Heart of a Lion, Willie Wallace autobiography

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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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  1. Phil Mc saying Whyte /Worthinton should be going to court in the next few weeks. Whyte looking for out of court settlement but hun board don’t have the money to buy him off. they are having meeting current bills.

  2. mhaddog Is Mise Niall Lennon on

    DJBEE, recent events have proved that there are quite a number of Celtic fans that think like that. Most of us don’t but some do.

     

     

    As for Neil Francis Lennon, I would be very disappointed if he left. He wouldn’t be the man I think he is if he did. But I wouldn’t blame him, I would just be sad.

  3. Haven’t read back in detail so apologies if already mentioned…did anyone read the post from Jeff Randall (allegedly) on FF this afternoon?…a belter.

  4. CH4 are filming live for Police, Camera, Kettling tonight in Blantyre from 12 midnight.

     

     

    Just saying like.

  5. The Spirit of Arthur Lee on

    EDB

     

     

    Not Bad Mucker youself?

     

     

    I couldn’t be arsed learning about David Livingstone

     

     

    Love

  6. old shug had sean on the ropes there, no answer from sean regarding the bad press lenny gets,well sean its up to you.no i dont think there is going to be either, he sean is like a lot of celtic supporters ,is that lenny can do no wrong. well i have said a thousand times on here ,he lenny isnt the man for celtic, chops and changes the team to much, cant motivate them , then when things go wrong its everybodys fault bar him,if he gets the everton job god luck to him there, get roid of this ego that he has,and possibly he could become a good coach,who would i have to replace him,well there is mick mcarthy, john collins, roy aitken, and willie mcstay who was discarded as soon as lenny appeared on the scene.oh sean still waiting on your answer,wee shug had you there,facts man just the facts.

  7. Registration of Rangers….

     

    Fit and proper person is not a test at all. CG knew he was pushing at an open door to get any rangers playing…

  8. Ghents

     

     

    I was responding in kind …….it was well received

     

     

    I wouldn’t want to detract from my reputation as a mild mannered Ghent :-))

  9. Anyone seen shuffling along in a grey laterral manner will be subject to temporary martial law conditions.

  10. SOAL

     

     

    We’re good for now thanks. Can’t ask for much more.

     

     

    Take care.

  11. just finished ten bouts of chemo THIRTY WEEKS at dr dodds clinic at wishaw hospital thanks to all the team [prostate problems] thats nearly seven lents wine in fridge for wedensday

  12. Did the SFA not amend their fit and proper rule, by declaring that it was the clubs’ responsibility to inform the SFA whether the criteria was met?

  13. Phil states thems will have to figure out what to do when they go down again as they have no cash.

     

     

    HH

     

     

    Mike

  14. Paul McConville….The fit and proper test is so bad that Dave King would pass the test tomorrow.

  15. Roll up , Roll up , your last chance – D-Day is tomorrow

     

     

     

    The Yo-Yo of Honour

     

    Thank you to everyone below who has donated . I’m at almost double the original target but everything helps.

     

    RRC

     

    BMCUWP

     

    BakuBhoy

     

    Masty is Neil Lennon

     

    Doc is Neil Lennon

     

    TheCelt45

     

    Cowiebhoy

     

    FourGreenFields

     

    PMTYH

     

    AyrshireTim

     

    Bradbhoy

     

    DBBIA

     

    Oglach

     

    bognor bhouyle

     

    angelgabriel

     

    Fortunes Favour Mibbes

     

    3mick3

     

    Jobo Baldie

     

    Minx1888

     

    Richie

     

    Mc

     

    ACGR

     

    Yulcr

     

    Mhark67

     

    Philbhoy

     

    Maggie Moll

     

    Vmhan

     

    HamiltonTim

     

    Tommysbhoy

     

    KevinLasVegas

     

    ohits

     

    Abmucker

     

    TomtheLeedsTim

     

    MWD

     

    PJBhoynyc

     

    MurdochAuldandHay

     

    SOAL

     

    iki

     

    DavieL

     

    Serenity

     

    GreenGray1967

     

    ArranmorBhoyLXV11

     

    Palacio67

     

    Spootiemad

     

    hoopsneillennondiditagain

     

    Lubo

     

    ElDiegoBhoy

     

    GretnaBhoy

     

    SpongeBhoy Squarepants

     

    Voguepunter

     

    16 roads

     

    Danny

     

     

    Thank you , one and all .

     

    well , it’s almost here. The Kano Foundation (and yours truly ) are taking part in a fundraising Bungee jump at Xscape , Braehead tomorrow .

     

    I’m not sure if i’m getting thrown off the crane or if i can jump off shouting ‘KANO’ so as not to confuse it with a scream.

     

     

    http://www.virginmoneygiving.com/team/KanoBungee

     

     

    Sanna

  16. Somebody posted never heard of the players I posted. Liam Bridcutt on skysports 1 just now for Brighton

  17. celticbhoy

     

     

    20:02 on 10 May, 2013Phil Mc saying Whyte /Worthinton should be going to court in the next few weeks. Whyte looking for out of court settlement but hun board don’t have the money to buy him off. they are having meeting current bills

     

     

    Having trouble meeting current bills?

  18. GlassTwoThirdsFull on

    Bhoy67 20:22 on 10 May, 2013

     

    Phil states thems will have to figure out what to do when they go down again as they have no cash.

     

     

    Presumably this is when Dave King steps forward.

  19. timbhoy2

     

     

    That you telling porkies again.

     

     

    A thousand times, more like ten thousand times.

     

     

    Bdum, bdum, bdum,bdum, bdum,bdum, bdum, bdum,bdum,bdum,bdum,bdum, feckin needle is stuck again.

  20. timbhoy2

     

     

    You were much more amusing as joshybhoy. I enjoyed your wealth aided lifestyle at that time. We could only dream.

     

     

    You don’t like being outside looking in do you? Well get used to it.

  21. masty is neil lennon on

    wds

     

     

    the boy bridcutt is a goodin…sure I read somewere he is on our radar.

  22. timbhoy2

     

     

    And there’s a space at the back of the bus reserved just for you. Yes that one with the dunce’s hat.

  23. GlassTwoThirdsFull on

    WGS

     

    I noticed you had a Henry Forrester.

     

     

    How about Fernando Forestieri too. Then we would have a Forster, a Forrest, a Forrester and a Forestieri!

  24. masty is neil lennon on

    GlassTwoThirdsFull

     

     

     

    20:30 on 10 May, 2013

     

     

     

    WGS

     

    I noticed you had a Henry Forrester.

     

     

    How about Fernando Forestieri too. Then we would have a Forster, a Forrest, a Forrester and a Forestieri!

     

     

     

    that would make tree of them

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