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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Bruce Cleland.
Used to make C90 tapes of reggae 45s and send them to a Celtic supporting mate who lived in Montpellier.The tapes were always given a title.One tape was titled-
Tribute to Bruce Cleland !
Did BC not play for Albion Rovers many years ago?
ports WeeOscar
14:59 on 23 November, 2014
I’ll second that
Saw a few remarks in a Jambos site about our game with them.
There were a few mentions as you would expect of ‘beating that mob’.
However, the consensus seemed to be that it would be a good education for their young players as at least Celtic try to play some football in comparison to you know who.
Joe Joe super Joe Ledley 2-1
Liverpool are incapable of even the most basic defending …..awful
F1:
Pointless. A speech therapy session with Yoda has more purpose than F1.
Saltires @ 11.59, I forgot to say about Peggy R going on the Mauritania. My dad has mentioned that to me as well in the past. You jogged my memory there.
I haven’t seen our dads’ cousin Wullie for years. Was it his sister Margaret who had the farm in Lochwinnoch with him? She was always very good to her other brother, the late Father John, who was a top guy.
My dad was very close to Father John as he was with your gran, through his evacuation to Johnstone.
If you are meeting, Sharpie, McPhee or Big Broon when you are down the road could you pass on my regards please.
Some good news as well – you may have heard that Ryan Taylor of Newcastle had to hobble off in tears yesterday after being out of the game with injury for nearly 3 years.
He had a scan last night and there is no big problem and unrelated to all his knee issues.
Eagles flying 3:1 noo
….PFayr supports even
3-1 palace
What about the roaster with the fresh air shot :-)))
Sometimes CQN is a joy to read
SFTB thank you
TBB very good
Joe Ledley what a player get him back up the road.
Liverpool reserve GK is sleeping on the subs bench …FFS
Ledley
That reminds me
What total have Celtic earned selling players in the last 2 years as the board calculated that CL wasn’t worth investing in?
Margaret McGill
15:13 on
23 November, 2014
Sometimes CQN is a joy to read
SFTB thank you
TBB very good
MAGGIE CQN is always a joy to read.
from JOBO’S weather report till the last “see if a’ ever meet you pal you are bang in trouble “via OOR TONY and KEV J. all great.
ps where is RANCHO FRANKO and THE NARROW BOAT TIM.??????
Full time Eagles 3 Liverbirds 1
pfayr supports weeoscar
15:14 on 23 November, 2014
Liverpool reserve GK is sleeping on the subs bench …FFS
…………..
Hahaha.Was laughing at that there too..
Steven Gerrard has been sleeping the whole game.
Totally lost when there is any real pace to a match.Rodgers found wanting again.
where is =where are
Good afternoon all.
CQN seems to be a very convivial blog today. Not holding my breath on that one. :-)
How are you all today, well I hope.
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
Greetings weafarathetim.
Very convivial due to some scores over the weekend and the time of year I reckon.
Another toothless display from last years scouse cannibal express
Eastenders 3 brookside1
Sturm Graz v Salzburg on now.
Ok ok it’s South London
Just doing the best I can with the material available
Hoops are the real eastenders
Have Salzburg already qualified for the later stages?
SFTB
Thank you for your review of “Caesar and the Assassin.”
That’s a couple of Christmas prezzies sorted.
Cowiebhoy, thanks for the prayers. Feeling positive today might even sneak out for a pint!
The only thing is its a karaoke, used to enjoy a wee song. Think I will put my name down for a song, furra laugh…need songs titles, careless whisper, silence is golden, sound of silence!
Frantic07 the very quiet assassin.
maestro
You are spot on with that response. :-))
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
Nye Bevan
14.13.
I’m doing this through memory, but I think it was Aberdeen who put us out of the league cup, which was the skol cup at the time.
The reason I recall was, there being a wee ditty about losing the skol cup at Pittodrie but not caring as we won the league and the Scottish cup.
Too many swear words to post the actual ditty.
EDB
Salsburg have qualified but will want to finish top. A draw does not guarantee us qualification unless Zagreb drop points v Astra.
A win on thursday will see us into last group game top (11 pts v 10) and in Europe after xmas
Salzburg 1 up. Massimo Bruno.
If you order Caesar & The Assassin today you get a Celtic DVD – both for £20 inc P&P and posted tomorrow – order at http://www.cqnbookstore.com
SFTB,
Haw, hey, who are you calling “ancient”.
I can assure you that I am merely mature and well preserved!
Watched the second half of Palace v L’pool and focussed on Joe Ledley.
He gave a midfield masterclass, crowned by an excellent and vital goal.
Wish he had stayed. Then we wouldn’t have to suffer Charlie in midfield.
zico-maltese bhoy
Will say a prayer for your intentions at Mass tonight mate.
Jimmynotpaul…….cheers pal,canny remember it,selective
memory like most fitba fans.
Away for a meal to celebrate my brother-in-laws 60th,
he was a ref back in the day, the stories I could tell.
We have lost 2-0 to Hearts, to the league leaders, to the team who were relegated last season a team that is unbeaten, a team that has the best defense in the Championship, and a team that was in the division above last season whereas we were in the division below. All that seems to point that a home win was expected, that this was the runaway top team against stuttering second place side, and the fact Rangers are the most successful club in human history doesn’t matter a jot.
From some moronic hun blog.No mention that Hearts had 8 kids from their academy playing.Not a mention that the hun team was full of SPL players.No mention of being the second highest paid team in Scotland.
The last sentence is some going for a team founded in 2012.Have I missed something.
Deluded morons.