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. Willie Wallace,

     

     

    one of my favourite lions,

     

     

    saw him score some great goals,especially against the departed ones.

  2. The Spirit of Arthur Lee on

    Update from Bluntyre

     

     

    Oldtim67 says the Milky Bars are on Hymn

  3. Jmccormick

     

    Carmenere …lovely …funnily enough I got three bottles for my birthday recently

     

     

    Very interesting history to it

  4. It was a masterstroke by Jock when he signed Willie Wallace to replace Joe McBride if I recall correctly.

     

     

    Wispy always came across in a very unassuming manner. A great Celt for me.

  5. ;immccormick,

     

     

    He was aye.

     

     

    Add eduardo vargas, raul Jimenez, dusan tardan, joaquin boghassain, behrang safri, Jureuz Bulliet and we are sorted

  6. if u ask me lenny will jump at the chance to manage everton for the next 6 years before taking over at old trafford

  7. WGS

     

     

    If offered yes …see my post above

     

     

    The EPL think the SPL is a joke …they are impressed with European success….

  8. Never mind Jack Bauer and 24,

     

    i’m getting fed up waiting for the last 8 episodes of the final series of Breaking Bad,

     

    August 11th i believe.

     

    gaun yirself Mr.White.

  9. PF –

     

     

    bought 6 from Tescos finest range over here – 8 yo yos a pop.

     

    lovely drop.

     

     

    Cheers!

  10. Roy Croppie

     

     

     

    Texting and drinking Guinness can prove difficult ….I have extensive knowledge of said difficulty :-))

  11. harryhoodsdugbitme on

    I remember when WGS won his first title Stan marching up the tunnel with his missus in a right huff. God knows what that was all about. Proper flounce. Good player and glad he’s getting better. HH.

  12. Tim Malone Will Tell on

    Willie Wallace for 30k – those were the days when we seemed capable of picking up a top notch star from another Scottish side for a veritable song. Makes you wonder what kind of jiggery pokery was going on in the transfer market in the good old days.

     

     

    How long after Wispys transfer did the Huns (deceased) pay 100k for Colin Stein?

  13. dont know about anyone else but there’s no way i’d have stan unleashing the flag. last time i seen him at Celtic Park when we had won the league his face was tripping him.

     

    goes without saying i wish him a speedy and full recover.

  14. The Boy Jinky on

    TBJ … reporting live from the kosc

     

     

    Scandal …… VP and Gordon got their wrists slapped for talking at the bacl of the class ;)

  15. zimmerman

     

     

    Breaking Bad,

     

     

    How long does it take to film 7 hours or so?

     

     

    There would be a riot if you had to wait this long for coronation street!

  16. Updates… trying my best…sorry they are slow for some.

     

    BDO could be up to three years before they are finished but they will do their job proper …according to Phil McG

  17. DJBEE

     

     

    The final season 5 already in the can,..in the good old U. S. of A they started an annoying habit of splitting a season in two…started doing that here too now with some progs i think.

     

    So the final 8 episodes still to come.

  18. Is anyone involved with the distribution of the Willie Wallace book?

     

     

    I’ve ordered it and paid through PayPal, only to realise that it will be sent to my previous address.. (PayPal still has my old address which I’ve not updated)

     

     

    Would be really grateful if someone could post an email addresss for the distributor.

     

     

    Thanks in advance,

     

     

    Lubo.

  19. Gene's a Bhoy's name on

    Eldiegobhoy

     

    Wispy was signed before joe was injured -not as a replacement

  20. A lot of what is being said is already know so l don’t want to post what most on here will know already.

     

    Paul McConville saying Uefa not interested in the back water that is Scottish football.

  21. masty is neil lennon

     

    20:55 on 10 May, 2013

     

     

    celticbhoy

     

    thanks for the updates pal..

     

    No worries. now on a half hour break.

  22. zimmerman

     

     

    Think I watched the first 8 before Christmas!!

     

     

    Got to wait till August now?

     

     

    I think Bryan Cranston must have been makin a couple of films meantime.

  23. ceaser67

     

     

    20:32 on 10 May, 2013

     

     

    Less of your nonsense lurking on her you’ve more pertinent matters to be dealing with.

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