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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leftclicktic
Bumping this on..
Thanks, and you are right. Such a great video/tale at any time but with the Lions going to Lisbon for Saturday this is the best video I will see all week.
Faither and Bobby Murdoch too.
The new St Mirren manager as Billy’s assistant.
The mullets on the first team players.
HH
The Lisbon Lions and the ’88 Double Winners appear on the Esther Ranzen Show to honour brilliant surgeon called Mr Roger G Checketts from Tyneside, a huge Celtic fan:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59Cx3N377xs
leftclicktic
This time…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59Cx3N377xs
Mr Checketts and the Lisbon Lions
HH
Winning Captains 1356
Wonderful photos.
See Tommy playing in the charity game.
See him being watched by three men and a dog.
See his comment ‘Maybe this is what it’s like playing in the fourth tier of the league.’
Mmmmmwwwahahahahahahaaaaa!
Ole Slim Pickens was ver near ‘the Daa’ in the Partidge Family but apparently chickened out at the last minute.
it sounds like ole Slim had a narrow escape
“When Hendrix was invited to come to England by former bassist of British Invasion band The Animals Chas Chandler—who became Hendrix’s manager and producer—Randy’s parents refused to allow him to go, insisting that he stay and finish high school”
courtesy of Murdoch and Barlow
Okay so what is the link between the Partridge family and Celtic? (If you find a link other than the one I am thinking of, it doesn’t count)
For a short , and unsatisfactory period during the reign of the ole ‘Old Board’ David Cassidy was chief executive at Celtic.
During his time he managed to antagonise the long sufferin’ support with his abrasive manner and refusal to compromise.
Terry Cassidy – and the rest of the Board
Embdy know of a video from about 26 years ago doing the rounds….
Centenary team….lions….Michael Groth:p
Hi guys, Cant believe this play off is going to be a two legged affair, I was looking forward to a final to watch this Saturday, now I find out theres the 1st leg tomorrow night, ok if its nil nil in the 1st game then its just like a final, but what if one gubs the other 3-0 tomorrow night, breweries an piss ups spring to mind, imho of course. HH
cadizzy
“Okay so what is the link between the Partridge family and Celtic?”
Neither of them have ripped off a Spirit riff.
Winning Captains
Here iz Yer Task Fur the Day:
Getta Haud o’.. That Super Surgeon… Mister… Roger Checketts.
n ..
Interview him fur the CQN Magazine…This Guy Is A Saint.
Ye goat That?
Good..
Then Whit Ur Ye Waitin Fur???
‘Coz….
This Message wull Self-Destruct in..
Twenty Two Years.. N.. Sixteen Days.. Five Hours.. n.. Two n A Hauf Minutes..
So..WhIt If He…He Happens tae be the Club Doctor .. o’ Gateshead United???
Don’t Haud that Agin Him..
His Luv Fur the Celtic.. Trumps that..
Besides..Ye Canny Beat a Sentimental Human Interest Story…
Right?
Kojo
Still,Laughin’
Wee Danny Bonaduce was a well known gingerist left back who suffered the Celtic trialist – don’t call us we’ll call you?
Another thing, the SPFL as getting sweet fanny adam off the tv as they’ve fullfilled their quota, another b@lls up, rant over.
All credit for the vid doing the rounds today must go to
DMC1888 on the @huddleboard
Who posted it earlier .
Till tomorrow all
Be good or your getting postcarded:)))
We should all send a postcard but not pay the right postage so yet [agane] they have to raid the petty cash.
Winning Captains – Brilliant photographs. Thanks for sharing. Now to figure out how to download them to my pc.
fieldofdrams
Yeah he did get a great wee dig in there!
I got so many emails since Friday about Tommy – all positive except two. One called Tommy a soup taker.
winning captains – that is genuinely shocking.
Winning Captains
Great pictures!
I know it’s nit-picking (and possibly wrong!) but I think the pic of the Lions reunion wearing the hoops would be 20th anniversary instead of 25th. The strip (and hairdos) look late 80’s not early 90’s.
Apols if I’m wrong and thanks for sharing these great pics.
mncelt – I have changed the settings especially for you!
If on a desktop look at the arrows top left of your screen and that you’ll see one with a wee arrow pointing downwards. Click on that to download.
If anyone wants a personalised message on All The Best I have Tommy for another 15 minutes then that is it. After that it’s signed copies but NOT with personalised messages added.
If you want one email me now – david@CQNmagazine.com and I’ll get him to do it. He’s stopping at 4.30 so 4.20 is deadline for messages. Will sort out payment later.
BSR and SFTB
You are both absolutely correct.
