Willie Stevenson stared down at the end of his cigar. And Willie said, Oh, really? Do you now? So why is that, Mr Shankly? Why do you think I am an unlucky man?
Well, I can tell you why, said Bill Shankly. I can tell you why in two simple words: Jim Baxter. Jim Baxter is a great player. A great player for Rangers Football Club. But you are a great player, too. A player of great ability, a player of great vision. And for you to find yourself in the same squad as a player like Jim Baxter, a player in the very same position as yourself. Now that is unlucky. That is why you are an unlucky man, Billy. But it happens. It happens in football.
Willie Stevenson took another sip of his brandy. And then Willie nodded. And Willie said, And it’s happened to me …
Yes, said Bill Shankly. It’s happened to you. But you’re not the first and you won’t be the last. I’ve seen it before, many times before. And it’s never nice, Billy. Never pleasant. Because it reduces a man. It reduces a man to hoping for the worst for another man, for his teammate. Reduces him to sitting in bars, drinking and brooding, hoping that the other man gets injured, or loses his form. And that’s no way for a man to live, Billy. For any man to live. Hoping for the worst for another man, his fellow man, his teammate. Drinking and brooding, hoping for the worst, for a broken leg for another man. For a bloody piano to fall from the sky onto the head of another man. That’s no way to live, is it, Billy? Not for a man of your ability, a man of your talent.
Willie Stevenson nodded. And Willie said, So then what do you suggest I do about it, Mr Shankly?
Well, I suggest you change your luck, said Bill Shankly. And I suggest you change your life, Billy. It might not have worked out for you in Australia. But it can work out for you in Liverpool. So I suggest you join us, Billy. I suggest you join Liverpool Football Club. Where you can play some football. Some first-team football. In the First Division, in the Big League. Where you belong, Billy. A player of your ability, a player of your vision. At Liverpool Football Club, Billy. In the First Division, in the Big League. Where you bloody belong.
Willie Stevenson said, I’ll need to have a think about it.
Well, I’ll tell you what, said Bill Shankly. Why don’t we take you for a little drive, Billy? Take you for a wee drive so you can have your little think? How about we all do that, Billy?
Willie Stevenson nodded. Willie put out his cigar, Willie finished his cognac. And then Willie followed Bill Shankly, Eric Sawyer and Sidney Reakes out of the bar and into the street to the car.
Willie Stevenson looked at the Rolls-Royce. Willie whistled. Willie looked at Bill Shankly. And Willie said, This is a very nice car, Mr Shankly. I’ve never been in a Rolls-Royce before …
Really, said Bill Shankly. This is the first time you’ve ever been in a Rolls-Royce? Well, I am surprised, Billy. I must say, I am very surprised. A man of your style, a man of your taste. But I suppose we do get a wee bit blasé down in Liverpool. I mean, riding around in our Rolls-Royces all day. Perhaps we do get a wee bit blasé, Billy.
You mean you’ve got more? More than one?
Oh aye, said Bill Shankly. I’ve got ten Rolls-Royces down in Liverpool, Billy. And I’ve a mind to buy another. I’m always on the look out for another Rolls-Royce, Billy.
