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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what with their new red and black tops they will now be
Meeelan as well as howlan….
jacket on, af oot…
BT thanks for the update on Marco.
Beatbhoy, was lucky enough to be at all three games you mentioned, that night still stands out for me though
twentyfirstofmaynineteenseventynine
i ran onto the pitch at the final whistle from the old celtic end and beat Peter Latchford to the tunnel, after a quick congratulations i turned to see that more than a few bizzies had their eyes on the handful of fhans who had ran onto the pitch
But i was just a lad of 18 (summers) and could easily outrun any old plod. As i ran towards the jungle (with a fence around it) i could see the fans Pogoing (look it up you young whippersnappers:-) and i stood on top of the fence before diving into the crowd
In those days showing a bit of passion about your team was more tolerated than it was nowadays, and i think its something that should be encouraged back, (along with the long forgotten pogo too!)
DONTBRATTBACKINANGER
One of my-wittier!-mates down here couldn’t understand why the SMSM were so blatantly geared to keeping the hun hordes happy.
It’s not like they can read,he said.
I pointed out that reading was rarely a problem,but thinking was.
It’s why they resort to that mob mentality when they get together.
A…h…s led by donkeys,I’m sure they’ll love the military analogy.
You could pogo as long as it didn’t involve lateral movement.
DBBIA
Remind us whit they say about modern lateral movement!
V
Im Neil Lennon
Lets all do the Pogo
The Dead Fly was more my style.
For obvious reasons.
Wee Marco has had a really tough time of it, I hope things get much better for him amigo (thumbs up)
V
One more memory from that night, if ever anyone deserved a good kicking it was “wee doddy” and the bhold JD gave him one. Btw, it didnt take much to outrun big Latchford lol
It’s a weird thing, given it’s significance, that so many Celtic supporters who were at the final in Seville – myself included – have never watched a re-run of the game since.
Connaire 12
Best wishes on your biopsy, prayers said for a good outcome.
YNWA
Vinny
Well 750,000 to televise the the Rangers games what a joke Scottish football is the authorities doing everything to keep them alive. H.H.
Doncaster and Lawwell broker a TV deal to keep Hunco in the spotlight… You couldn’t make it up …
tamrabam
the bhoys who stood in the jungle pogoing are now the tut tut sweetie paper rustlers..o))
BMCUW / DBBIA/21st May
unfortunately it pains me to say it but I fear if you are old enough to remember the Pogo, you are likely to be too old to do it!
JOE FILIPPIS HAIRCUT
The money they’ve received from TV companies has kept them afloat. Too much to expect them to cough up the penalties from their own share of the pot.
The national game,run for the benefit of one club. That it was ever thus makes it even worse that the opportunity to put a stop to it has been ignored.
dontbrattbakkinanger
07:56 on 21 May, 2014
Whither the cash strapped scrofulous hillbillies the day?
—————————–
Just spotted Graham Wallace getting into his car in the car park behind Bank of Scotland in Uddingston!
Baw jaws, and personal plate on the car, definitely him!
I must say he didn’t look too happy, wonder why?
HH
MrJohnnyClash- success has many fathers, failure is a wee orphan.
TAMRABAM
Many of the early punk songs were mercifully short.
I’m sure I could still manage if most of The Ramones back catalogue was on the playlist.
Blantyretim
shame on you, they are more likely to be the Grey Brigade willing in spirit but lacking in fitness, maybe able to do the odd mass huddle but too many injuries over the years to do any lateral movement
Thats it Im starting a campaign for a standing area pogoing section for the over fifties
BT
Great the wee man is on the mend. Give him my best. He is a wee star.
MWD says Aye
My friends in Celtic,
Maybe it was talking about Seville yesterday or maybe it was just no telly. ( Mrs GP demanded decorating so the house is in turmoil ) but I picked up the book. I just opened it and started reading it again. Its that sort of book that can be opened at any page.
I cannot instruct people what to read, but if I had the power I would make it a pre-requisite prior to posting.
IMO, It is not a football book it is a people book which does not celebrate defeat, it celebrates achievement. This is not a plug it is only my opinion.
I think that much of the personal abuse would evaporate if posters remembered just who we are as individuals then part of the wider Celtic family and what can be gained when we are united and positive.
Seville was when “Rangers” were our main domestic opposition, sometimes I feel we can be more anti “Rangers” than pro Celtic on here.
We cannot turn the clock back, domestic competition is now missing and the only potential for future competition is unpalatable to say the least.
That is why we must move forward and that means perseverance for a move South.
But again that is only my opinion and I have been wrong many times.
HH.
Whit? Scottish fitba and Celtic have been trying to save Sevco. Naw. Never.
Shock horror who’d a guessed it?
MWD says Aye
I’ve never heard or seen this one before, you me see yourself or someone you know who went to Seville , it’s not bad.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtube_gdata_player&v=872kKSkCv8s
What’s the news about celtic saving the Hun?
HH.
MWD – do you not think the scales are falling away from people’s eyes, and their is now less of a rush to pull the Sevconians out of the dungheap of their own making?
I don’t know where they’ll be this time next year; they could get promotion, they could be stuck in div2, they could even be back in Div4.
might even be a brand new Tesco.
Delbhoy
In at the bank checking his balance …wages no in yet :-))
Jfh,
Do you know for certain that the TV companies claimed back the full amount for the last two seasons and the season ahead?
Donegal tips required, looking for places to visit with 5 & 6 year olds, a small port/ cafe? been to Killybegs/ Dungloe before but looking for somewhere to keep them entertained weather permitting, cheers
HH BBhoy
Delbhoy59 at 1017
“Just spotted Graham Wallace getting into his car in the car park behind Bank of Scotland in Uddingston!”
The first ‘just spotted’ of the summer, good mhan!
Anybody hanging about Ross Hall, seen anybody arriving?
BMCUWP
Pogoing for some would be a health and safety issue and not just for them
Pogopattersoncsc
DBBIA
Option 4 for me.
Delhoy- he’s taking out enough cash to renew his S/T.
Beatbhoy
Seconded!!
DBBIA
Every little helps
Didn’t tesco report losses in their last accounts?
No chance they will buy that place. Especially as it is so close to asdas:)