At the End of the Storm

IT would take something of a major, let alone minor miracle for Liverpool to win their record-breaking 19th league title this year.

A crippling injury list, loss of form, low confidence and even a beach ball have all intervened to the detriment of Rafa Benitez's team since the 2009-10 campaign kicked-off back in August.

The reasons are plentiful for a stuttering start to the season that has all but extinguished the Reds' hopes of claiming their first top flight title since 1990.

They pale into insignificance, however, when compared to the set of extenuating circumstances that confronted George Kay's title-winning side in the first full season after the end of the Second World War.

Amid the bleak austerity of a war-ravaged nation with food and clothes rationing, fuel and housing shortages and the worst winter ever recorded, Kay's side brought some much-needed cheer to the long suffering Liverpool fans with a title charge that defied the odds and silenced all those who had written the team off before a ball had even been kicked.

The 1946-47 season had everything. A ground-breaking pre-season tour of the USA; league debuts for future club legends Billy Liddell and Bob Paisley; the signing of the sensational striker Albert Stubbins; Jack Balmer's amazing hat-trick of hat-tricks; long queues and massive crowds; the constant threat of a players' strike; quagmire pitches; frozen pitches; a thrilling FA Cup run; the famous 'goal in the snow'; squad rotation; an unprecedented fixture pile-up; and a nail-biting championship finale that wasn't resolved until the middle of June!

It is a fascinating story that has been told in its entirety for the first time by Liverpool supporters and writers Mark Platt and Gary Shaw in a new book At The End Of The Storm.

The obstacles facing Liverpool throughout the 1946-47 campaign make the problems at the modern day Anfield appear as a mere stroll through Stanley Park.

All were tackled head on as Stubbins and skipper Balmer's goals - the Torres and Gerrard of their day - helped the Anfield club clinch the fifth league championship in their history.

"Neither before or since has league title glory been achieved in such remarkable circumstances," says Shaw.

"It was our best ever title win simply because of the whole set of circumstances surrounding it.

"The players had to overcome distractions such as the constant threat of a players' strike and the worst weather conditions ever recorded which, in turn, led to the longest-ever season.

"It didn't end until the middle of June! It was such an incredible season and without doubt the most unexpected of the club's 18 title triumphs. No-one gave Liverpool a chance that season but they upset all the odds in true underdog style."

Placing Liverpool's title triumph in its wider social context, with match-by-match analysis, player profiles and rare photographs, At The End Of The Storm also dispels the myth that success only came to Anfield under Bill Shankly.

"It really is just a great football story of overcoming adversity and one we felt had to be told," says Platt.

"The history of Liverpool Football Club did not begin with Bill Shankly's arrival in 1959, as we are led to believe in a lot of other LFC-related books.

"The club had an illustrious history before this and it's important people are made aware of it."

War had taken its toll on the players; under-nourished and under-rated, Liverpool weren't given a hope of achieving anything that season.

"It had been 20-odd years since they'd last won anything and it was thought the war had taken the best years off many of their players, the likes of Balmer and Willie Fagan for example," explains Platt.

"Liverpool had also lost their pre-war inspiration Matt Busby to Manchester United and the youngsters signed before the war, like Paisley and Liddell, were as yet untried in the top division.

"During the season, even after they'd enjoyed a good run of results, they were constantly being written off.

"Wolves were the long-time leaders of the division and no-one could see them being overhauled.

"But Liverpool never gave up and their resilience eventually paid off."

When word of the book spread to Melwood, Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez invited the authors along to meet him.

"It was great that the current manager would show such an interest in the club's history," says Platt.

"Rafa asked us to bring a copy with us so he could take a look.

"He seemed fascinated by the pictures, particularly the condition of some of the pitches back then.

"We discussed the differences and similarities between then and now and Rafa was genuinely intrigued by the story of this incredible title-winning campaign."

If any inspiration is needed, the Reds' boss need look no further.

The team of 1946-47 proved that nothing was impossible.

They won the league against the odds through commitment, teamwork, discipline, belief and ability - with a little bit of luck thrown in along the way. They proved that miracles can happen.

At The End Of The Storm, is priced at £12.99 and can be ordered at www.attheendofthestorm.co.uk

This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the views or position of Liverpool Football Club.