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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googybhoy
Although not a rookie like the fresh faced Aunt Sally.
Where is he in the betting???
He doesn’t do waddling away.
Can’t remember who Paul67 is on with. Anyone help?
bhoy67
19:21 on 10 May, 2013
At the columba club in Blantyre.
Oi wheres the burds.
…,..,,,,,.,,,……………
They will be dancing onto the stage shortly.
googybhoy
Is that “live updates”. :))
Weefra HH
eldiegobhoy
19:29 on 10 May, 2013
Can’t remember who Paul67 is on with. Anyone help?
Think it is the Three Ps.
Paul Phil and Paul McConville
Is Celtic TV covering tonight’s event in Blantyre?
HH!!
That wee Niaf on Clyde needs a a right good talking to
Paul is on with Phil Mc and Paul McConville
They will be dancin’ – and doin’ the huddle – on the streets of Blantyre the night!
HH!!
googybhoy
Cheers mate. The three amigos, was that how Fergus referred to them:o)
B.t.w. it is belting it down in G83.
deliasmith
15:39 on 10 May, 2013
I have just bought the book – I always liked Wallace, and never forget he led the line when Scotland beat the world champions on their home ground.
*he wasn’t originally selected but replaced wee jinky who was injured.
Wispy was a very versatile player and took over from Bobby Murdoch in the semi and replay against Clyde at right half.
evening all
was listening to SSB there – are Celtic in crisis and the huns winning everything?
who’s that p*at on ssb saying he’s not been to paradise for 2 years.
Reports of ‘lateral movement’ on the streets of Blantyre.
HH!!
hope all goes well tonight at the Q&A. Having a quiet night in, something going on tomorrow right enough!
Off to Barcelona on Monday , 4 days business , 3 days leisure , was hoping to see Barca in Copa del Rey final , best laid plans and all that , city will be quieter once all the petrol heads have left on Monday.
Anyway good luck to all the Celtic family tomorrow as we celebrate another title, in my opinion Neil Lennon will be here for another season at least. However rememeber that if someone is appointed at Everton it could well start a game of managerial chairs and there may be other offers coming Neils way , maybe similar to the job offers Swally will be getting ? Mwaah,mhaaw….
tallybhoy
19:32 on 10 May, 2013
Is Celtic TV covering tonight’s event in Blantyre?
HH!!
……………………
BBC Shortbread doing live coverage.
On Alba in Gaelic just in case you hear the truth.
I’m sure some would say I have no ambition for Celtic, but my expectations for any Celtic manager are:
1) Win the league
2) Show progression in Europe
3) Freshen up the squad with decent players when finances allow
4) Bring through the best youngsters from the Academy eventually leading to 1st team action
5) Maybe win one of the Cups (though would rather he played the 2nd string team for these games)
6) Treat the SMSM sports writers with the absolute contempt they deserve
Neil has more than excelled my expectations this season (he could do more on point 6 though). Added to these, he is Celtic to the core. He ticks all the boxes for my kind of manager of the greatest football club on Gods green earth.
Hail Hail
Yet another plant on Snyde.
And don’t slag me for listeming it’s hilarious
Nasal boy says hus bein going to purkheid fur 40 yrs but husnae been fur last two.
Wullny go back tull the R$££$£$£s ur ther.
Go watch them then it will cost you f*c£ all.
How stupid do they think we are, has anbody ever met a Celtic fan that would say that?
stupidstupidstupidhuns.
Lifting the trophy tomorrow and they can’t handle it.
eldiegobhoy
19:35 on 10 May, 2013
googybhoy
Cheers mate. The three amigos, was that how Fergus referred to them:o)
B.t.w. it is belting it down in G83.
……………………
That is no surprise mate. Then again that is what makes it so beautiful.
googybhoy ♥ celtic
19:30 on 10 May, 2013
Lol
Hope we get the good snippets
All about thems being dead again
Hope so
HH
Mike
Big crowd. Full room.
Dubliners blasting out in corner.
Good night so far.and a good pint
HH
Mike
tontine
howye? roseberry park was in oatlands between my beloved gorbals and shawfield, all Glasgow schools finals were played there up until late 70s, they found out it was contaminated land,after that the finals were moved to loretto in b/briggs,
Re Columba Club…as a Blantyre man myself, I can confirm that in the ‘tyre, there ain’t no half-decent looking burdz ;-)
The EPL are unimpressed with SPL success ….
They will judge a manager on success in Europe …..
Lenny’s stock is probably about as high as it is going to be …he will know that
Tontinetim
How are you cousin???
Did you get that email I sent you about Lubo. Was it fact or fiction?
cadizzy
16:03 on 10 May, 2013
Ernie Winchester has died. One for us oldsters (Hearts, Aberdeen….)
*missed an open goal against the deid team in a 0-0 draw in the semis in 1966.
Q and A night have a good one, should be interesting..
Is this Everton Quick News?
Mirallas or Jelavic up front on Sunday?
Ernie Winchester has died.
*missed an open goal against the deid team in a 0-0 draw in the semis in 1966.
should have got the bullet for that.
thomthethim
Aye that’s about the size of it but it must be against the law for these guys come back and in fact it would make sick to see these clowns waltz back in after dumping the debt to run some kind of Hunco.
As for Neil leaving the next guy in the chair would be subject to the same kind of smear as he and Anton Mor were, there’s no doubt about that.
This crisis has shown us more clearly than ever how much it means to certain peepull to keep us down.
I was hoping perhaps foolishly that Celtic could spearhead a new era in Scottish football without them but it doesn’t seem that will ever be acceptable to those who run the game.
As for Neil choices if it’s a good idea to move to England for him and his family then so be it I would never stand in the way of the man getting some peace and respect for the man and manager he is, personally I don’t think Everton would be a good choice for him although any top ten team in England has to be worth thinking about.
I dn’t know much about Owen Coyle except to say that there a quite a few Scots who made the careers in England and the way Neil has been treated would inspire me if I was one of them ( Steve Clarke, Malky, Paul Lambert etc) to up sticks and return to Scotland whether or not I had a fondness or connection to the club…
Strange days indeed should Lenny go..
Glasstwothirdsfull
No
Who cares
Boy67
Strange we are in the same room and l don’t know who you are…the place is pack.
From 19:36
I am not a hun.
HH
PFayr
Are you trying to outdo me for aggressiveness these days:o)
PFAyr
Exactly!
A new series of 24? Fantastic news.
Viz TOP TIPS for Huns #1:
When posting underhand cynicism on here to impress your inbred boyfriends it is wise NOT refer to our manager as ‘Lennon’.
In doing so your ‘cover ‘ is immediately blown and you’d be as well announcing, “Hi, I am one of the Penny Dreadful here to annoy my superiors.”
….PFayr
tough day ?
Crystal Palace v Brighton on SKY. Have always had a soft spot for Palace since Yogi scored 2 goals of the season in one game for them. Mind you, Brighton are playing in a kind of green.
Hope the speculation about our manager dies down. If he goes, I will wish him all the best. If he stays, I will hope he continues to treat the MSM will the utter contempt they deserve for what they put him through. They are lower than the lowest of the low.