Red or Dead (84 page)

Not only in the summer. Not these days. But in the autumn. And in the winter and in the spring. These days. Bill and Ness would drive up to Blackpool. In all seasons, in all weathers. Or if Ness did not fancy the drive up to Blackpool. If Ness was busy. Bill would call a friend. And Bill and his friend would drive up to Blackpool. In all
seasons, in all weathers. Or if his friends did not fancy the drive up to Blackpool. If his friends were busy. Bill would still go. Bill would still drive up to Blackpool. In all seasons, in all weathers. Bill parked the car by the Norbreck Castle Hotel. Bill crossed the tram tracks to the front. Bill walked along the Queen’s Promenade. And Bill sat on the front, on the promenade. In a deckchair or in a shelter. Bill sucked a lozenge, a Fisherman’s Friend. And Bill stared out at the sea, the Irish Sea. In all seasons, in all weathers. In a shelter or in a deckchair. Bill thought about the seasons that had been, Bill thought about the seasons to come. The things he had done and the things he would do. In all seasons, in all weathers. In his deckchair or in the shelter. Bill sucked a lozenge, a Fisherman’s Friend. Bill stared out at the sea, the Irish Sea. And Bill said, I only wish I could start all over again. Oh yes …

I mean, I see some of these managers. I hear some of these modern managers. And they talk like gods. But they haven’t won a thing. Not a bloody thing! And so I know, some of these top jobs. I could sit and do them with my eyes shut. With my bloody eyes shut!

Basic things, you know? Basic discipline, basic routines. The initial training period should take a long time. Oh yes. About five and a half weeks, I reckon. But you need to be cautious in these initial stages. You can’t be going out and tearing people to bloody pieces in the first three or four days. Oh no. You don’t put them in the sand or in the hills or on the road. You train them on the grass where they play. And you take it easy. I mean, if you saw Liverpool training in the early stages of my day, you might think they were being lazy. But the build-up was gradual, you see? Relying on experience, relying on knowledge. Our experience and our knowledge. Oh yes …

I mean, I would never ask players to stretch their legs until they were ready. Oh no. Injuries can be caused if the initial period is wrong. If a man breaks down two or three months into the season, it might well be because of his initial training. His initial training might well have been wrong, you see? It has to be a patient approach. Yes. It should be a very patient approach. I mean, Ray Clemence once pulled a muscle kicking balls too early into his training. It affected him for a long time. And he eventually missed a few games. And it cost us the League that season. I really believe that. I really do.

So I mean, you don’t want to let them sprint too early. Or kick the ball too early. Oh no. Caution is the key. Patience is the thing. You train hard, yes. But only when you are ready. Cautiously, patiently. You build up the training, you build up the players. Always with an eye on the details, on the little things. Oh yes. The details and the little things. I mean, during serious training. When the season is in full swing, when the players are seriously training. Then the players will sweat. Oh yes, of course they will. And they must, they must. But they must still wear a sweater or a top to train in. Particularly if it is a cold day. Because they need that sweater or that top to cover their kidneys. And if you haven’t worn one, you must put one on as soon as training is finished. To keep you warm, you must. Oh yes …

I mean, instead of stripping, training and showering at Melwood. And eating there and then going home. We stripped off at Anfield and then we went down to Melwood by bus. When it’s still summer and pre-season and when you are still hot and perspiring, you don’t want to be leaping into the bath five minutes after you have finished. Oh no. If you do, then you’ll sweat all bloody day. So after training, I encouraged the boys to have a little walk around and then have a nice cup of tea. And then we’d all get on the bus back to Anfield. It takes about fifteen minutes or so to get from Melwood in West Derby back to Anfield. And so you see, about forty minutes would have passed from training until they actually got into the bath. And I am certain, bloody certain, this is one of the reasons why we were always fitter than the rest. Because most of the other clubs, they report directly to their training grounds. And they strip off there. And so then they come straight off the training pitch and into a hot bath. Now I always disagreed with that. Strongly disagreed.

I mean, our lads never felt uncomfortable. Oh no. They never had their lunch with sweat pouring off them. And in my opinion, this was very important and a key part of Liverpool’s fitness. It actually prevented injuries from happening. Stripping off at Anfield and then getting the bus out to Melwood. And then having a cup of tea before getting the bus back to Anfield. It was very important. Oh yes …

So I mean, these are basic routines. Basic things, simple things. And the same things apply to the actual training sessions. The same basic things, very simple things. Footballers normally train for an hour
and a half. But it doesn’t mean they work for an hour and a half. Oh no. Some might be demonstrating a function while others are watching them, you see? And then it’s your turn. And then the others are watching you, you see? So it’s not how long you train. Oh no. It’s what you put into it. Oh yes. I mean, if you train properly, thirty-five minutes a day might well do you. It might well be enough.

