The latest football book from the ever expanding CQN publishing stable is a long awaited blast from one of the many world class players who were part of the Lisbon Lions of 1967. Celtic’s best ever left back has collaborated with Alex Gordon, a vastly experienced sports writer, to produce a rollicking tale from a football life that was full of adventure, just like Tommy’s own playing style and that of the team that made him famous.
Entitled “All The Best”, the title reflects the fact that Tommy offers these wishes to all his readers, that he is giving of his best in the writing of the book just as he did on the field, with candid comment and surprising views, but, mostly, because Tommy has taken the stable diet of the football memoir- “Who were the best players that you played with and against?”, and taken this to another level
He has listed nine “Best Of” teams in the course of the book: the Lions (of course), Tommy’s best Scotland teammates, the best Celtic players apart from the Lions, a World Football 11 Tommy’s played against, his best teammates from both Nottingham Forest and Dundee, as well as two generations of great Celtic players Tommy has watched as a spectator. There’s even a nod to his time as Albion Rovers’ manager.
Now, those of you used to the lazy format of a football book where not much thought, insight or honesty goes into the exercise, will be very surprised at the level of honesty, brutal in some cases, that goes into the pen pictures of those selected and some who just missed out. Tommy turns an honest spotlight on himself, you find yourself nodding your head in agreement, once you’ve recovered your breath, that is.
For this is a breathless read of a football life lived to the full. The forthright opinions on managers, even those he admired, are very revealing about the amount of dishonesty involved in football. You will be astounded at how these world class football players conducted themselves. If you are expecting to find tales of clean living, utmost professionalism on and off the field, and modern collegiate management, you will be very disappointed in this book. However, if you are looking for searing honesty, interspersed with several hilarious tales, then this is the book for you
It is not the polite memoir of a senior citizen glossing over the bad behaviour of his younger days, it is the “warts and all” tales of a more innocent time, when despite the absence of modern techniques, Scotland managed to rule the world and produce a Golden generation, for a brief period of time. Some of the opinions expressed are candid to the point of scurrilous-ness but the humour that is present in every chapter and every pen picture takes the edge of some of the more boorish behaviour which is recounted. There is no hiding place in sport. Everyone has an opinion and is keen to share it. Add booze to the picture and bad behaviour will inevitably follow,
It is fair to say that, even though I thought I was well acquainted with the details of Tommy’s life and career, there were many incidents that I was hearing about for the first time. Tommy’s description of one of his early team mates at Celtic who made life difficult for him will, first of all, shock you and then have you biting the carpet with laughter. His tale of transfer negotiations with the legendary Jim McLean and with a Ranger’s Director will also have you smiling broadly as Tommy does not miss and hit the wall.
From the Foreword by fellow Lisbon Lion, Bertie Auld, through to the final section, where Tommy fields some cheeky questions from the posters on the Celtic Quick News site, genuine laugh out loud humour is not far from the surface. This is a very funny book and captures the banter that still flows between these football legends.
It is a difficult task to combine such humour with frank honesty and then to maintain readability. In the 12 chapters of the book, you will find details which surprise, shock and amuse you. If you are a Celtic fan of a certain age, you will smile in reminiscence as long forgotten events are re-lived from an insider’s perspective. If you are a football fan at all, you will get an insight into the world of football from the 50s to the 80s from a practitioner and into modern football of the past 3 decades from an informed observer. If you just like to read a good book, this one will make you laugh out loud at many points.
Tommy Gemmell gave all his best for Celtic and Scotland while he played there. He continues to give us all his best in this publication. This is the best football memoir I’ve read in a long time. I am still remembering pieces and chuckling as I type this.
For a short period only you can add to the bundle Tommy is dedicating and signing (below) from the button at the bottom of the page.
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BRTH 20:03
There needs to be a clear timeline and a full paperchase.
—————————————————————–
That should start a step back from then. In November 2011 the SPL replaced the five-year Sky/ESPN contract (which only started in July 2009) with a new deal which required four “Old Firm” games per season.
With Rangers liquidated and not in the SPL, this new deal became invalid and the new-new one signed in August 2012 cost them “a seven-figure sum” (Doncaster’s words).
The question that needs to be answered is why was the original deal scrapped (it had almost three years still to run)?
Why the requirement for four “Old Firm” games? Was this normal?
Did it have anything to do with Doncaster and Topping’s meeting with Craig Whyte only one month earlier?
If not, fine. But we need the transparency.
Evening everybody.
How did Tony Watt end the season in Belgium? Anyone know? We may need him for the games in Europe now that Samaras has left.
sipsini
22:16 on 20 May, 2014
Good nightime reading from JF?
http://www.onfieldsofgreen.com/the-age-of-unreality/
Just read it my Fhriend. Interesting analysis of the badness/madness/ corruption that are the Scottish football authorities.
