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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Tim Malone Will Tell
21:07 on
10 May, 2013
Djbee,
Could be – there were a few who got punted after the Berwick Rangers humiliation – was SAF part of that or did he play for them a wee bit later? Cannae be erchied googling it all…
SAF got punted for not properly marking King Billy in 1969 cup final.
King of the Travellers is worth a look Bhoys…
Good music too..
Looking forward to the book, paid early on. Fantastic piece of work.
If you could now get Luggy to do his book, that would complete the set of all Lions having something in print.
If you do have a CQN per final event, please let us know.
Paul67 reckons they will run out of cash by this time next year on current spending.
easdales are the hun loving criminals what’s that old saying easy come easy go, maybe they’ll write it off tae the taxman O jist remembered huns do do paying taxes hector will have the last laugh me thinks!!
HH
Forrest and George Mc.Lean played up front for them at Berwick, and carried the can for the result.
mccannspark
20:19
God bless you. May your recovery be complete. And enjoy the wine.
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.
it was written by tommy mackem himself.
when the drunks get in from blantyre tonight they will appreciate this.
four green fields.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-d30rpdvtiA
Phil…the 5 million plus raised by sevco fans was actually £1.8.
SAF got punted because he married a Catholic
Joe mcbride only 2 f@#n caps???in the top 4 scottish scorers post war it tells a story of scotland as a nation..especialy as bobby murdoch 12caps ffs..was seen by great footballers(bobby charton) as the most complete footballer he’d seen
Evening,
Due to some unfortunate holiday planning my ticket is available for tomorrow. I am in the east end and it will need to be picked up tomorrow before 11.30.
Let me know if you are interested and we’ll take from there regarding contact details.
TGSC,
Sailing On….
thomthethim
Forrest got punted down south and ended up at Aberdeen.
googybhoy ♥ Celtic
19:43 on 10 May, 2013
Tontinetim
How are you cousin???
Did you get that email I sent you about Lubo. Was it fact or fiction?
*Yes I did, had trouble with my IP during the week and couldnae access my e-mails.
Definitely fact I’ve known about Johnny Madden for years, Mrs. TT had a pal growing up who spoke about her Uncle Jack playing for Celtic, wismae her uncle or her da’s more like her grampas.
BTW Jack McGinn’s late wife was also related tae Johnny (Jack) Madden,
with Metro Bank with no faculty to borrow
great slip of the keyboard there .;-)
Paul67….Celtic about to publish accounts that are showing we are out of debt.
If Brown and Matthews are in the squad, they have to start, and it has to be 3-5-2.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Zaluska :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
::::::::::::: Ambrose :::::::::::: Wilson :::::::::::::: Mulgrew :::::::::::
Matthews :::::: Brown :::::: Wanyama :::::: Ledley :::::: Gershon
::::::::::::::::::::::: Hooper :::::::::::::::::::: Samaras :::::::::::::::::::::
The Dead team were playing in Europe the week Celtic signed him. They were to sign him on their return, but Big Jock nipped in first.
bognorbhouyle
21:58 on 10 May, 2013
with Metro Bank with no faculty to borrow
great slip of the keyboard there .;-)
———–
Sorry trying to listen and post on a mobile phone.
The newco must be raking in the money when they are going around offering free tickets to every pupil in primary schools classes four to seven, four free tickets to go and support them. I do not know how many schools this involves but I guess it was not the only the school that my kids went to.
Yet when I have to go down south to work all they ask me is how the attendances are so great at Ipox. When I tell them they do not believe me.
Has anyone in the media in Scotland picked up on this great generosity and great publicity exercise from the govan based club?
No.
My friends daughter phoned him while he was working away and told him she had been given four free tickets to go to a game at Ipox. When asking what she did with the tickets she said ” I just ripped them up and put them in the bin daddy”.
This was at the hype of the media “Oh what fantastic crowds there is at Ipox” media stuff. Ach well, bed for me.
We can’t survive without them ah tell ye!!
