Today, Setting Free The Bears reviews Caesar & the Assassin, the story of Billy McNeill and Davie Hay’s periods as Celtic manager, in their own words, published by Celtic Quick News.
We’ve published a few books so far, telling some stories of our great players, or great events, but this book deals with the most important subject we’ve touched so far – how Celtic was run, from a manager’s perspective.
The personal thoughts of Billy and Davie, shedding light on the inside story of Celtic, is fascinating, especially for those familiar with the excitement and glories of the period.
Here’s what SFTBs had to say:
“Setting Free the Bears reviews CQN’s new book, Caesar & The Assassin – Managing Celtic after Jock Stein. Billy McNeill & Davie Hay with Alex Gordon…
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of our lost golden youth, it was the age of boardroom mismanagement, it was the epoch of honest mistakes, it was the epoch of incredulity at the honest mistakes, it contained seasons of light, it produced seasons of darkness, it was the spring of our hope of getting back to European prominence, it was the winter of our despair as the light of hope was extinguished by counter attacking foreign teams, we had everything before us, we had nothing much to look forward to, we were all going direct to Paradise, we were all going to Ibrox – in short, the period was so far like the present period, that this noisy authoritative book insists on it being received, for good or evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.
It was the year of Our Lord one thousand nine hundred and seventy eight and if Charles Dickens had written this latest CQN book he could never have conjured up a plot of such last minute twists, Machiavellian back-stabbing, outrageous coincidences, and triumphs grasped from the gaping jaws of despair, as are present in this history of Celtic during our long lost youth.
There are a few CQN readers who are ancient enough to recall the pre-Lions era and the Lions themselves with admirable clarity, even in their dotage but for most of the CQN demographic, this book covers the period wherein the chains and shackles of Celtic-ness were firmly placed upon us. We remember them now with the rose tinted nostalgia of longing for our younger selves and we sometimes remember them as better than they were. These were our halcyon days and they are presented to us with more accuracy and honesty than we are often capable of when recalling them.
Alex Gordon has raided the memory banks and past publications of two of our finest servants, Billy McNeill and David Hay, to provide a more reliable pen picture of our glory days. Mark Twain said that “When I was younger, I could remember anything, whether it happened or not.” This book gives us a chance to compare the contemporary account with what happened in real time in the order it really occurred.
These 32 chapters of history in the McNeill-Hay- McNeill management era, August 78 to May 91, when Liam Brady took over will set you straight. It was not a time of constant glorious victory by which we can denigrate the modern players and team in comparison. Billy’s first spell up to May 83 saw a win percentage of 64.2% (3 titles, 1SC and 1LC), Davie Hay from 83 to 87 managed 51.8% (1 League and 1 SC) and Billy’s last spell was 54.8% (1 league and 2 SCs). The 3 managers (including Frank Connor) that followed, however, won nothing and it would be 1995 with a Scottish Cup win under Tommy Burns before we celebrated again and 1998 before the League was ours.
The format of the book is to give 2 chapters to each season covering roughly August to December and January to May respectively with an additional chapter to recount our Cup runs that year. Occasionally a chapter is devoted to an important European event, the 1980 quarter final against Real, the Amsterdam win against Cruyff’s Ajax or the horrors of the Rapid Vienna battles. Some domestic events such as 10 men won the League, the Miracle of Love Street and the Centenary Cup Final are given full and separate coverage too.
It is a partisan account, representing forcibly the disappointments and occasional bitter memories of how these two legends felt they were not supported in their desires to maintain Celtic at the levels to which Jock Stein had propelled us in the mid-60s. Desmond White and Jack McGinn are not always fondly recalled in this account but it is a story told with love and affection which triumphs over any traces of anger or regret that remain today. These are Celtic men who can have arguments with temporary Celtic custodians but who could not remain estranged from the Celtic family because of this.
There are tales which are familiar and tales which will surprise. There are telling details provided which add to the prosaic presentation of individual game facts and who scored the goals. There are a lot of familiar themes relevant to the present day. The task that Davie and Billy faced, on our behalf, of competing with the inflated expenditure of the Souness period at Ibrox is relevant to our most recent 15 years.
The balance to be struck between a harmonious board-manager relationship and a warring outlook about teams that always need strengthening, is well depicted. The two managers can look back with more sympathy for the Directors than they felt at the time but both remain adamant that they could have done so much more if purse strings had been loosened.
The handover from Hay to McNeill’s second spell is particularly poignant. Where Davie had been starved of cash to deal with the imminent departures of Johnston, McClair, McInally and McLeod, Billy was given cash, albeit much below the Souness spend levels, as a one-off never-to-be-repeated deal so that we could enjoy a Centenary Year of triumph before we were back to old clothes and porridge. It is made crystal clear that this was an era which was pre-Bosman, pre-EPL wage inflation, and pre-Champions League high finance where Celtic were better placed to maintain a grip on European competitiveness than we managed to do.
