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.
529 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- ...
- 14
- »
Nothebus
Murrayfield v Legia. PL.
notthebus 17:09 on 23 November, 2014
Gordon Strachan, Celtic Park, April 2008 versus Motherwell. . .
I listened to shortbread before the lower league game yesterday and wee Chico, the worlds greatest Rangers/ St Mirren fan went as far as saying if McCoist leaves that will be the last trace of the old club gone, maybe even they are getting the bigger picture.
The rest of the planet must look with wonder at the fact that a city of fewer than a million citizens has the most successful football club in the world on one side of the river which splits it, and potentially the biggest football club in the world on the other
25 minns ago.MICHAEL GRANT THE HERALD.
deid cheats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!…MICHAEL.deid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DD
You were missed, as you would expect. Because of the cursed driving, I will never manage to join you lot post game. As much as I would love to, my licence is so important living where we do. See you thurs. if you are going, failing that, the next home league game, ah, thistle next wed I think. :-)
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
South of Tunis / Turkeybhoy
Agree with your observations. Salzburg are no mug team and have dangerous individuals who can take a chance.
We need to start confidently, press high, move the ball accurately and bring our wide men into the game often, as pace could be the key to unlocking their defence. Question is – Who do we play up front?
Above all we must defend well – no daft chances. If Denayer is not fit for Thursday (and fingers crossed he is) could somebody take Efe away for a few days in case Ronny thinks of playing him – I don’t think I could handle it. Yesterday’s 45 mins was bad enough!
ElDiegoBhoy.
Yes. I’m Lurking, I’m going to the La Laterna with Paul (kikinthenakas) around 1.00pm then to the valley fur a swally. Still looking for a couple of bodies for the La Laterna, I know you will be working but If you can manage it your welcome.
There was a letter addressed to me when I went into the BV on Friday the Address was to the Secretary. Blane Valley CFC,76 Glassford St Glasgow.The wee note inside said..Dave,Brilliant news on your new supporters club.Can you post detailson CQN or give me a call.Myself Tony,Paul & Joe want to Join.Hail! Hail!. P.S.If your going to the Davie Hay event in Greenock,I’ll see you there signed.????.Who would do that to me,?
Weefra
We paid our respects to Oscar Knox yesterday. His tribute is so fittingly close by to Brother Walfrid’s statue.
HH
kikinthenakas.
Beat me to it.
Salzburg win 2- 1
Soriano is a very good player.
notthebus
17:09 on
23 November, 2014
Are there any circumstances where a Celtic support would sing en mass for any Celtic employee to “get to f***” far less our club manager.
—————————————————————————————————
5 April 2008. 1-0 home defeat to 10 man Motherwell. “Strachan, Strachan, GTF” chanted by a sizeable number of supporters. Not en mass but enough to be clearly audible in the stadium.
Weefra
Due to working till 8, midweek games don’t suit me. :(
Will try to get away at 7 on Thursday though. :)
Stairheedrammy 17:20 on 23 November, 2014
I think the problem for the sevco board up till now has been that if they had dumped mccoist as manager, I am under no illusion he has told them he will come out with some pish along the lines of “I have decided to leave because I realise this entity is not the club I played for for all those years”.
This would have been quite persuasive in keeping him to help perpetuate the ‘same club’ lie, and quite damming if he did walk and talk.
However, with Mike Cashley now pulling the strings, I don’t think he cares about the continuity myth, and he will punt mccoist once his lawyers find a way to avoid a severance pay.
Indian Cottage Merchant City for pre-match on Thursday. Reviews please.
Off oot for a pizza then the Milan derby at 7 45 GMT.A sell out.Both teams need to win in order to give their support something to be happy about.
Kickinthenakas
No bottling it from Thomson and co
Plain cheating
OT
Sent you a text
Weefra
Please tell us the trackies needed changed cos you spilled something ON them not IN them!
TenaTimsCSC
HH jamesgang
Don’t sack McCoist, Sally McCoist!
You just don’t have 800 grand.
And if you sack McCoist, Sally McCoist
You’ll have your first admin on your hands.
BSR
A fitting tribute indeed to our wee Mhan. Struggling to read and type now remembering the words. KTF. And also the tributes to the young Scotland fan who died last week. Very moving all round.
