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players, Mr Shankly. That is one of the reasons we wanted you to be the manager of Liverpool Football Club. Because of your success with the younger players at Huddersfield Town. But we have our routines. We have our ways. And if you don’t agree with those routines, those ways, then you should come to us first, Mr Shankly.
    Well, if you don’t want me to develop these boys, these lads …
    We never said that, Mr Shankly. We are not saying that.
    Then you need to let me buy some players. Some decent players. Because frankly speaking, the players you have got here are not good enough for Liverpool Football Club.
    Tom Williams sat back in his chair. And Tom Williams said, And so who do you have in mind, Mr Shankly? Which players should we buy? Go on then, Mr Shankly. Please give us their names.
    Well, said Bill Shankly. I can tell you two names.
    Tom Williams said again, Go on …
    Denis Law of Huddersfield Town, said Bill Shankly. And Jack Charlton of Leeds United. For starters, that is. Just for starters.
    The directors of Liverpool Football Club smiled. The directors of Liverpool Football Club laughed. And one of them said, Denis Law? Mr Shankly, you must know better than any man how much Law would cost. Huddersfield are already asking over fifty grand for the lad. He’s a player for the likes of Arsenal or Spurs. For Manchester United or City. Not for Liverpool Football Club.
    And there’s your problem, said Bill Shankly. Right there. Right bloody there. Your thinking is the problem. You should be thinking Denis Law
is
a player for Liverpool Football Club. That
only
players as good as Denis Law can play for Liverpool Football Club …
    But we don’t have the money, Mr Shankly.
    You don’t have the ambition!
    Tom Williams sat forward in his chair. Tom Williams put his hands out before him. And Tom Williams said, Mr Shankly, Mr Shankly, please. We all want the best for Liverpool Football Club. The very best. But we simply don’t have the money for Denis Law. I wish we did. I really do. But we don’t. But now what about Jack Charlton? Do you honestly think Leeds United would sell him? They are fighting for their lives in the First Division. They are hardly likely to sell one of their best players now, are they, Mr Shankly? Their centre-half?
    I think they might. I think it’s at least worth asking.
    Well then, ask them, Mr Shankly. Ask them.
    …
    After their late lunch, in the late afternoon. The directors of Leeds United Association Football Club were sitting in the boardroom at Elland Road, Leeds. The directors of Leeds United Association Football Club heard the footsteps in the corridor outside. The fast steps, the heavy steps. The knocks upon the door. Fast and heavy.
    The chairman of Leeds United said, Come!
    Bill Shankly opened the door. Bill Shankly stepped into theboardroom at Elland Road. Bill Shankly looked around the board room. From director to director. And Bill Shankly smiled –
    My name is Bill Shankly. I am the manager of Liverpool Football Club. And I’m here to buy Jack Charlton.
    The directors of Leeds United Association Football Club stared down the long table at Bill Shankly. And then their chairman asked, And how much would you be willing to pay for Charlton?
    Fifteen thousand pounds, said Bill Shankly.
    The directors of Leeds United Association Football Club shook their heads. And their chairman said, Charlton will cost you twenty thousand, Shankly. Twenty thousand pounds. And not a penny less.
    How about eighteen thousand pounds, said Bill Shankly.
    Twenty thousand pounds, Shankly.
    Fine, said Bill Shankly. Twenty thousand pounds it is then. But I’ll need to make a telephone call.
    The directors of Leeds United Association Football Club smiled. And their chairman said, Then make your call, Shankly.
    After his early dinner, in the early evening. Tom Williams picked up the telephone in his hallway. And Tom Williams said, Yes?
    Mr Williams? This is Bill Shankly.
    Tom Williams said, Good