I would have also accepted the following
Shirley Jones who played the mother in the Partridge Family was also the bereaved young widow in the film version of Carousel who sang YNWA
cliftonville celt from belfast
Thanks for the advice, edging towards Bodrum
Winning captains,
That phrase is a truly horrible one. I hate when guys throw it about on here willy and indeed nilly.
Hypocrit, two faced….yadda yadda….all fine and well but to call someone a soup taker over this is despicable imo.
benjybhoy mul
15:26 on
20 May, 2014
The Lisbon Lions and the ’88 Double Winners appear on the Esther Ranzen Show to honour brilliant surgeon called Mr Roger G Checketts from Tyneside, a huge Celtic fan:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59Cx3N377xs
Brilliant
connaire a little prayer said for you all the best
Have we signed Big Yaya yet?
Getyerfingeroot Lennon!
Cadizzy
That job you had as a cellar boy must have come as some relief after being up all those chimneys!
In the Spirit of clarification it’s best to point out that the following is one of the greatest albums ever:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNUy8BBjccA
If Led Zepplin chose to copy from Randy California and co then they chose well. I hope they have nothin’ to hide but it’s just nature’s way of telling us that we all live in an animal zoo. etc
‘I’ve been to Liverpool, and never walking alone is actually pretty good advice’
Frankie Boyle
leftclicktic We are all Neil Lennon,
“All credit for the vid doing the rounds today must go to
DMC1888 on the @huddleboard
Who posted it earlier”
—————————————-
If you are lurking, many thanks.
To anybody who has not watched it, definitely worth a visit.
HH.
zeppelin…duh
“If there’s a bustle in your hedgerow,
Don’t be alarmed now
It’s just a spring clean for the may queen”
I’ll have a pint of whatever Percy’s on.
Remember when a certain muppet said that Timmy would be running scared of Whyte? And then it was Green?
FFS! You have to give him his due regard for indestupidability.
I give you Chwis Gwaham
@ChrisGraham76: @JohnMontague01 @duffmeister123 Yep action is needed. My point was simply how terrified the ‘top tims’ are of King.
The bear is a loon.
MWD says Aye
Good Afternoon.
I see all this chat about posting postcards to the Ibrox Ticket Office so as to register one’s complaint about how things are run down Govan Way.
I am not one for sending much through the post these days.
I have seen how dangerous it can be.
I recall defending a young(ish) fella a number of years ago after he got into a spot of bother.
Drink had been taken, it was late at night, he exchanged heated words with some undesirables whilst walking home and apparently these ruffians had cause to try and set about my client with violent intent.
They also threw aspersions on the personal habits of his mother, and the social proclivities of his live in girlfriend.
My client, being a young and fit man, was having none of this and set about defending the honour of the women in his life by way of his hands and fists — and perhaps with an Iron Bar which just happened to be handy.
Such was his determination to right these wrongs and teach these violent agitators a thing or two, he undoubtedly overstepped the mark rendering them somewhat unconscious and introducing them to the sudden need for medical assistance in connection with broken ribs and fingers, severe lacerations to the head and body, and corrective surgery to the nose area.
The chaps concerned would also be visiting the dentist for quite some time.
In the eyes of the law, my client was in the wrong as he had exacted disproportionate violence about the head and body of his attackers. He had not merely fended them off for the purposes of protecting honour and his own safety, he had weighed into them with the intent of ensuring that not only would they stop attacking him and doing him harm, but with the added intent of causing them serious and possibly permanent injury!
Such behaviour was, and still is, against the law of the land.
As a result of his actions that night, his mother and girlfriend were rightly proud of the man who stood up for their honour and reputation. However, a Sheriff determined that in his eyes the proper consequence was a stretch at Her Majesties Pleasure — notwithstanding the provocation from the rapscallions involved.
So it came to pass that our young hero spent 9 months in Her Majesty’s Prison Barlinnie where his mother visited him often and the girlfriend was to be found at least once a week.
Notwithstanding the frequency of these visits, the young man concerned wrote to his mother every week and to his girlfriend every day assuring them of his love and his regret at being incarcerated.
This was just as well, as the bond between mother and son grew ever closer over those months, which meant that mammy was on hand when he was released from jail only to find that the girlfriend had naffed off with the postman!
beatbhoy
Whoever gave Percy any of the works of JRR Tolkein did a grave dis-service to lyric writing.
The boys wot wrote the lyrics for Black Lace have more artistic credibility.
Brogan Rogan Trevino and Hogan supports Oscar Knox, MacKenzie Furniss and anyone else who fights Neuroblastoma @ 16.20 hrs.
Have you a moral to the story, or is it open to our own.
Cheers and HH.