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
Good evening friends.
DD
Hope you can make it kiddo. See ya if you can. :-)
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
oldtim67
I’m not working but have other things on the go that day so I’ll see you in the BV around 4p.m. If I was in La Lanterna on Thursday it would be a race to grab the bill:o)
jamesgang
Ya rascal ye, not quite yet, but one never knows what’s around the corner. :-)) Lovely to meet you and yer big Lhaddie (well everybody’s big to me), and hopefully meet up again this thurs. :-)))) Still aff the fags, last one, 3 weeks ra morra. Dead proud. KTF.
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
Can I have raspberry
Indian cottage, decent Indian food if a wee bit salty. Prices were good
The Battered Bunnet
14:44 on
23 November, 2014
All very well to say that revenues would increase 10-fold if we were in the EPL (yawn, yawn) but we would not have a single first team player on less than 50k a week, the stars would be on 75-100k and the subs etc would be on 30k ish.
We would also get held to ransom on transfers as bosmans would not be ‘good enough’ at that level, so my guess is that we would have at least an 8-fold increase in salaries across the board, and would have to buy any of the players who were appearing (unless they start taking EPOs at Lennoxtown), which could approximate to about 50m pa in transfer fees (conservative estimate).
As a business there would be a short term rise in share value followed by a fairly sharpish fall off a cliff. Suffice to say, investing in football teams is not for the financially challenged.
Delaney’s, the green brigade scarf was sold out by the time i got to the celtic supporters association yesterday.
They are getting another 500 in next weekend.
Ole Sevco must hold the world record for the financially challenged.
Pf
You’re not wrong…
Oldtim67
Ring u later in the week…sounds great…embdy else gaun?
Kikinthenakas
Sky Sports advertising “The Club That Vanished” documentary on later tonight.
Tell me they’ve seen the light?!!
Just had a call from a Jambo colleague who assures me that the community singing round ole Gorgieside was excellent yesterday, much to the expense of Sevco.
A strange request I know but,
I never watch them or know where to watch them but I will make an exception to see the assaults, goals and honest mistakes and hear the Hertz ditties.
Anyone point towards a link?
Thanks in advance.
EC67
Dallas
Thanks for the heads up. Watched the game yesterday with a fellow CQN poster, who loves your posts as much as I do. He told me about a wee opportunity for writing, that could be right up your street.
Jack The Flipper
Richard Gough
True Blue
2,624 posts
Gender:Male
Location:UK
Posted Yesterday, 01:48 PM
We should protest at Ibrox tonight, I’ll make the trip up no prob, something has to be done and protesting is one of the few things we have left.
Yes,after all that has worked out very well in the past,has”nt it?.
Spent a very happy 30 minutes on Hun media there.Astonishing,their mindset.Still the best since “Viz”.
From FF The next Manager for the world’s most successful club!
View Poll Results: Based on the replies, how about a poll – who would you go for?
Stuart McCall 34 11.89%
Derek McInnes 43 15.03%
Jimmy Calderwood 19 6.64%
Walter Smith 14 4.90%
Billy Davies 35 12.24%
Steve McLaren 8 2.80%
That big fud Pressley 1 0.35%
Eddie Howe 10 3.50%
Arthur Numan 13 4.55%
Paulo Sergio 5 1.75%
Glen Hoddle 16 5.59%
Barry Ferguson 3 1.05%
Davie Weir 7 2.45%
Tony Pulis 26 9.09%
Ian Cathro 11 3.85%
Another of the Dutch contingent 6 2.10%
Run of mill Ashley type 2 0.70%
Keep McCoist 9 3.15%
A.N. Other 24 8.39%
Voters: 286. You have already voted on this poll
Oldtim
I have hospital Thursday pm then taking my driver for something to eat. (MrsBT)
Will try to get into BV about 3…
Dallas
yes same WR but he never had the farm it was his sister’s hubby – I remember the Lochwinnoch farm and that was first time I ever saw a multi-pack of milky ways
Probably not meet the Pinner posse as tight schedule
HH
HH
dd
I was going to offer u and petec lift into town Thursday after visit to jubilee.
PFAyr.
Message back to you.