HH jamesgang
john o’neil
8 goals in 17 games, fell out with coach, never played last month or so of season. He won’t be back, IMO.
TET,
Hang in there till the final curtain.
Even as I type, I am sure that football fans all over Scotland are cancelling ther sports subscriptions.
To not do so, is to condone the scam, thereby negating the right to complain.
It’s like complaining about a Government, then not using your vote.
BC or DC.
mncelt
The Super Bowl had a narrow escape in the Meadowlands.
They are really pushing their luck, although I believe a new stadium will have a removable roof?
Where next? Fargo?
I heard one or two English presenters laughing at Toure’s agent because of his accent and use of English. One even referred to Borat. Racist? Just ignorant. How many hacks in Britain speak another language?
jamesgang
Trust me I want to, I just can’t see the point anymore.
The powers will not give up till they are back winning again.
While they are suffering, we are all enjoying their pain, but it won’t always be this way.
Say for example, a new euro league is in the offing, and there will be one soon enough, the OF are box office, big time box office, all it will take is someone with a few bob, and trust me they will come out of the woodwork when serious TV money is on offer.
Back to normal, OF first and foremost and feck the support.
Keeping the faith is no easy mi amigo.
HH
What happened after the 120 daze? I seemed to have missed it in the mist!!
mncelt
Vikings and all other 31 teams schedules available on http://www.nfl.com
AP one hell of a player, can he stay free from injury though??
Must chew the NFL fat with you sometime nearer the time :D
Vikings 2014 schedule is a brute, as follows
Week
1 @ St Louis
2 NE
3 @ NO
4 ATL
5 @ GB
6 DET
7 @ BUF
8 @ Tampa B
9 WAS
10 Bye
11 @ CHI
12 GB
13 CAR
14 NYJ
15 @ DET
16 @ MIA
17 CHI
Thanks Gary. Wasn’t that coach a numbskull?
TET,
No matter what assistance thems get, they’ve dug a hole deep enough to end up in GCT’s domain before he hits his plane home.
Enjoy it, everyday is a new story, mostly us having a belly laugh at them. Hail Hail.
ttt
We have talked about this numerous times, and each time another rung is taken away.
I love football, I love Celtic, but the game I love, and the club I love are being crapped on every which way, what is the point ?
We can’t even get a level playing field FFS, everything is stacked against us, even our support are complacent, it’s taken the support of other clubs to get action, action that didn’t amount to much, but more than we did.
All this slowly slowly catchy monkey garbage, they are bent, the system is bent, and yet we throw good money into it, no more.
I have more important things to get upset about, all that is happening is a raising of the blood pressure for feck all return.
Apathy rules.
HH
Back in again ghuys….
I cannot believe the anti Celtic nature on here tonight. I have renewed my ST whether you Anti Celtic Mob like it or not. Support Celtic or go Elsewhere. Good enough for yez. YNWA CELTIC. Cot time, so don’t you board bashers bother responding. Off line, NOW.
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
GG – I’m pretty sure the removable roof was binned as an idea due to cost. All the major sports teams play in new stadiums, so there is no real possibility to share the Vikings stadium with anyone else, meaning it would be empty all Summer anyway.
I have a buddy who goes to watch the Packers often in their outdoor stadium and I don’t know how he stands the cold. Not for me.
Fargo ? No thanks :) I think MSP will put on a great show
Evening Exiled.
Stick with us. Rangers will join our division eventually but that isn’t Celtic’s fault. Pragmatism isn’t popular but it is required. Want rid of the OF? Let’s have less focus on Rangers and more on Celtic here and elsewhere.
TET
I hear you brother. And I think we can all see what the dark forces are seeking to do.
But I think and hope their impending doom may scupper their plan.
I may be naive. I may be too hopeful.
Time will tell.
HH jamesgang
john o’neil
A complete warmer by the sounds of it.
Would like to see Watt back and given another chance but can’t see it happening.
mncelt: It’s because Packers fans are made of sterner stuff than Minnesotans. ;-)
(I’m from Wisconsin … :-)
Squire Danaher- Definitely a tough start. Can’t see us getting much out of the first 5 games. The division though is key. Packers, Lions, and Bears every season. Just got to do well in those games to get to the play-offs.
Welcome to our academy Colin Hazard, a goalie from Cliftonville, our first signing this summer.
Hope you have a successful spell with us.
I’d like our first team squad to add some signings now specifically two key players, who’ve indicated they want to stay, KC and EI.
General feeling is that current players are being presented with contract extensions on reduced terms from their original signing.
Austerity and all that. Ok, boss.
Here’s a good example of a CEO not setting a good example to his underlings.