If I have one criticism of the book, it is that we learn little of the detail behind the Board’s argument for parsimony at the time. There is a quote on p.353 which says:-
“Yes, Desmond (White) had his critics, but I know he would have been better equipped to assist me when Graeme Souness arrived at Ibrox and was given what appeared to be a blank cheque book,’ said Hay. ‘Desmond was careful with money, as we were all aware, but, importantly, he understood what Celtic were all about.’ No elaboration was required from Hay”
Well, maybe you had to be there to understand why elaboration was unnecessary but I would welcome some elaboration and context. What were Celtic finances like at that time? Did the managers know if we were on sound footing or in financial difficulty? We were to experience a near bankruptcy event in the following decade so it would be nice to hear the argument in favour of prudent finance.
The Board voice does not feature and Billy and Davie have good reason to be disinclined to voice it for them. That caveat aside, we do learn a lot about the part that personality clashes can play in a management team and the dirty tricks employed to make a manager seem unwanted.
This book serves the requirements of two types of reader. For the stats and detail buff who is keen to test your memory and collect facts, you can read every word in order and recall each game whether it was an important or a dull one. If you want to read a good sports story and the scandal behind the facts, you can race through the match and goals descriptions to get to the nuggets where the main events are retold and the background fleshed out. Author, Alex Gordon has done a fine job in ensuring that both types of reader will find satisfaction within these pages.
There are surprises to be found in learning which players might have ended up at Celtic Park. There are telling insights into signing coups and signing disasters. Some good Celtic men were not treated well by this club and some good Celtic men did not treat the club well.
There are Celtic legends like Burns, Provan, McStay, McGrain and McAvennie whose careers are recounted well and there are lesser known names like McGugan, McCarrison, and Halpin who appear. Two of my contemporary school-mates are mentioned, Frank Welsh and Frank Gray.
There are surprising facts which will form good quiz questions. Apart from learning how Billy’s nickname changed from Cesar to Caesar over time, my favourite would be- “Why was Bruce Cleland an important contributor to our Scottish Cup success in the Centenary Year?” I’ll let you find that out for yourself as I have tried to avoid spoilers in this review.
The book takes us up to Billy leaving the manager’s chair for the second time on 22nd May 1991. There is a wee taste of the daunting events facing the Parkhead faithful at the end of this era. The downsizing from Nicholas and McAvennie to Walker and Coyne, then to Cascarino and Hayes foretells the coming horrors of the 90s.
The CQN publishing team behind the book are hinting that this will be the period covered in their next big book. The memories invoked there may not be a pleasant as those covered by this splendid book. I may have to look out my Leonard Cohen box set to cheer me up.
Buy this book! Relive your lost past and feel young again! It was good when it happened and it remains good in having the memories re-awakened. I want to express my appreciation of the efforts of these two legends in nurturing my club and I hope their tales sell and sell and sell some more. For them, it is richly deserved.”
My thanks to Setting Free The Bears. As you can imagine, it’s been an absolute joy working on this book. Hearing the managers’ perspective on events we knew only as fans offers a precious insight into our joys and despairs. We are so fortunate to have these great heroes living in our community; opportunities to have these times set down on record will be rare going forward.
The book’s available here on CQN Books. It’s now in stock and shipping. If you pre-ordered, you’ll be getting a FREE DVD to thank you for your patience. All aspects of these projects cannot be controlled, unfortunately.
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Delaneys Dunky
22:29 on 23 November, 2014
Awe FFS! …that wiz you!!!!!!!
I kept saying to myself “Why do they keep calling him donkey, he looks ok tae me???”
Thanks for all the comments re my last post, seems I’m not the only Tim to have noticed this lately.
Off to bed as I’m off out early tomorrow.
Moonhowlers, remember there are kids that read this blog ;)
Delaneys Dunky
Someday soon
Mags
Hahaha! Nice one. :)
Mags
The Doors were the Kirkton shroom heads band of choice. ;)))
Jungle Jim Hot Smoked
Sorry!
Was checking something else out and it wasn’t Judith Ralston….honest ;)
Yeah it was a lovely wee pub……shame it was a bit of a rush!
The pleasure was all mine though and it was a brilliant start to what turned into a long but great day for me :)
Delaneys Dunky
22:49 on 23 November, 2014
I wish I had become friends with the Kirkton shroom heads.
Life would have been more interesting!!
Milan and Inter gave a fine demonstration re how much inferior they are to Rube and Juve.
Just watched the bbc highlights online of Huns game and as I thought no footage of the Miller or Boyd tackles sorry assaults… Maybe they didn’t happen…not!!!
When a Hearts manager states “felt his players had generally stood up well to the physical challenge.”..goes to show
Mags
I think you would have fitted in fine with us. All good brothers and sisters. :)
Any links to the highlights of the Royal agricultural show from yesterday?
Mags…….
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/scotland/30170870
Thanks Thunder Road
Unfortunately the BBC have blocked this from outside the UK
TR
Great being in your company last night. I haven’t a clue how I got home.
Margaret McGill
21:31 on
23 November, 2014
DD
How far are you from Kirkton Ave?
*I worked on the high flats at Kirkton Avenue…my ouldest daughter was born during that period…and the Beatles had a hit that went “Hello Hello” :-))))
Tontine Tim
23:11 on 23 November, 2014
2 continents away.