Please please please pretty please can we have ra huns back, pleeeeeeeaaase
will be sitting in the house tomorrow with the wife watching the fun at celtic park ,
wishing we were there have a great time all who are there .
if he’s not playing she will say where’s sammi
HAIL HAIL K.T.F
some great jazz on BBC4 right now…
mmmm……
Djbee
My daughter’s school was also offered tickets for the bigotdome on several occasions. Including the legneds game. Seems to have been widespread. My girl refused to even bring them home!!
HH
Listening to my i.pod in ma scratcher..glen daily song on..pure class..reminds me when i was a wean and my da would stick an lp on before we left for paradise..in the radiogramme..fkn ipod by f#@k lol
Just ordered The Heart of a Lisbon Lion.
Sounds like a cracking read. I have met Willie a few times in his Gold Coast pub, so will head down there and ask him to sign it for me.
Paul67 –
Willie’s pace was “unparallelled”? Yes he was indeed quick on his feet, but faster than Bobby ‘Buzzbomb’ Lennox? I don’t think so.
I’m surprised the fraud squad are not more interested in the sell out games.
They had 35K season books, and we are told they had 45 to 50 K every game.
Now, we know they didn’t, but I reckon if someone looked hard enough, you would find that anything between 10 to 15K paying customers @ 15 quid a pop were going through the books.
Washing their dirty laundry in public so to speak.
Allegedly.
Celticbhoy
22:05 on 10 May, 2013
bognorbhouyle
21:58 on 10 May, 2013
with Metro Bank with no faculty to borrow
great slip of the keyboard there .;-)
———–
Sorry trying to listen and post on a mobile phone
no need to be sorry that mob have no faculties at all .wee smilly thing
TET
I’m surprised the fraud squad are not more interested in the sell out games.
They had 35K season books, and we are told they had 45 to 50 K every game.
Now, we know they didn’t, but I reckon if someone looked hard enough, you would find that anything between 10 to 15K paying customers @ 15 quid a pop were going through the books.
Washing their dirty laundry in public so to speak.
Allegedly.
===================
That is exactly what is going on, and the new bus boys will be masters at laundering. Allegedly of course.
HH
Parents should be kickin up a storm for that biggoted mob being in the school disturbing the kids minds with that pash..sevco in the community ..lets take your wean to san giro and learn them the famine song..its only banter..honest guv!!or a wee bit of totties n mash wi your free ticket to see the steakbake and the tribute act..ooohhhh ma sides are splittin.h.h
We have Paul67, James Forrest, philmacgiollabhain and they have tinfoil heed at Rangers standard.#enoughsaid
An irate Scot Symon allegedly berated Big ‘Dandy’ McLean in the dressing room after the final whistle at Berwick.
‘ I have never seen a more pitifully inept display than that in my life,.. & never will again.’
Never stuck for an answer, Big Dandy is reported to have stunned his boss with his last ever words as a Rangers’ employee…. ‘ Ach, It was nothing, Gaffer,.. there’s plenty mair where that came frae.’
Memories of Wispy……As a 14 year old he was a bit of a hero to me. I well recall being in the old Celtic end when we were playing Dundee Utd. Score was 1-1. I had been cheering Willie all game. In the last minute he missed when it seemed easier to score. Grown men turned on me and, of course, on Wispy.
Such are the memories of watching the Hoops.
Treasure then always; might not always be the best but they are there to be recounted. I always feel my sons are all the better to be able to enjoy these tales – bad, but mainly good and rich and reflect the joys of being a Celtic supporter.
For this gift I always thank God in my evening prayers.
kikinthenakas
Cheers
KK
11 part-timers beat a starting 11 comprising 9 Internationalists + 1 if you include the sub.
Phil McG …CW is on a revenge mission and he has everyone on tape.
Best memory of Willie Wallace…
The first Celtic I attended at Celtic Park without parental guidance :-)
Celtic 4 Partick Thistle 0
Scorers: W. Wallace (4)
tom mclaughlin
And you never took me, mrs m & mini m to willie’s pub for a beer. Tut tut.
Hx2
tontine tim
21:58 on 10 May, 2013
Knew you would come up with the veracity of the story.
Do you think that Lubo signed on the back of it?