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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LeftClick
I’ve seen the video you posted earlier. Class my Fhriend.
HH always. Jamesgang
Jobo Baldie @ 18:49,
Apparently the Sevcovians are going to send postcards as way of protest.
Who too I don’t know.
But as the wise in EK say….
We can send letters.
Hail Hail
CQN Springwatch
Pride of Lions spotted in Dunblane!
Sips
No I don’t remember that … But you would be #1 suspect
When I moved to Manchester we started doing some thrust pads for Glasgow
We didn’t have a wax dip so I bought a small one and the guy gave us some wax to start us off
Shock horror .. The wax was green
Got some feedback from da bears in the pad(Ded) cell that it was me at the wind up but it really wasn’t intentional
However we did then start putting white tape across the bigger pads to make it look like the hoops …
That STV article is riddled with inconsistencies
‘Rangers expelled from SPL’ …tell a lie often enough folk might think it’s the truth ….
this https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=59Cx3N377xs#t=0 this is wonderful
the lions and the centenary team together in the above link truly amaingand lucky man was that docter
….PFayr supports WeeOscar
18:57 on 20 May, 2014
That STV article is riddled with inconsistencies
‘Rangers expelled from SPL’ …tell a lie often enough folk might think it’s the truth ….
…………………………………………………….
It explains why there have been no moves by the authorities to curb the bigots karaoke of Famine Song, Billy Boys, etc., they could hardly do that when they are subsidising it to the tune of £250,000 a season.
Bigotry brough to your living room courtesy of the SPFL!
Big Nan. It certainly removes any doubt if it was needed that the cheating still goes on there will never be a level playing field in Scottish football.H.H.
Tbj,
Ah, the pad section or as we called them the shankhill midgets…now that PC has gone into overdrive, I just refer to them as the… Oompa Loompas.
Back to basics – periodic moans….made me think of Richard Scudamore :0)
A fine day for the crown jewel of New olde England that is the EPL.
Arguably last season’s best player has a galacto-hissy fit and we hear that a thorough investigation into ‘Emailgate’ was conducted by the EPL board which consists of 2 men. Scudamore and his shootin’ buddy.
Who needs lodges…
Nobody has any idea how much was paid. Up to 250000k a season, capped.
What a rubbish story.
Big Nan
I’m unpleasantly surprised by the whole thing …..
Most fans of most teams want rid of them …those in authority are hell bent on assisting them
Depressing
winning captains
15:58 on
20 May, 2014
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.
*we demand to know their names
mcsleekitcsc
Marrakesh Express 18:52 on 20 May, 2014
“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?”
A conversation from three weeks ago.
Me: “UEFA do not recognise ‘Rangers’ as the same club.”
Zombie: “Aye they do.”
Me: “Who did you play in Europe, the season you started in the Third Division?”
Zombie: “What d’you mean?”
Me: “If you’re the same club you would have played in Europe two years ago, as well as the Ramsdens Cup, because you finished second in the SPL the season before that.”
Silence.
Me: “There were two Champions League qualifying places. Celtic got one and Motherwell, who finished third, got the other one. Why didn’t Rangers get that place when they finished second?”
Zombie: “Eh. Well, we were relegated, so we didn’t play in Europe.”
Me: “Wigan were relegated last season. They played in Europe this season.”
The Zombie smirked. I laughed. The subject was changed. I took the p1sh for the rest of the night. He left early though.
Stein
But … But … We arra peepo
Guys, I’m not usually one to cast aspersions towards Peter Lawell but I think we need a clear message from Celtic that PL, while renegotiating the new TV deal, had nothing to do with the recent revelations regarding Sevco televised games being subsidised by the SPFL.
Connaire- hope all goes well.prayers offered up.take it easy my mhan
Yaya Toure.put yir bottom lip in!A quiet dark room with ‘I am nobodies child’ playin constantly for you :-))
HH
What is wrong with saying they were liquidated and ‘accepted into’ our league
HH
Yaya wanted the club owner to shake his hand, did he ?
Taking £200+k a week out of the club, he was lucky they never cut his hand off!!
It’s the pretence that they are the same club that will ultimately kill off their new club.