However, I hope to be stomping old grounds early next year!
Delaneys Dunky
21:41 on
23 November, 2014
LHYM
You Are Now Entering Republican Whitecrook! Was on a gable end in the 70s.
*my brother (RIP) had a mate over here (also RIP) who used tae say that growing up in Whitecrook they would chant “up Dublin and hauf of Whitecrook”.
mags
Just watched it myself…….you are lucky.
oops sorry ..your post was addressed to DD. Apologies.
Thunder Road
23:14 on 23 November, 2014
:)
MARGARET McGILL
Get Shug to e-mail it,it should work then.
Tontine
You say goodbye, and I say hello.
Hello hello.
Your daughter and I are same age. I grew up on Kirkton Ave.
Just made a choice.
Either Sportscene on BBC1 or a documentary on the late Jim Clark on BBC 4.
It wasn’t a hard choice.
I can watch 2 mins of Celtic at any time and preferred to spend the time watching the documentary on Clark – the racing farmer from Duns which of course I can always see on Iplayer as well.
However, I am always struck by the dignity of the racing drivers and racing people from that era.
Many died, and each and every one knew that they were dicing with death during every single race back in those days.
Some of the stories these guys had to tell were astounding and there was a real camaraderie between them with real respect and real affection for one another.
Jackie Stewart has a big pond, small artificial lake in the grounds of his house and around that water he has a bench named after each of the drivers who died during his 99 Grand Prix career.
According to Stewart, he regularly takes himself on a wee walk around the water and stops at each bench for a wee chat with Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Jochen Rindt, Jo Siffert, Francois Cevert, and others.
It was after the death of Cevert, Stewart’s team mate and close friend, during practice at the United States Grand Prix, that Stewart chose to retire.
The US Grand Prix was to be his 100th and final Grand Prix but after the disaster he simply refused to take the car out of the garage and walked away from driving for good.
Today, I am not really a Formula one fan and I have never been to a motor race of any description and don’t plan on going either.
But I love to hear tales of people striving for success whether they succeed or not, and love to hear of people who have a talent, or are brave or good or have a dignity and presence about them.
The drivers of the sixties and before were such a group of people and they threw up some fantastic personalities.
Modern football canny compete with that.
DD
haha :)
Always a good night when that happens!
It was brilliant to see you again and to get to spend a bit of time with you…..even if it meant that you consumed more of that alcohol stuff than perhaps planned :)
absolute shocking tackles by Miller and Boyd,
worse than the one Smith was sent off for
Fair play to sportscene.
They did show the War Crimes FC in their full ‘glory’.
Scum bags.
Then the ‘analysis’. Hmmm.
Cot time.
Night Timdom
HH jamesgang
Delaneys Dunky
23:16 on
23 November, 2014
Tontine
You say goodbye, and I say hello.
Hello hello.
Your daughter and I are same age. I grew up on Kirkton Ave.
*I was fortunate to work in some great places…Alexandria where I was born…..the Blessed Renton…..Duntiglennan up in the holy village of Duntocher…..Kirkton Avenue….but the best was the high flats in Dalmuir…..jooking away for Mass tae St Stephens on Holidays of Obligations….happy happy days…..of course there was also Ruby Street in Brigton……..and the worse of the lot Kilbarchan.
couple of very lenient analysts in the studio,
had that been Celtic players making those tackles
I am sure they wouldn’t be saying the same
I wonder if the BBC`s analysts, Steven “consolation goal” Thompson and Callum Davidson, would have been quite so forgiving towards “Kenny” and “Boydy” had they been on the receiving end of those challenges.
Sportscene there,
3 tackles Smith Miller and Boyd all straight leg studs up, only one off and the 2 clowns in the studio agree. Smiths tackle was proberly the least dangerous HH
Tontine
The Irish accents are sadly dying out in Whitecrook. The Irish rebel spirit is alive in oor weans tho. :))
Just witnessed hun thuggery. Hope they die with a silver bullet and we never play them ever again.
BRTH,
F1 is an acquired taste, and if you ever get the chance to go to one I would recommend it.
It can often look like a procession on TV, and, it often is, but, when you see those guys racing at 200mph in the rain, you appreciate the skill and bravery of the drivers.
Also, I don’t think people realise how hard it is for guys from Scotland to get into F1, and in the case of Celtic supporting drivers like Di Resta and Coulthard, it is a pity their achievements aren’t fully appreciated
hun skelper
Pick your pass or get rid of it before you get your leg broken?
It is an option given to the opposition players in a tactic.
A remit that the manager of this team and the one he used to manage, gives to his players.
Shameful pathetic man that they deserve.
anyway
bawbaws for me
back to reality in a few hours.
delaneys dunky
23:37 on 23 November, 2014
I predict a riot when we are pumping them in the semi, the orcs in the stand will lose it and the orcs on the park won’t be any better.
Our team will need to crack right in to them from the first whistle HH
They show no remorse, no guilt, no shame.
They are violent and disgusting specimens of humanity.
Why would we Celtic supporters encourage it in any way shape or form?
especially through our club?