Heart of a Lion, the autobiography of Lisbon Lion, Willie Wallace, went to print this morning and will be out the day before the Cup Final. It is a joy.
Willie starts with a remarkable 17 days in April 1967 when the takes us through five games, Dukla Prague, home and away, in the semi-final of the European Cup, England v Scotland at Wembley, a tense league encounter with Aberdeen and the Scottish Cup final. Before you get into the substance which made the man, or his more famous achievements which were to follow the next month, you are immersed in sense of possibility, of sheer wonder, and of incredibly hard games of football, that encapsulated these times.
His story is genuinely unique, being the only Lisbon Lion Jock Stein went out of his way to buy, for good reason. His pace was unparalleled in the game. His scoring rate at Hearts was excellent but at Celtic he outperformed his peers – and that was an incredible team of peers.
We learn a valuable insight into how a team who had won nothing in seven years before Jock Stein’s arrival were transformed and swept all before them. Willie gets right into the detail of tactics and preparation.
The Great Event is there in all its intricate detail. Neil Lennon should make every player in the squad read it before Champions League duty commences next season. It would inspire the most desolate soul.
Willie asked CQN to publish the book, which we did. There are contributions from our own Brogan Rogan Trevino and Hogan, who believe me, does not disappoint. Close friend of Jock Stein, and the most influential broadcaster in Scottish football history, Archie MacPherson, wrote a chapter giving historical context to this extraordinary career. Archie’s range and insight is priceless.
We tentatively asked our very own A-lister, Rod Stewart, if he would write the foreward. Willie has been away from Scotland for a long time, a lot of football has been played since, and Rod’s been busy in the intervening years, but he was delighted to be asked. Rod explains his father’s Hibernian roots and through his “star-struck eyes” tells us Willie “might as well have had a four-leaf clover as a heart”.
Rod finished by saying “Bless you, Mr Wallace”, which I’ll echo. I can’t tell you the sheer joy it’s been in participating in this project. My enormous thanks, Willie.
You can order online NOW by clicking below. Willie is coming over this month and we’re getting a pile of books signed by him, so fill your boots.
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CFC
All the way from Burgas.
2
Equis…
HT you should be working !
Work is the curse of the drinking classes.
Willie was just unlucky with timing, great player.
One of my all time favourites
I’ll be looking forward to this book. Willie was a great player.
I hope there’s a chapter on the Quizball triumphs too!
Looking forward to meeting the man at Aberdour.
Definately meeting a few CQNers post match tomorrow.
Plan to get to Q & A tonight dependent upon a few things.
Great to be a Celtic supporter.
EC67
Willie Wallace I will say again the best £30K Big Jock ever spent. Legend.
HH
Knuckledragger on FF, says Alex Thomson is outside the Death Star filming just now……
Is there a possibility of a report on tonights bulletin?
O.G.?
Paul67: I’d like to buy a copy of the book but wondered if it was possible to reserve a signed copy? Happy to pay up front and wait.
Paul67,
You twisted my arm. Book purchased. Lisbon was way before my time but it’s great reading about it.
Hail Hail!
Paul67
Meant to ask, I take it I will get a signed copy having bought through CQN?
Is there an electronic version available? If so, can I get Mr Wallace to sign my ipad?
archdeaconsbench
13:07 on
10 May, 2013
Knuckledragger on FF, says Alex Thomson is outside the Death Star filming just now……
Is there a possibility of a report on tonights bulletin?
O.G.?
Did O.G or AT not say that he had to go to middle east over the weekend and the article on sevco would be next week at earliest.
HH
Ordered.
Paul67 – couldn’t you have put a more memorable description of May 25th than “the day before the cup final”?
Eurochamps- where is the ole gazebo being erected?
HT
Insecurus….
HT
You got jelly to accompany your Equis
Book ordered, if it can be signed great, if not, not a problem.
Another along with James Forrests novel for the summer holidays.
mighty tim
13:11 on
10 May, 2013
maybe he meant middle earth
Wallace came from Kirkintilloch or thereabouts and not long after winning the European Cup he came with some other players to St Ninian’s and paraded the cup in the assembly hall to the hordes of children going wild with delight. What a memory that is.
Would hate Lenny to leave just now – too much unfinished business.
I can understand the attraction of the Everton job, but the more I think about it the more I question whether it would be the right career move for Neil at this time.
On the plus side he would be rewarded financially.
Also, Davie Moyes has proved that if you are a success at Everton this will open doors to a job with one of the big 4 in the EPL.
On the downside it is always best to take over at a club which has been underachieving. Has Davie Moyes not taken Everton to the limits of their realistic ambitions? Would maintaining their current level of achievement be enough to attract a future offer from one of the big 4?
Although Spurs or Everton may occasionally break into the top 4 places and gain entry to the Champions League (without automatic entry to group stages), the financial clout of the big 4 will rule this out in most seasons.
I am also sure that the new Everton manager will have a weakened team at his disposal next season, with Davie Moyes likely to tempt a couple of Everton’s finest to follow him to Old Trafford.
So at tomorrow’s party let’s show Lenny how much we want him as our manager and hope that Peter Lawell finds a way of letting Neil know he feels the same way.
mighty tim
thats what I thought as well….. but according to them (I know….) he’s there just now….
MT
Thommo tweeted (how I hate that word!) on Thursday that he was heading over to Syria and the Tim he was answering on Twitter ‘should be patient’.
Paul
Big Congratulations to you & all involved in the book publishing.
The first of many we hope.
Oh & yes ordered too.
HH
Moyes wore the Hoops.
Ferguson didn’t.
I wish Davey well.
I’m off “outwith”
Willie Wallace earned the same number of caps as Jimmy McGrory.
Just sayin’ …
FF
paulsatim is neil lennon
13:16 on
10 May, 2013
mighty tim
13:11 on
10 May, 2013
maybe he meant middle earth
LOL mordor :)))
HH
Book ordered , hope its signed .
Looking forward to it anyway .
HH
Paul67
Will the the book be available for iPad or Kindle ?
I’m sure thommo said his story isn’t about sevco going bust.
HOPE not hate @hopenothate 3 May
Breaking news! BNP not only lost last remaining seat in Burnley but appear to have come last. Burnley is now BNP free
At last people starting to see through this scum.
HH
pabloh
Correct he said it was new info he has unearthed but not about them going bust.
HH
I hope and pray it’s about our football authorities!
I would be interested in a signed copy of the Willie Wallace book for my dad’s birthday this month.
A fantastic present for a Celtic fanatic!
LB