I mean, we built Liverpool’s training on exhaustion and recovery with little areas of two-a-side, three-a-side and five-a-side. And in these little areas, you are working hard. Like a boxer, you see? Twisting and turning, turning and twisting. Training the basic skills, working on the simple things. Control. Passing. Vision. And awareness. Oh yes. Our training was based on these simple skills. These basic skills. That was what our training was based on. And on fitness. Because if you are fully fit, you have a huge advantage over everybody else. Oh yes. A tremendous advantage. Oh yes …

And I mean, then after all the training. After all the training was complete, on a Friday. We always had a talk about the impending game. All the players and the subs attended. And one of us, one of the staff. We would have watched the opposition. And they would bring in their report. You know, was it four–four–two, four–three–three or whatever. And did any of the opposing players have any little characteristics we might want to stifle? That kind of thing. But I never ever discussed the opposition at length. Oh no. The last thing you want to do is to talk about the opposition at length. It only builds up your opponents. And then it frightens your own players …

So I mean, we might have been playing Manchester United that weekend. But I wasn’t going to be singing their praises. The praises of the bloody opposition. Oh no. I tell you, I remember once coming out of one of them meetings. And one of our lads, he said to one of his mates. He said, So are Best, Law and Charlton not playing then? And that made me smile, made me laugh. Because you see, we were only concerned about us. And our collective approach. And that was simple. Keep everything simple. And be patient. Even if it takes eighty-nine minutes to score. Keep it simple. And be patient. Because the number of times we won a match at the death was unbelievable. Bloody unbelievable. And when you sneak one like that, it’s
heartbreaking
for the opposition. Bloody heartbreaking. Oh yes …

But I mean, before the game. Before the match itself. I always tried to have a joke up my sleeve, you know? To boost our lads and to knock down the opposition. I mean, don’t misunderstand me. Don’t get me wrong. We took our football seriously. But we always tried to get a laugh out of our team talks. And so I would always keep a few bombs for Saturday afternoon. Oh yes. I might say to the old boy on the Anfield door. I might say, Here’s a box of toilet rolls. You hand them to the opposition when they come through that door. Because they’re going to bloody need them. All the toilet rolls they can get. And often, I’d say it just as they were coming through the door. And I’d make sure my lads heard me, too. Oh yes! But I mean, don’t misunderstand me. Don’t get me wrong. It wasn’t arrogance. Or
overconfidence
. Oh no. Because being overconfident, being cocky. That is a form of ignorance. It means you are talking too much. And if you are guilty of that, then an opponent will bring you down to earth. Oh yes. If you are cocky, then you’ll get knocked down a peg or two. And I mean, we never lost a game. We never lost a match because we were arrogant. Or we were cocky. Oh no. And we didn’t lose many. Not many at all. Not in my day, not in my time. But if we did lose, when we did lose. We were always ready to learn. Always.

I mean, we learnt a lot in Europe. Oh yes. We learnt a lot through playing the Latins in Europe. We realised a football match is like a relay race. Not a sprint. Oh no. And so we realised you can score a goal by playing from the back. I mean, it may be cat and mouse for a while. Waiting for the opening to appear. But as I say, if you are patient. If you keep things simple. Then you’ll get your chance, your opening. If you are patient, if you keep things simple. And you can improvise. Oh yes! Improvisation. If your players can improvise, if your players can adjust to what is happening. You’ve got a chance. But as I say, it’s not a sprint. It’s a relay race. And the season itself, that is a marathon. A bloody marathon. And so in every game, all through the season. It’s vital you conserve your energy. You make sure the opposition are doing all the chasing. They are doing all the running. I mean, when you are playing over sixty games a season, you can’t afford to be running flat out all the time. Oh no. And so you have to make the opposition do the running. And you make sure the ball is doing all the work. So the system we devised, it was very
economical. And so you want everyone to be doing their share …

I mean, the important thing is that everyone can control the ball and do the basic things. It’s control and pass. Control and pass. Control and pass. So it’s important to try and give everyone a touch of the ball as quickly as possible as soon as the match starts. If it comes to you, you chest it down simple and you roll it to your mate. And then he does the same, so everyone gets a touch. It doesn’t look much, it might not look much. But it’s important. It’s something. Nothing fancy, nothing clever. If you try to do something clever, something fancy, and then it breaks down, then it can take the confidence out of you. That’s not my way. Oh no. Because that’s when the fear sets in. And then you are done for. You are lost. And you will lose …

