We have a combined book review/Mary’s Meals promotion today. Celtic fan and politician, Jim Murphy, has written an excellent book, The 10 Football Matches That Changed The World. It’s in my top three books on the game (as opposed to a player), and gives insight into the deadly intimidation which sparked the Barcelona-Real Madrid rivalry, how the game was rescued from oblivion, and England’s public schools, by a handful of communities in the 19th Century, Hillsborough, standpoints against racism in the UK and a whole lot more.
Romantics forever mourn that the great Hungarian team lost the 1954 World Cup Final, but that game changed for post-war West Germany. Then there’s Robben Island, apartheid’s most feared opponents were locked up for decades, denied all but a football. With that ball, teams were built, men were built.
Profits from sales of the book through the link at the bottom of the page go to our Mary’s Meals appeal. Here’s the interview:
Q. OK, Jim, you’ve written a fine book, but I have to open with a question as charged as anything in the world football could be. On meeting then-Rangers chairman, Craig Whyte, you opened with “When do you think Rangers first decided on a ‘No Catholics’ policy?” Did you appreciate the enormity, and rarity, of that question? Would Scotland benefit from being open about what happened inside the game here?
“Looking back it’s hard to believe that the country tolerated that old style sectarianism. Growing up in Glasgow it was treated by far too many as the norm when it was anything but normal. My one and only encounter with the ill-fated Craig Whyte, the calamitous and short-lived Rangers chairman took place in the most unlikely of places. It was in the board room at Celtic Park, at half-time in the infamous 2011 Scottish Cup match.
“As part of my research for the book I decided to ask him about the history of the Club that he would go on to cause so much harm to. I asked Mr Whyte, ‘When do you think Rangers first decided on a “No Catholics” policy?’ He took such a direct question surprisingly well. Perhaps because I was asking him about a Rangers from what now seems like another age. Pretty fairly, he couldn’t place a date on it.
“For decades, his club was probably the only team in the world where the question of which foot you kicked with was more important than how well you could kick. Only a few yards along the corridor, in the Rangers changing room, no one knew how many Catholics were sitting listening to the Rangers manager Ally McCoist’s half-time team-talk. More importantly, no one really cared.
“Thinking back its inexplicable why so many in the media, football, UEFA, politics and others had accepted such a policy for so long. It was from an era when there was little protection against discrimination against ethnic or religious minorities, the disabled or on the grounds of sexuality and even against women. None of those things were right and nor was any sectarianism wherever it came from or who it was aimed at.
“I spoke to some of the best Celtic and Rangers historians there are. Celtic’s origins are rightly and universally celebrated but for decades much less was spoken of Rangers earliest days. But the passions of the Club’s founders the canoeing McNeil brothers had nothing to do with other people’s subsequent prejudices. For years when Rangers had a free Saturday their players sometimes turned up to watch Celtic and were welcomed by the sound of Celtic fans’ applause rather than any boos.
“In 1909 both sets of supporters invaded and rioted on the Hampden pitch after a drawn final. Parts of Hampden were set alight, fans fought with the police and some fireman were set upon when they turned up to save the stadium. Astonishingly there’s no reports in any of the media of rival fans throwing even a single punch at one another.
“But by 1924 events including post First World War anti-Catholic sentiment and the opening of Harland and Wolff shipyard in Govan helped contort Rangers. It was revealing to interview Graeme Souness, the manager who broke Celtic hearts by signing Mo Johnston and in so doing helped break a sixty year taboo. Talking to Billy McNeil about all of this was pretty enlightening.”
Q. Racism was rife in British football in the 70s and 80s and you give some inside into the tide turning after Chelsea fans booing their own black player on a day they won promotion in 1984, but if you look around Britain today, or even some football grounds, do you feel as though we have slid back after recent years or recession and shortage?
“Football has come a long way to challenge the racism that had been tolerated on the pitch and celebrated on the terraces; accepted in the boardroom and in far too many changing rooms. No Club was exempt from the racism, not even Celtic. I remember being at Celtic Park and how angry I felt about the treatment of Mark Walters. We’ve all come a long way since then.
