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:
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KEVJungle
you should hang around longer on CQN.
Some of us love you on here.
Forget the wankers.
aaf in!
LHYM
I grew up in Knightswood and Peterson Park, 50 yards fae Whitecrook thro the lane. May know you? :)
DD
How far are you from Kirkton Ave?
EDDIEINKIRKMICHAEL
The Buffs v Meadow was enough for me,mate. Swindon v Oxford came close for hatred levels though. Fans of diddy teams need something to get excited about,I suppose.
Delaneys/CRC
Did any of you stay to watch that group ?
DD, apologies on the location error but Jeez talk about names from the past Peterson Park brought a smile to my face. Many late night rendezvous in that area indeed with all the wee lanes…I was from Lappin Street Whitecrook. You would have thought that you were in the Falls Road, good and safe street party times…
Mags
I lived on Kirkton Ave for on and off 15 years. My wee mammy still lives there.
Margaret McGill,
I worked near Kirkton Ave,
are you from that area?
Ticketmaster will be new opperators at Celtic park turnstyles etc
Had a great evening in Glasgow last night after the game. Met a good few of the Green Brigade and also met and had my picture taken with Brian Warfield from the Wolf Tones who were appearing at the Barrowland. Great craic.
Delaneys Dunky
21:25 on
23 November, 2014
It was a fine night!
HH
CRC
I had an uncle who lived on Kirkton ave
I spent a lot of time there in my youth
Been a while.
long haired yins man,
I went out with a girl from Peterson Park,
you Whitecrook boys were not looked at in a good light :-)))
dallas dallas where the heck is dallas
DD’S a dark side of the moon howler, I can confirm that..;-)
prestonpans bhoys
21:34 on
23 November, 2014
Was it the real Jesse Rae?
HH
CRC
LHYM
You Are Now Entering Republican Whitecrook! Was on a gable end in the 70s. I lived in Hartree. Went to mass in St Margaret’s and played my fitba in Whitecrook.
CRC
Roman helmet , kilt ,spier and heavy rock whit,,,,,,,,,
Delaneys,
that’s the street the girl I went out with stayed on,
beginning to get worried about what you know about me :-)))
I am in London all this week…wanting to watch the Salzburg game…was down Kennington way and noticed that the white bear seemed to have changed..no tv. .so I assume the game won’t be there… I will head up to the cock in Euston as I assume that this is still going strong..one of the best nights ever there when we won the league at Dundee United. ..any London toms give me a heads up if my info is out of date
Sorry bloody predictive text..Tims
Tippbhoy,
London toms ? :-))))
Once again sorry bhoys. … Tims
Gordy
There were only 20 houses in Hartree Ave. I will know your lady friend. :)
G64 / DD, those wee lanes between Whitecrook and Peterson Park allowed me when I was young, free and single ( now checking over shoulder) to have two on the go from Exquisite Form at the same time. Good times indeed.
These rotating toilet doors on the trains should be banned! Got the last train to Prestonpans last night and this poor pished guy wiz trying to have a leak and couldn’t locked it………….
BT
That night in Blantyre was the only time I was destined to meet Paul McConville.
He had posted quite a few of my witterings on the events of the time and the corruption in various areas of Scottish society and football, and we had exchanged e-mails but we had never actually met or even spoken until that night.
I was very saddened and totally surprised at his untimely death.
I believe he was one of the world’s gentle good guys and I will always hold him in high regard.
HH
BRTH
I’ll second that bt
Hartz had 9 players age 22 & under, the huns had 9 players age 29 or over.
We are no innocents ourselfs.
How much have we wasted on imports to the detriment of our youth ?
HH
BMCUW –
I played for Blantyre Celtic in the early 70s. One Wednesday night we played Blantyre Vics away. For the uninitiated, BC wore Celtic strips while BV, while not wearing Rangers strips, wore Rangers colours. There were more than 4,000 at the game and most of them were wearing Celtic and Rangers colours. All police leave in the town was cancelled. There was a great deal of drinking going on and twice the game was stopped as fights spilled over onto the pitch. I was on the right wing and I took dogs abuse from the huns and was spat on several times. Bottles were thrown onto the pitch and one hit me in the ankle.
Vics won 4-2. I scored from a penalty.
It was a frightening experience.
Tims watching on as huns return
Prestonpans
Great to meet you. My son’s sword is bigger than his! :)))
BRTH
We where in BV prior to the Milan game when I heard the news. Paul’s daughter is in same year as mini BT at JOHS..
He was of course an Albion Rovers fan
One of my team mates in that game, Danny McGranaghan, who later signed for Celtic, was punched in the face during one pitch invasion and had to be subbed. I often wonder what became of him. He was a marvellous footballer.
I have been critical of Ronnie and to be honest I am still not convinced.
But I set him a few tests and he has passed them…Top of the league etc….but I think that we would be a lot more patient if there was better communication…give us a vision and we will buy into it… give us passion …come on the bhoys we can beat these Salzburg diddies…It doesn’t take much… can’t wait for the game
I hate it when we call our European opponents diddies.
Invariably they are anything but.
TOM McLAUGHLIN
Men were men back then,mate!
Kick the ba’ up the park and geeza boady!!
Sat with Delaneys and PeteC at the game yesterday. Both great company and knowlegable about the game in general. Decided against going to the meet at the pub as isobel had the Grankids and it wouldn’t have been fair to leave her on her own watching the 3 of them.
Both myself and DD commented on the rising sense of entitlement that is evident from a growing number within our support. The littlest mistake is derided, every attack is expected to produce a goal, the opposition are not supposed to have any proplonged possession.
Is it just me or do others see the hunnish tendencies in our support growing?