Stupid zombies!!
An Tearmann.
Coming into Glasgow on Friday for a few drinks,fancy joining us.
eddieinkirkmichael
19:31 on
20 May, 2014
Guys, I’m not usually one to cast aspersions towards Peter Lawell but I think we need a clear message from Celtic that PL, while renegotiating the new TV deal, had nothing to do with the recent revelations regarding Sevco televised games being subsidised by the SPFL.
================
You can draw your own conclusions.
http://sport.stv.tv/football/clubs/celtic/113014-neil-doncaster-and-peter-lawwell-in-london-as-spl-tv-deal-talks-continue/
I wonder if the epl pay £250k to bt so they can show conference games. Setting up on these wee grounds can be very difficult.
whoever agreed that contract wants sacking – dungcaster?
Eddie
Re the TV deal there are a number of issues here that need looking at before we get a truly clear picture.
First — the original TV deal with ESPN seems to have had a clause in it which said that in the event of the SPL viewing figures dropping below 4 Million then the SPL would refund a certain number to ESPN — the figure is said to be £250k.
Second — In the first year, the viewing figures did indeed fall below the 4 Million mark and the money may well have been paid — I don’t know for sure.
Third — In the second year, the shortfall provision appears to have been dropped altogether.
I am interested in how that came about for a start.
Fourth — there also appears to be a provision whereby the production costs ( set up costs for broadcasting from grounds which don’t normally accommodate outside broadcast units etc ) were subsidised by £250k per annum.
Now how that got there we don’t know but presuming a club from Ibrox plays in the championship next season they will be visiting plenty of grounds where no extraordinary set up is necessary for broadcasting. Tyncastle, Falkirk, potentially Easter Road and various others do not need any modification for broadcast purposes.
Accordingly there is no need for any subsidy.
Fifth
I have seen it argued elsewhere that all of these concessions were agreed to by SPL clubs because they were afraid that there would be no TV deal at all and so they would all lose out.
That might be fair enough IF the broadcasters were playing hardball with the finances AND if the SPL clubs were fully au fait with the realities of the existing TV deal at the time AND that TV deal allowed the broadcaster to renege on the deal in the event if there being no Rangers FC as a result of them being kicked out of the league because of Insolvency.
IF, for any reason, the real details of the TV deal was witheld from the clubs ( as has been suggested ) then there is something very serious here to answer.
There needs to be a clear timeline and a full paperchase.
STV’s latest euphemism, the undead “were kicked out” of the Premier League. That’s when the payments to ESPN/BT kicked in.
So any BT subscribers who happened to be Celtic fans were getting to see all those Sevco games on the box?
That was nice of them.
a ceiler gonof rust
17:47 on 20 May, 2014
I resemble that last post…:)
Anyway, wee drop water helps release the flavour.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Postcard sent
Steinreignedsupreme
18:28 on 20 May, 2014
pic.twitter.com/2eE5ZlUJUy
==========================
‘the Sufferenuffs’
LMAO.
pogmathonyahun
Too funny Mhan!
:-)
HH jamesgang
So the horse puns appear to have stopped. It was becoming a bit of a pain in the Red Rum.
New boots for BRTH
An Tearmann
19:43 on
20 May, 2014
What is wrong with saying they were liquidated and ‘accepted into’ our league
HH
Don’t know if ‘accepted’ is quite the right word . They were liquidated,stepped on the faces of those in front of them in the queue and were rushed in the back door under cover of darkness, all despite the lack of relevant accounts.
Accepted by a few folk in the upstairs offices at Hampden, I’ll grant you.
neganon2
18:11 on 20 May, 2014
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?
Perfect summary.
Pogmathonyahun aka Laird of the Smiles
20:18 on
20 May, 2014
Now they are a fine pair of boots.
Not quite my style or taste but none too far off!
KevinBhoy
20:17 on 20 May, 2014
So the horse puns appear to have stopped. It was becoming a bit of a pain in the Red Rum.
===============================
Yes, I was going to join in but it appears the stable door has been open a while and that particular horse has bolted…
jamesgang
20:13 on 20 May, 2014
Your good lady manage to get you away eventually on Saturday?
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!