“But there’s still racist and other attitudes to be challenged. Anti-gay sentiment is still considered acceptable by a lot of football people. And football isn’t immune from the anti-Muslim attitudes that survive in wider society.”
Q. The Real Madrid-Barcelona rivalry is the most intense still alive in the game but its roots, and the roots of both clubs, as you explain, are difficult to pin to a single game. Do you think this is more about the struggle for Spain across the 20th century? Barcelona, as much as any club in the world, have a duty to live up to historical expectations. Do you think this is possible in the modern world?
“No other sporting rivals have been so trapped by the multiple and often tragic identities of their country. As a consequence of the brutality inflicted on Barca and Catalonia by Franco, Barcelona set themselves standards that they are finding it hard to live up to. The allegations on transfer kick-backs, tax problems and ties to Qatar 2022 are out of kilter with the often utopian ideals that Barca sometimes encourage. And now we have the signing of Suarez. I’m not sure the signing of this brilliant but troubled star is in keeping with the spirit of Gamper and Sunyol.
“For the unthinking many of course, there is a sense that Madrid the football club was founded by the forefathers of fascist neanderthals. In truth Real were formed by left-wingers. But at a time when Franco was a pariah, Real were world beaters. He simply sided with Spain’s greatest export. The Real Madrid of the late Di Stefano were transformed into his unofficial global ambassadors.
“In writing about Barca and Madrid I was spoilt for choice about which game cemented the political and cultural conflict that became the story of the two Clubs. The contenders are: 1925, when a British Royal Marine band came to play; 1943, with Madrid’s biggest ever victory; and, lastly, a sending-off in 1970 that never should have been. I opted for the cup semi-final of 1943. Barca were 3-0 up after the home leg and favourites to go through. But after a threatening pre-match visit to their changing room by the Director of State Security Barca managed to lose the return leg 11-1.
“To fathom what happened in 1943, you need to understand something about the one event in Spain’s history that has influenced politics, the nation’s football and culture for decades. For those who lost family it’s the heartbreak of modern Spain. For many football fans it’s the emotional backdrop to the Barca v Madrid rivalry. In his brilliant book ‘The Spanish Civil War’ Antony Beevor wrote of the conflict that, ‘It is perhaps the best example of a subject which becomes more confusing when it is simplified.’ Read his book to see what he means.
“In early 1936 Spain had a democratically elected left wing Popular Front government. It was rocked by an attempted military coup that summer by its right wing opponents. For three years Spain fought and with Hitler’s support Franco triumphed. Barca President Josep Sunyol was assassinated by fascists.
“Franco was vengeful against a defeated Catalonia and often defiant Barca. Its the memories of those horrors that live today for many in Spanish football.”
Q. Football and feelings of national image have had a mostly unfortunate relationship but you tell a different story for the 1954 World Cup Final, between the great Hungarian team and West Germany. Hungary were robbed of a deserved national highlight but you think Germany won more than just a football match?
“We’ve all just enjoyed a great World Cup with Germany winning for a fourth time. The one big surprise was that the hosts conceded more goals than any other nation. Its hard to say what the impact on Brazilian psyche is going to be. But there’s little doubt about the effect on the West Germany psyche of 1954 – the most important World Cup final ever played.
“That Bern final was played against the Puskas inspired unbeatable Hungarians. Franz Beckenbauer, the man who would go on to win the World Cup for West Germany, both as a player and manager, believes that, after their success, ‘suddenly Germany was somebody again’. And reflecting the experiences of his own childhood he knew how an eighty-fourth minute winner by Helmut Rahn changed Germany’s view of itself. ‘For anybody who grew up in the misery of the post-war years, Bern was an extraordinary inspiration. The entire country regained its self-esteem.’”
Q. Football is the sport of the people in South Africa, your childhood home, but the story of the role the game played in the lives of inmates – and future statesmen – on Robben Island in 1967, unfortunately, goes largely untold. How did this game reach into the hearts of Mandela, Zuma and their contemporaries, through such hardship?
“My family emigrated to South Africa in the early 1980’s and I lived there until the South African army came knocking on the door looking for me to serve two years national service. I’m neither a coward nor a pacifist but there was no way I was going to serve in an apartheid army.