And I mean, if you delay. Then the opposition are suddenly all behind the ball. Then you’ve all eleven of them to beat. And no space. And so you are looking for somebody who can control the ball instantly. And then give a forward pass. And then that gives you more space. And then you are all moving. All wanting the ball …

Because I mean, you see some teams playing and it seems as if nobody wants the ball. Nobody wants the bloody thing. They all turn their back on each other. But that’s not my way. Oh no. At Liverpool, there is always somebody there to help you out. There is always somebody in space, somebody asking for the ball. Somebody there to help you. There’s always somebody there to help you out. Oh yes …

So I mean, this is the secret. Get it. Give an early pass. Switch the ball around. You might not seem to be getting very far. But the opposition pattern is changing, the opposition are getting confused. And so then the space opens up for the next pass. And so all the players must understand that when they have delivered a pass, you’ve only just begun. You have only just started. You have to back up. And you have to look to help someone. You have to make yourself available. Available for the next pass. And then you get it again. And then you give it again. Early, always early. And then you move again. Into space again. Looking to help someone again, looking for the ball. That final ball, that final pass. And then the goal. Oh yes. The goal.

In all seasons, in all weathers. In the shelter or in his deckchair. Bill sucked a lozenge, a Fisherman’s Friend. Bill stared out at the sea, the Irish Sea. And Bill thought about the seasons that had been, Bill
thought about the seasons to come. The things he had done and the things he would do. If only he could start all over again.

Robinsons Barley Water had asked Bill Shankly if he would like to take on an ambassadorial role for them. Robinsons Barley Water had asked Bill Shankly if he would go and watch non-league games in the north-west for them. Robinsons Barley Water had asked Bill Shankly if he would then nominate his Man of the Match for them. And if he would then present his Man of the Match with a complimentary bottle of Robinsons Barley Water for them. Bill Shankly liked Robinsons Barley Water. Particularly their Lemon Barley Water. And Bill Shankly loved watching football. Any football –

Yes then, said Bill Shankly. I will take on this ambassadorial role for you. I will go and watch the non-league games in the
north-west
for you. And then I will nominate my Man of the Match for you.

Tony Sanders had spent most his working life in non-league football. Tony Sanders had been the manager of New Brighton. Tony Sanders had been the assistant manager of Skelmersdale United. Tony Sanders had been the assistant manager of Bangor City in Wales. Tony Sanders had even been the manager of Knattspyrnufélagið Víkingur in Iceland. Now Tony Sanders was the manager of Altrincham Football Club. Last season, Altrincham Football Club had won the Alliance Premier League championship. At the end of last season, Altrincham Football Club had applied for election to the Football League. The Big Leagues. But Altrincham Football Club had failed in their bid for election to the Football League. By two votes, just two votes. And so Altrincham Football Club were still in the Alliance Premier League. Still in the non-league, still in the little league.

But Tony Sanders was never far from the Big Leagues. Tony Sanders even lived close to Anfield Road. And Tony Sanders knew many men from the Big Leagues. The Giants of the Game. And Tony Sanders knew Bill Shankly. Tony Sanders had known Bill Shankly for a long time. Tony Sanders called Bill Shankly the Un-selfish Giant. Because Tony Sanders often met or telephoned Bill Shankly to ask for
his advice or help. And Bill Shankly was always happy to advise or to help Tony Sanders. If he could, whenever he could. Bill Shankly would go to watch Altrincham Football Club play in the Alliance Premier League. And if he could, whenever he could. Bill Shankly would go with Tony Sanders to watch other non-league teams play. To help Tony Sanders assess the opposition, to help Tony Sanders assess potential new players for Altrincham Football Club. And before these games. And after these games. Tony Sanders and Bill Shankly would talk about football and talk about management. And Bill Shankly would stress the importance of training schedules and match preparation. Bill Shankly would always stress the importance of routine. Of a good routine. And Bill Shankly would always stress the importance of belief. Of self-belief –

The most important thing is to believe in yourself, Bill Shankly would always say. For the players to believe in themselves, for the players to believe in the team. In the club and in their supporters. And then nothing will stop you, Tony. Because you have all the ingredients needed for success here. You have a nice, clean and tidy ground. And you are a good manager. You have a good training schedule. You have the right approach to your matches. You have a plan that works. A plan you stick to. And so Altrincham are a fine football club.

And for the past three seasons, Altrincham Football Club had reached the Third Round of the FA Cup. In January, 1979, Altrincham had gone to White Hart Lane and drawn one-all with Tottenham Hotspur. And then Tottenham Hotspur had come to Moss Lane and beaten Altrincham three–nil. In January, 1980, Leyton Orient had come to Moss Lane and drawn one-all with Altrincham. And then Altrincham had gone to Brisbane Road and lost two–one to Leyton Orient. And now in January, 1981, Altrincham had drawn Liverpool Football Club in the Third Round of the FA Cup. Away from Moss Lane, away at Anfield Road, Liverpool.