…
On Saturday 3 November, 1962, Burnley Football Club came to Anfield, Liverpool. That afternoon, forty-three thousand, eight hundred and seventy folk came, too. And in the fiftieth minute, Ian St John scored. But Liverpool Football Club lost two — one to Burnley Football Club. It was Willie Stevenson’s first game for Liverpool Football Club. At home, at Anfield. That night, Liverpool Football Club were nineteenth in the First Division. This season, Liverpool Football Club had played fifteen games in the First Division. They had lost eight games and they had drawn three games. In the First Division, in the Big League. Liverpool Football Club had won only four games. In the pubs and in the clubs of Liverpool, folk began to talk of the gulf in class. The gulf between the Second Division and the First Division, the gulf between the little leagues and the Big League. Between the little boys and the Big Men. Between your Liverpools and Leyton Orients and your Evertons and Manchester Uniteds –
On Saturday 10 November, 1962, Liverpool Football Club travelled to Old Trafford, Manchester. That afternoon, forty-three thousand, eight hundred and ten folk came, too. Forty-three thousand, eight hundred and ten folk to watch the Big Men play the little boys –
Before the whistle, the first whistle. In the dressing room, the away dressing room. Tommy Lawrence, Gerry Byrne, Ronnie Moran, Gordon Milne, Ron Yeats, Willie Stevenson, Ian Callaghan, Roger Hunt, Ian St John, Jimmy Melia and Alan A’Court watched Bill Shankly. In the dressing room, the away dressing room. Bill Shankly in his coat, Bill Shankly in his hat. In the mirror, the dressing-room mirror. Adjusting the lapels of his coat, adjusting the brim of his hat. In the mirror, the dressing-room mirror. Bill Shankly smiled –
You all know what I think of Matt, lads. The respect I have for Matt. For all that he has done, for all that he has achieved. And we all know we have not had the best of starts ourselves, we all know the position we are in. But it breaks my heart to see the season Matt is having, the results United have had. And today, to see the team Matt is forced to field. It breaks my heart, it really does. They are a shadow of their former selves, they really are. It’s no wonder Matt is always on the phone to me, asking me if any of you are on offer, available for transfer. I know for a fact he’d take any one of you, any one of you, boys. Because they are a makeshift side, this side today. A makeshift United. And so it breaks my heart, lads, it really does. Because today we’re going to turn the corner, we’re going to turn our season around. So it breaks my heart because we’re going to do it here, here today. But then again, they’ve had the glory long enough, lads. They’ve had it long enough. And so now it’s our turn, boys …
In the first half, Herd scored for United. In the second half, Ian St John equalised. Halfway through the second half, Quixall scored a penalty. Then with five minutes to go, Jimmy Melia equalised. And then with one minute to go, Liverpool Football Club were awarded a free kick twenty-five yards from the United goal. Ronnie Moran stepped up. Moran shot. From twenty-five yards out. Moran scored. But then in the very last second of the game, with the very last kick of the match, Giles equalised. And Liverpool Football Club drew three-all with Manchester United –
After the whistle, the final whistle. Matt Busby walked down the touchline at Old Trafford. Matt Busby shook Bill Shankly’s hand. Matt Busby smiled. And Matt Busby said, I should’ve kept my mouth shut, Bill. I should have let you resign that day!
I’ll take that as a compliment, Matt.
Matt Busby smiled again. And Matt Busby said, And so you should, Bill. So you should. That’s a good side you’ve got there, Bill. A very good side, the best side we’ve played so far.
Thank you, said Bill Shankly. Thank you very much, Matt. But I know we have only just begun. Today was only the start.
…
Every morning, Liverpool Football Club trained in the wind. Liverpool Football Club played in the wind. And Liverpool Football Club beat Arsenal Football Club in the wind. Every morning, Liverpool Football Club trained in the rain. Liverpool Football Club played in the rain. And Liverpool Football Club beat Leyton Orient in the rain. Every morning, Liverpool Football Club trained in the mud. Liverpool Football Club played in the mud. And Liverpool Football Club beat Birmingham City in the mud. Every morning, Liverpool Football Club trained in the fog. Liverpool Football Club played in the fog. And Liverpool Football Club beat Fulham Football Club in the fog. Every morning, Liverpool Football Club trained in the sleet. Liverpool Football Club played in the sleet. And Liverpool Football Club beat Sheffield Wednesday in the sleet. Every morning, Liverpool Football Club trained in the gales. Liverpool Football Club played in the gales. And Liverpool Football Club beat Blackpool Football Club in the gales. Every morning, Liverpool Football Club trained in the wind and in the rain, in the mud and in the fog, in the sleet and in the gales. Liverpool Football Club played in the wind and in the rain, in the mud and in the fog, in the sleet and in the gales. And Liverpool Football Club beat Blackburn Rovers in the wind and in the rain, in the mud and in the fog, in the sleet and in the gales. And in the wind and in the rain, in the mud and in the fog, in the sleet and in the gales, Liverpool Football Club won seven games in a row. And now Liverpool Football Club were fifth in the First Division. But then the snow came. And then the ice came. So the snow stayed,