“When I lived there Nelson Mandela and so many others were jailed on the former leper colony of Robben Island. Every morning I could see across to the Atlantic Island. There was very little news from the island. Like most people I had no idea about the Makana league that the prisoners had forced the regime to allow them to set up. It was inspired by British football. Aston Villa fan Tony Suze got it going.
“Many of the prisoners idolised Billy Bremner. A lot of the teams were named after British clubs. Current South African President Jacob Zuma was a tough tackling centre-back for a team called Rangers!
“One of the ANC’s former island political prisoners I interviewed Dikgang Moseneke was clear about how football helped keep hope alive. ‘It was the great escape from imprisonment. I don’t think the governor and wardens understood the full meaning of the football that they allowed us to play. Very few people came out of Robben Island broken, very few, And some went on to become leaders.’
Q. It is clear that you enjoyed writing the book but the final chapter, Liverpool v Nottingham Forest, 1989; the Hillsborough Disaster is haunting. More than the sectarianism which through football was institutionalised in Scotland in 1924, or the Soccer War game, between El Salvador and Honduras, it reaches inside the reader to touch regret and sorrow, in particular with Trevor Hicks account. What was the Justice for the 96 campaign up against, as they set about trying to change the world?
“Put bluntly the ‘Justice for the ’96’ campaign was up against large section of the British establishment. With the official inquests going on at the moment I have to be careful about what I say. Back then a media that was willing to repeat lies, too many police complicit in a cover up, a government too quick to blame the innocent and a country where many were initially willing to believe the worst of Liverpool fans. But over time the lies unravelled. Celtic’s solidarity with the campaigners is well known. What is less well known is that it wasn’t until a UK Cabinet meeting in Glasgow in 2008 that the campaign got its much yearned for political breakthrough.
“When I wrote the book I decided I wasn’t going to stitch anyone up; and I didn’t. But there’s one person who it’s impossible not to be angry with – the odious then Sun editor, Kelvin Mackenzie. Even today he gives mediocre middle aged men the world over a bad reputation. His malevolence is matched only by his unjustified arrogance.
“But the fact that the campaigners have now got to the truth means that they might just be on the cusp of getting justice as well. Theirs is a story of working class solidarity and of a city that refused to give in. As one campaigner put it to me. ‘We always believed that the law and the establishment would always win. As The Clash would say, ” I fought the law and the law won”.’ But on this occasion, mercifully, it appears they haven’t.
Q. There is so much in the book I didn’t know about the game, specifically, including that in the early 19th century it had all-but disappeared, apart from outposts in Orkney, Shetland, Workington, Cornwall and Jedburgh, before it was colonised by Britain’s public schools and Army messes. 200 years ago, it was a game, but not a game of the people. Your story starts with how people reclaimed football and lived their lives through it. Is this the real story of football over the last two centuries?
“Football almost died. How it survived is a little known truth and is the secret that the sport rarely recognises. A single match helped rescue the sport, and, with one unexpected victory, it finally broke free from its ghettos in the nation’s public schools and British Army officers’ messes. The ailing game had been violent, with very few agreed rules. It was run by and for the elite and, in a nation with very few sports fields, had been banned from public streets. In England, the FA Cup (partly funded by Scotland’s Queens Park) was colonised by university, public school, and regimental teams.
“In the 1883 FA Cup final, the former pupils of Eton College lined up against Blackburn Olympic at the Oval cricket ground. The Lancashire team won in extra time and the trophy went home with them which was further north then ever before. It coincided with Britain’s second Industrial Revolution and meant that when people left these shores they took with them a newly proletarian sport with them.
“A new breed of football innovator was born. They were more in the image of Blackburn Olympic than Old Etonian. In South America, British railway workers helped introduce the sport to Colombia, Uruguay and Argentina. A school-teaching Scot, Alexander Watson Hutton, set up the Argentine FA. In Chile, British sailors, and in Venezuela, British miners were amongst the first to play. In Spain, Brazil and Italy, Britons also planted their working class footballing roots.