On the bus, the Altrincham bus to Anfield. The Altrincham players saw Bill Shankly sat beside Tony Sanders at the front of the bus. On the Altrincham bus to Anfield. Bill Shankly not saying anything, Bill Shankly just looking out of the window of the bus. On the Altrincham bus to Anfield. Bill Shankly turned to Tony Sanders –

If you were to beat Liverpool today, Tony. If you were to win
at Anfield today. It would be the giant-killing of the century, Tony. The biggest bloody giant-killing in history! David’s victory over Goliath would have nothing on you and your boys, Tony.

Tony Sanders nodded. Tony Sanders smiled. And Tony Sanders said, And do you think there’s any chance of that, Bill?

Do you want my honest opinion, asked Bill Shankly.

Tony Sanders nodded again. Tony Sanders smiled again. And Tony Sanders said, I’ve never known you give anything else, Bill.

Your problem is Liverpool, said Bill Shankly. Liverpool are different from any other football club. The players of Liverpool Football Club will treat your players as professionals. The players of Liverpool Football Club will treat your players with respect. There are no days off at Anfield, there are no slack days. And so Liverpool Football Club will treat this match like they treat every match. They will treat Altrincham like they would treat Manchester United. And so they will go out to beat you, Tony. They will go out to win.

Tony Sanders nodded. Tony Sanders smiled. And Tony Sanders said, Then we’re going to need all the help we can get. And we could never thank you enough for all you have done for us already, Bill. You have strengthened us in so many ways. And you have saved us a great deal of money, too. Money we didn’t have. And so as I say, I could never thank you enough, Bill. And I know you’ve said you don’t want to talk about tactics. Not against Liverpool. And I understand your reasons, Bill. And I respect them, I do. But do you think you could just have a word with my lads in the dressing room? Before the match. Just a few words, Bill?

In the dressing room at Anfield. The away dressing room at Anfield. The Altrincham dressing room at Anfield. The players of Altrincham Football Club listened to the noise of the Kop. The chanting and the singing. The roar of the Spion Kop. And the players of Altrincham Football Club looked down at their boots. Their empty, hollow boots. And then the players of Altrincham Football Club heard the dressing-room door open. The away dressing-room door. And the players of Altrincham Football Club looked up. And the players of Altrincham Football Club saw Bill Shankly standing in the centre of the dressing room. The away dressing room at Anfield, the visitors’ dressing room at Anfield. Bill Shankly looking from player to player.
From Connaughton to Allan. From Allan to Davison. From Davison to Bailey. From Bailey to Owens. From Owens to King. From King to Barrow. From Barrow to Heathcote. From Heathcote to Johnson. From Johnson to Rogers. And from Rogers to Howard. And the players of Altrincham Football Club waited for Bill Shankly to speak. To inspire them and to motivate them. In the away dressing room at Anfield, in the visitors’ dressing room at Anfield. Bill Shankly opened his mouth. Bill Shankly closed his mouth. And then Bill Shankly looked around the dressing room again. The away dressing room at Anfield. The visitors’ dressing room at Anfield. And Bill Shankly looked at John King. Bill Shankly pointed at John King. And Bill Shankly smiled –

You all see that man there? That man John King, lads? Well, I once tried to sign him. But he wouldn’t listen to me. Oh no! And so he signed for Everton. Bloody Everton! But if he had listened to me. If he had signed for me. Then he would have been playing here every week. Every bloody week! And I would have curbed him. Oh yes! And I would have made him captain of England. But now he’s got his chance to finally play here. And I tell you this, lads. He’ll remember this day, he’ll remember this game for the rest of his life. And so will all of you, lads. Because remember, there are many men who will play their entire careers, their entire football careers, without playing a game at Anfield, without kicking a ball here. In this ground, on this grass. And so this is a game, this is a day you will always remember, lads. And so make sure when you do look back, when you do remember. You can all say, I gave it my best. My very best shot. And I enjoyed it. Every minute of it. Every single bloody minute!

In the twenty-seventh minute, McDermott scored. In the
thirty-ninth
minute, Dalglish scored. In the fifty-fourth minute, Dalglish scored again. And in the seventy-first minute, Altrincham won a penalty. And Heathcote scored the penalty. In front of the Kop, the Spion Kop. And in the eighty-eighth minute, Ray Kennedy scored. And Liverpool Football Club beat Altrincham Football Club four–one in the Third Round of the FA Cup –

At Anfield, at home.