Total Salary plus Bonus plus Insurance Benefit plus Pension Contributions;
2013 £999,591
2012 £999,529
2011 £800,200
2010 £753,193
2009 £738,937
In addition a Long Service Incentive Payment of £650,000 was paid in August 2011 ( E Riley received £250,000 at the same time).
Onwards and upwards (for you at least,Peter).
Kingsnake – Commiserations :)
I get freezing sitting in 405 at CP
I get cold checking the Green Bay weather forecast never mind ever watching a game there ha ha
sipsini
They can dig all they want, and they will get all the assistance needed to get out.
They got a licence when no other club would have gotten one.
They were given millions of OUR cash when they were given a euro licence.
They have the referees in their pockets.
They even have the court system giving out favourable judgements.
They have the media lying for them daily.
They died, in any other country in the world, they would not exist for their sins, yet in scotland, they are getting all the help they need to resurect themselfs.
I could go on and on, but the list would be endless.
Aye we are having a laugh just now, we won’t always be laughing, and there will be bumping of gums asking how it got to this, trust me.
They are untouchable.
HH
Squire Danaher
Thanks for the explanation.
I suppose the people with the opinion about MM being intelligent,and aware of how to reverse the exploitation many feel she suffered, could be right, at a certain point of her life. However, any vulnerability she had would have been increased by alcohol and drug problems, and would have impaired her ability to withstand the pressures she was under from those who wished to exploit her.
“fame, fame, fatal fame,
It plays such hideous tricks on the brain”. Stephen Patrick Morrissey
Papa John
22:08 on 20 May, 2014
glendalystonsils
Re Brines, probably one of the Dallas Cowboys, no matter who takes his place, must be an improvement, as he without trying was so incompetent,a blind Mason will do a better job.Haudoan thats on all there CVs.
Awerabest PJ
——————————————–
Careful what we wish for. Could be Snowy, son of Dallas that will be elevated up!
HH
CRC
TET,
I got an e mail from you a couple of nights ago,
couldn’t make head nor tail of it.what was the gist of it
McCoist is apparently not a happy chappie at the moment. It seems that the Easdales have put their collective foot down to prevent him signing Kenny Miller. No re-sale value and have you seen the wages he was promised? When you are over 21,000 season books short from this time last year you have to think that some cost cutting is indeed necessary.
So it looks like a no-show for Misser this time around. Oh well there’s always Boydy.
squire danaher: My last week in Wisconsin — Arcadia, not far from mncelt — it was -13 F every morning. This I know from the sign outside the town bank. I wore a wind breaker … ;-)
jamesgang,
It was good to meet your good self at cowiebhoys on Saturday and your lovely lady.
Read back a bit and saw the knuckle draggers will be out in force up your way, I avoid it like the plague.
If you add up how many walk or stagger and divide it by a thousand…you get their IQ level. HH
mncelt
I had backed Green Bay last year for the Super Bowl at 14/1 and was getting excited until the point A Rodgers suffered the broken collarbone.
I think they could be the forgotten team this year.
I think the NFC much stronger with the NFC west teams, GB and even NO and the Eagles.
JoN
They want us not to focus on them, it’s cos we have been on their case they are struggling, but where on earth would they still be breathing other than scotland?
HH
gordybhoy64
My mail was hacked, it was spam, thankfully it wasn’t one that could corrupt your computer.
If you get another from me or anyone else, check how many others it was sent to, if it is more than a couple, chances are it’s spam.
Sorrreee bout that.
HH
TET,
Of course we have talked a lot about this and are virtually on the same page.
We both know the inevitability of the outcome, unless they place themselves in an irretrievable position.
The active Celtic support are complicit, as we agree, but, through some sense of faithfulness, in nearly said loyalty, think it unthinkable to do what other clubs did two years ago.
Does that betray a superiority complex over other fans? An isolationist position?
Some of us have cancelled our Sky Sports packages.
What would happen if there was a massive rejection from all supports.
That would appear to be a step too far for many.
Instead, they just come on here and bump the gums, laugh at the Huns and tear each other to bits.
Yea, you are right, it is getting near the end of the road for football.
Are there still shops in Glasgow (not online options) where you can buy retro football shirts and obscure team jerseys?
Who’s first to say the Ibrox superstore?
TeT
KTF, we know the truth, I never want to see them back, the live in fantasy land like some here in cqn,
I even read on here today TOHG was doing a book next……8)
beatbhoy 23:01 – Indeed.
kingsnake 23:03 – just checked, -13F is -25C. Jeez that’s cauld ha ha
Night Lhads – over and out….
jamesgang
I think we have all been taken for a ride, still are, and still doing nothing about it, hoping someone else will administer the fatal blow to them, ain’t gonna happen.
I wish I believed differently, it would be so much easier to live with.
HH