“This change in football came in time for the First World War. It meant that football was one of the few things that the working class soldiers and their public school educated officers fighting in the Western Front trenches had in common. It’s an integral part of the story of how the 1914 football Christmas Truce came about. But that’s a different story and is the one match in the book which didn’t change the world.”
If you order the book through this link, with the promotion code: CELTIC, all profits will go to Mary’s Meals.
551 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- ...
- 15
- »
Q)
Jim. very interesting, my holiday reading is sorted, thank-you…….but may I ask,
Celtic are champions of Scotland, Ronny and JC are off to a winning start in the Champions League, the huns have been liquidated,
…………….so why the long face?
;)
HH
Paul
as a selling point you could’ve also highlighted that his old Nu Labour mucker Tony Blair does a review on the book. I will be donating the book value directly to Mary’s Meals.
HH
Not wanting to start an independence debate but if Scotland gains independence will the union Jack that always flies above rutherglen be automatically replaced with a saltire ?
mentioned this the other night, but here it is again. Anyone looking for a book to read over the holidays should try the latest one from David Peace, “Red or Dead”, it’s all about Bill Shankly’s time with Liverpool and after he retired and includes a few mentions of the games against Celtic. It’s not an easy read as the writer seems to use 100 words when one would suffice, but in the end it is a brilliant read. He also wrote “The Damned United”, which is also a great read. Back to work now.
Whit’s a… Modou Barrow?
Anybuddy Know?
Intriguin’,as awe get oot!
(well.. That’s whit Ah think,anyey.)
Kojo
Still,Laughin’
BRTH…………..Enjoyed your excellent (in)justice article over lunch, thank you. it did not aid digestion.
Do you feel that the public are getting sick and tired of the establishment using/abusing power at will?
Hillsborough dragging the truth out about corruption all through the ranks, and more recently, the rejection of Butler-Schloss as leader of the child abuse inquiry?
Last update for Jobo from me tonight.
The Open Championship, Hoylake
Round 1 Leaderboard Scores, Par = 72
17 – 20 July 2014
Player Country Round 1 Score After
1 McIlroy NI -6 17
2 Manassero Ita 67 -5 18
3 E Molinari Ita 68 -4 18
3 F Molinari Ita 68 -4 18
3 Furyk US 68 -4 18
3 Garcia Spa 68 -4 18
3 Koepka US 68 -4 18
8 Fowler US 69 -3 18
8 Karlsson Swe 69 -3 18
8 Leishman Aus 69 -3 18
8 Oda Jpn 69 -3 18
8 Woods US -3 17
8 Warren Sco -3 11
14 Bjorn Den 70 -2 18
14 Chesters Eng 70 -2 18
14 Ilonen Fin 70 -2 18
14 Jacobson Swe 70 -2 18
14 Moore US 70 -2 18
14 Choi Kor -2 16
14 Matsuyama Jpn -2 16
14 Spieth US -2 16
14 Oosthuizen SA -2 15
14 Gallacher Sco -2 13
24 Cink US 71 -1 18
24 Compton US 71 -1 18
24 Grace SA 71 -1 18
24 Jones Aus 71 -1 18
24 Martin US 71 -1 18
24 Van Der Walt SA 71 -1 18
24 D Johnson US -1 16
24 Walker US -1 15
24 Mahan US -1 14
24 Hearn Can -1 13
24 Broberg Swe -1 10
35 Aphibarnrat Tha 72 E 18
35 Clarke NI 72 E 18
35 Howell Eng 72 E 18
35 Kim Kor 72 E 18
35 Wiesberger Aut 72 E 18
35 Castro US E 7
35 Willett Eng E 1
35 Wu Chn E 1
80 Donald Eng 73 1 18
80 Duval US 73 1 18
80 T Watson US 73 1 18
83 Curtis US 74 2 18
83 Leonard US 74 2 18
83 Tringale US 74 2 18
86 Lahiri Ind 75 3 18
86 Olesen Den 75 3 18
86 Wood Eng 75 3 18
89 Cabrera Arg 5 17
90 Kobayashi Jpn 78 6 18
90 Reed US 78 6 18
92 Lawrie Sco 79 7 18
92 Neil Sco 79 7 18
HH NNGB
Kojo I imagine the reason you post is like the rest of us you want to voice an opinion, challenge, agree,disagree with one. In order to do this said post must be able to be read and understood. I don’t have a scooby what that last one was about,care to repost in language this poor unfortunate can understand. Hail Hail Hebcelt
Deleted but not defeated.
