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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sixtaeseven 17:27 on 20 May, 2014
“Rankers fans have launched their own shirt to raise funds to purchase shares in the club.”
You have to hand it to Divine – no one fleeces the Bewildered quite the way he does.
The Brains Trust will buy shares using money from other people. Brilliant…
Serious stuff. connaire12 – prayers said for you mate. KTF.
Less serious stuff – I never send postcards any more but I’d be well up for a CQN deluge of PO Box FOD!
Yaya. Shouldn’t he look to sign for the Hoopy Birthday Bhoys, the ones who really know how to do jelly n ice cream!?!
Mr Tommy Gemmell. Thank you for everything of you’re still on. Enjoy Lisbon!
HH jamesgang
Agcr’s back posting.
Alive, alive O!
;-)
HH jamesgang
just flying through to ask….
______________________
blantyretim is praying for the Knox family
17:41 on 20 May, 2014
___________________
Do they ask if yer a hun? :)
If ye answer – I’ll catch ye next time.
Take Care – Hail Hail – Off oot.
TheOriginalSadiesBhoy
No probs bud.
Life can be busy!
Thanks for replying though!
Maybe you are right and it would need to have been seen to be believed in order to appreciate how bad some supporters feel towards AM.
I do not know if they did such things against other teams at that time as well or if it was a 1 off and purely because they knew we were too good for them?
Although my understanding of the 2nd leg is that they could play, were a very good side and perhaps did not need to resort to such tactics in the 1st leg to get through.
The thing is….for me at least, the manager is the guy that sent that specific team out in that 1st leg with specific instructions.
I think the anger should really be towards him.
As for this years final……I have not seen anything of Real and only a few of Atletico’s games but i have loved their work ethic.
They can play a bit as well but their workrate and organisation is amazing.
Kinda hope Atletico win because of what i said but perhaps Real will win me over on the night because i understand they are playing much more attractively now without Jose!
Hopefully i will get to see the final and the main thing is that it is a good game eh?
Kev
open to all mate… well nearly all. 8)
‘is not actually an official Nike product even though it has the Nike logo. ‘
-it’s not the ole Nike swoosh- it’s the Ulster swoosh.
I see the Celts have signed a 16 year old from Cliftonville
http://t.co/kgEMeliB8E
Winning Captains – Thanks for the download link – much appreciate. Worked a treat, all 43mb of it :)
fieldofdrams
17:18 on
20 May, 2014
It may be lame horsey punnery but the mane thing is it gives us all a laugh.
————————
In my poshest accent……
Hay Hay!
BT
Is it even open to me ;)
If so … Sign me up
Driving home and heard a Celtic advert for season ticket renewals
Made me wonder if I’ve missed the sevco adverts .. Anyone heard any
Tbj
I’ll get u signed up .
a great review sftb
well done
Awe Naw
Thanks from the asparagus tips.
Any tips for hoses and dogs?
From= for.
martasscsc
s
Come on bhoys, it’s good they’ve designed a new shirt.
They can use it for the next club with Rangers in its name that comes along
https://twitter.com/celticfc/status/468788092753936385
The yaya toure,,birthday snub, story is perhaps the biggest insult to,the whole worlds intelligence we have ever seen.
YAYA you are a very rich man and a good footballer. If you want to move clubs just say so.
Don’t be, what’s the technical word? A dick?
Well it is good to know the football authorities did pay 250,000 to get the Rangers games televised whatever next ? H.H.
Thanks Mr Gemmell for your time on the blog.
Don’t be a stranger on here :o)
HH
Has anyone noticed that the Sevco jerseys only go up to XXL?? Surely a marketing blunder when the majority of their support (and manager) easily go several sizes beyond this??
Monaghan 1900 @ 17.37,
I have enjoyed your delving into FF before but the latest offering is simply the best yet. Surely to Ghod, they can’t be so deluded. I so hope and pray they are.
i got a tip for the ‘hoses’
hose a maria olazabal for the open
ok, i know the procedure, i’ll get my coat
Talking of postcards, I got one in Seville of a donkey with a blue and white striped t-shirt on.
I wrote… “The only hun in Seville” on it and intended sending it to the work…it was still in my case when I got home:((
I still have it to this day.
Parkheadcunsalford & Monaghan 1900
I have to ensure that I am not drinking anything when I see these gems come up.
As others on here have suggested, some of these are so good/bad that I suspect yon mythical unseen hand.
The greenwhiteonestar entries brought on laughter induced stomach ache.
HH
pic.twitter.com/2eE5ZlUJUy
Father Dougal gets his collar felt.
pic.twitter.com/2eE5ZlUJUy
Had the pleasure of being in Tommys company for a short time in a small bar in the New York New York hotel in las vegas at the 2007 convention,an absolute gent,canny mind if he bought a round tho;)
Third time lucky?
https://twitter.com/cartujakds/status/468799789279498240/photo/1
well well well
http://sport.stv.tv/football/clubs/rangers/275976-spfl-pay-broadcaster-up-to-250000-per-season-to-show-rangers-games/
Sips
Are you sure it’s a donkey .. And not a cross eyed ass ;)
3 ………..
2 ……….
1 …………..
Evening All,
Just scroll past – its another of my periodic moans.
Came home from a really tough day at work.
Logged onto the internet looking for football stories (preferably of the Celtic variety) to gladden the heart.
What do I find as the “main” story on the BBC Football site?
A man who earns 200k per week, has been praised both as the English champions best player and the best midfielder in England, gets upset because his boss’s boss didn’t shake his hand on his birthday?
Pathetic.
Hail Hail
Tbj,
Ha Ha, I know exactly who you mean.
Were you still there when the postcard came from Paris to the work. Saying “Cheerio ten in a row” in French may I add.
The huns laid the blame at me…thems were spot on, got my mate to send it.
They weren’t to pleased it got pinned up on the message board either ;))
Good evening from rainy Coventry. Quick 5 minute dip into CQN before I return to (ahem) networking. what’s all this about postcards?
Sevconian I spoke to today adamant that they are recognised by Uefa as same club. I had to show him the Uefa club list from their official site. No sign of them but there’s actually no lower league Scottish clubs listed. Anyone clear this up?