. David Fairclough and David Johnson. The players of Liverpool Football Club coming out of the tunnel. The players of Liverpool Football Club walking out into the stadium. To a deafening roar, to a glorious reception. On the night of the final. On the edge of his seat in the stands. Bill Shankly smiled again. Bill Shankly knew there was no way Liverpool Football Club could lose. No way on earth –
Ee-aye-addio, we’ve won the Cup! We’ve won the Cup, we’ve won the Cup. Ee-aye-addio, we’ve won the Cup!
Bill Shankly got up from his seat. His seat in the stands. Bill Shankly began to make his way out of the stadium. But a British journalist recognised Bill Shankly. And the journalist asked Bill Shankly about the game. About the team. Down there is the side you helped to build. What about that, Bill –
What a night for you?
This is the greatest night in the history of Liverpool Football Club, said Bill Shankly. Liverpool Football Club have been working towards this night for years. This night is the result of planning, of simplicity, and of how to play the game in a simple manner. And I think the whole world now realises that that’s the way to play. The players were simply tremendous. And so were the crowd. They were unbelievable. This is what football is all about …
And the journalist thanked Bill Shankly. And Bill Shankly walked on. Among the supporters of Liverpool Football Club. In their thousands. Waving their banners, waving their flags. Their red and white chequered flags. In their thousands. Chanting and singing one song: Ee-aye-addio, we’ve won the Cup. Heading to the buses, heading back to town. Among the thousands. Bill Shankly headed back towards his bus. The bus back to the hotel. Among the thousands. Looking at all the flags waving. The red and white chequered flags. Listening to the one song being sung. Ee-aye-addio, we’ve won the Cup. Among the thousands. One supporter spotted Bill Shankly. And the supporter said, Is that really you, Bill? Is it really you, Bill?
Aye, said Bill Shankly. But keep it down, son. Keep it down. I don’t want to start a riot with all the fans around …
But what are you doing out here, Bill? Why aren’t you back in the stadium with the team, Bill? Your team …
Oh well now, said Bill Shankly. It’s not my team now. It’s Bob’s team now, son. It’s Bob’s night tonight. Not mine, son.
The supporter shook his head. And the supporter said, No offence, Bill. But that’s bloody rubbish, Bill. Everybody knows it’s your team, Bill. It’s your team, Bill. Everybody knows that, Bill. The team you built, Bill. The team you made, Bill. Everybody knows that, Bill. You should be celebrating with the players, Bill. With your players, Bill. With your team, Bill.
Well, thanks for saying that, said Bill Shankly. That’s a nice thing to say, son. Thank you …
No, Bill. No. Don’t thank me, Bill. Please don’t thank me, Bill. Because I’m not just saying it, Bill. I’m not just saying it, Bill. It’s true, Bill. It’s true, Bill. It’s us who should be thanking you, Bill. Us who should be thanking you, Bill. We wouldn’t be here without you, Bill. This wouldn’t have happened without you, Bill. Everybody knows that, Bill. It couldn’t have happened without you, Bill. It could never have happened without you, Bill. Never, Bill. Never.
No, no, said Bill Shankly. It couldn’t have happened without all of you, son. Without all of you supporters.
Well, come and join us then, Bill. Come and have a drink with us in town tonight, Bill …
Thank you, said Bill Shankly. Thank you, son. But I’m a wee bit tired now. I’ve been at the stadium all day, son. I’m going back to the hotel now …