Paul – just bought the book following your link but wasn’t asked to enter a promo code. Hope the profit still goes to Mary’s Meals.
Bhoys4ever
Big Efe via Twitter
@celticfc: Efe Ambrose speaking to media on his quick return from #WorldCup : “I’m a professional so used to it and I’m always ready to go.” (MH)
@celticfc: EA: ““This is normal for me and I’m used to it. I’m being professional and I just love playing football.” (MH)
@celticfc: EA on contrast in playing France and Reykjavik: “It’s difficult but you have to respect everyone who are you are playing against.” (MH)
@celticfc: EA: “It doesn’t matter who you play against, you can get beaten if you are not prepared.” (MH)
@celticfc: EA: “Most important is to represent Celtic and to win every game we play, So mentality always the same no matter who we play against.” (MH)
@celticfc: EA on why he never complains of needing a rest: “I have been brought up this way. That is me.” (MH)
@celticfc: EA: “I enjoyed everything at #WorldCup and was a good experience. The experience I got there will help me become a better player. (MH)
@celticfc: EA: “Last year we went to Karagandy and got beaten. Don’t want to experience that anymore. We need maximum preparation to win.” (MH)
@celticfc: EA on prospect of playing at BT Murrayfield Stadium. “It’s going to be great as we know it’s going to be a good pitch,” (MH)
@celticfc: EA: “We going to play flowing football and it’s going to be a different ball game. We will see what manager has planned tactically.” (MH)
@celticfc: EA on absence of Scott Brown: “It’s a great loss as he is the backbone of the team, the inspiration and he drives the team forward.” (MH)
@celticfc: EA: “He has been one of the best players for Celtic, not just a captain.” (MH)
@celticfc: EA on Nigeria’s FIFA ban: “I believe they will settle it before the deadline. Someway or somehow it will be resolved soon.” (MH)
@celticfc: EA on life under Ronny Deila: “Been here for a couple of days but the atmosphere is pleasant and nice. Everyone settling in well. (MH)
@celticfc: EA: “We still need time to adjust. Won’t be a day job, will be a gradual process.” (MH)
HH
Jim Murphy…the Craig Brown of Scottish politics…
thefrontofthebus.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/project-charlotte-plan-to-liquidate.html
a charlottes fakeover type revelation from the front of the bus blog
tamrabam
http://thefrontofthebus.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/project-charlotte-plan-to-liquidate.html
HH
Mr murphy is a strange one.
I sat a few seats along from him at the huns league cup final a few seasons ago.
The one they sang the bigoted song book at its worst.
Not a peep or comment from the denim attired socialist.
Now he is a better together person and having a little prod pun intended at the orangemen.
Ive rwead about these matches before.
I will donate to marys meals directly as well.
Murphy is a chameleon…
Why thank kindly Sir!
I bow to your superior information technology know how
Its allegedly a wee presentation from someone about how to liquidate a fitba club, before a certain fitba club was liquidated! Allegedly.
surprised it hasn’t been discussed, or huv ah just missed it again/
DD
Thanks
Very proud
Have a great holiday and loads of beer
Cheers
MT
HebCelt
at 14.02
Man.. You Sure Know How tae Hoit a Guy!
Woweee..
That Hoit!
But, Unbowed n Unfazed.. Slings n Arrys, notwithstaunin’…
Kojo, wull Still Kerry Oan.. till the End.. Till the End.. o’ The Road.
Kojo
Still Laughin’. though.. Still Laughin’
Fanning wins the first race at Hamiltion!! 5/2
I tried to watch the golf there.
Only two bbc channels on the tenerife tv.
Boring beyond murder she wrote scale.
And the outfits.
Have they rented them fae the oranje men.
Beunas tardes CQN from a schorcio Lanzarote. I have finally managed to update the world cup predictor standings and it is very very close for a number of prized positions.
Provisional leagues will be sent out to entrants tonight for review, with final league standings published tomorrow afternoon.
Now where’s the bar again? :-)
HH
CRC
Kojo was’nt meant to hoit just trying to make sense of the post Modou Barrow is not a what but a Who. Quick look on Wiki tells us he is a Gambian playing his football in Sweden. One of the tabloids has us supposedly linked with him,but I suspect you knew that. Hail Hail Hebcelt
Terrymac-thanks for Los Gigantes info,went in to Bamboo yesterday,woman who owns it stayed round the corner from me in Dennistoun !
Went to a bar where a great singer fae Glasgow was on,Jimmy O’Rourke.He told me he was singing at a Tommy Burns Charity Night last year,embdae know him?
tamrabam
My pleasure ;-) …. I’ve read it and not surprised by it.
Didn’t c+p it ‘cos I didn’t think the graphics would show on CQN.
HH
Hail! Hail! Quick appeal on behalf of an old freind of mine.
he has 4 tickets for Commonwealth games, Hampden,29th July evening of track and field semi, s.
due to family crisis he cannot attend, he lives in Bristol and is keen to pass on at face value. £30 each.
any takers? He is not a wealthy guy and will be glad to recoup his outlay.
saint stivs- i noticed the BBC World News channel has adverts in it..
Hebcelt
at 14.51.
No Sweat,kid.
Ah like Ye.
How long hiv ye bin payin Homage tae this Sacred Grotto o’ the Internet?
Doncha Know that. There is a Price tae Pey fur yer Veesit??
n.. Pittin up wi , Kojo.. is wit it Costs!
There is Ayewiz a Catch 22… tae..well.. Every Bloody Thing!
Nice chattin’ ,Pally
Kojo
Still,Laughin’
Right
Off to see Mr Kroos being unveiled in SB
An MP writing about fitba?
I thought fitba and politics didn’t mix?
Sounds a decent enough read. I think there could have been some tasty questions fired in his direction.
I appreciate the questions were linked to his book.
Any plans to get Mr Murphy to do a Q&A on CQN?
LB
Bada.
aye.
funny also watchin bbc london for their regional news and weather.
the lassie today was Judits wee hotter sister.
cos its scorchio in the home counties.
we wuz conned. No need to go to canaries. We could have went to brixton for a week.
Just in.
Neither like nor trust Mr Murphy, not for me.
Off to cut the grass.
Fanning wins 2nd race at Hamilton 4/1 On a roll here!!!
Because of a very convaluted inlaws conection I have a lot of north tenerife friends.
they love to discuss scottish independence.
guess what. Their eec special status has ran out and there is a scramble to start drilling for oil.
la islas canarias independte
Livibhoy
If Jim Murphy is a Friend o’ Israel…
That tells Me that He is a True Politician.
Noo.. Ah am A Friend o’ Israel..
But.. Ah An NO a Politician.
Howevahhhhh..
It Maist Behooves.. ANY Aspirin’ Politician..
If..
He Disnae Wanna Witness his Political Ambitions..
EXPIRE.. still Abornin’…
Must.
By Necessity..n.. Prudence..
Become..
A Friend o’ Israel!
So the Folk oan Here who Are Shocked at Mr. Murphy’s Membership in that particular
Lobby..
Should be aware of whit ah jist Informed.
Mr. Murphy’ s Ma, didnae Bring up Nae.. Dummy..
Noo Ye Know.
Kojo
Still,Laughin’
B B
Bamboo is always our last call on the way “homish”. Nowt to do with big hawfs or the taxi rank outside. Been going to Los G for 12 years now. Was it the Harbour Club you heard Jimmy.? Great singer!! Thats where we always stay. BRILL!!!!!
Try Domingos wee waiter also pours a good measure.
hebcelt
14:02 on 17 July, 2014
No doubt Kojo has posted some very insightful posts over the years however I have to admit I scroll past them more often than not. Why?
Because I can’t be bothered making the effort to decipher them. No doubt my loss.
Quantum : cannae be bothered
Bada
Is her first name Helen? por cierto