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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Celtic Football Club @celticfc 22m
Players will wear special jerseys with Celtic Cross on them today to commemorate National Famine Memorial Day.
Nice one Celtic.
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Well l finally have Goat Man Flu..Jeezo ah thought Yeez were Aw being Big Sissys Moaning..
A Want ma Mammy..:-(
Summa of FirstColdSinceCentenarySeasonCSC
I gotta feeling that tonight’s gonna be a good night That tonight’s gonna be a good night That tonight’s gonna be a good good night (x3) Tonight’s the night night Let’s live it up I got my money Let’s spend it up Go out and smash it Like Oh My God Jump off that sofa Let’s get get OFF I know that we’ll have a ball If we get down And go out And just loose it all I feel stressed out I wanna let it go Lets go way out spaced out And loosing all control Fill up my cup Mozoltov Look at her dancing Just take it off Lets paint the town We’ll shut it down Let’s burn the roof And then we’ll do it again
Lets Do it (x3) And live it up I gotta feeling that tonight’s gonna be a good night That tonight’s gonna be a good night That tonight’s gonna be a good good night (x2) Tonight’s the night Let’s live it up I got my money Lets spend it up Go out and smash it Like Oh My God Jump off that sofa Lets get get OFF Fill up my cup (Drink) Mozolotov (Lahyme) Look at her dancing (Move it Move it) Just take it off Lets paint the town We’ll shut it down Lets burn the roof And then we’ll do it again Lets do it (x3) Let’s live it up Here we come Here we go We gotta rock Easy come Easy go Now we on top Feel the shot Body rock Rock it don’t stop Round and round Up and down Around the clock Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Saturday and Sunday Get get get get get With us you know what we say Party everyday p-p-p-party Party everyday I gotta feeling that tonight gonna be a good night That tonight’s gonna be a good night That tonight’s gonna be a good good night(x2)
HH
TB
“When you pull on that jersey you’re not just playing for a football club, you’re playing for a people and a cause”
Tommy Burns
‘That’s was so special about them right there, Jim. Just right up there; that’s what’s so special about them. They’re there and they’re always there. And God bless every one of them’
Tommy Burns, May 1988 (being interviewed as we just won the league and cup double in the Centenary year)
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Celtic: Georgios Samaras tribute to former midfielder Stiliyan Petrov
Celtic forward Georgios Samaras has extended the club’s wishes to Stiliyan Petrov following his retirement.
The 33-year-old Bulgarian, who spent seven seasons at Celtic, is battling acute leukaemia.
He was diagnosed with the condition in March 2012 but is now in remission.
“He is a legend at the club, did great things with Aston Villa and had a really nice international career,” said Samaras.
Midfielder Petrov scored 64 goals in 268 appearances during his time at Celtic before moving to Aston Villa in 2006.
He announced his retirement on Thursday, saying he was “overwhelmed” by the support he had received.
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Myself, all the guys in the dressing room, and all the people at Celtic and the supporters, wish him all the best for this difficult battle he’s having.
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Georgios Samaras
“I remember when I was a young player at CSKA Sofia and the good life was all I was interested in,” said Petrov.
“Celtic came in for me and I moved to Glasgow, to another country, to a new world. I didn’t speak the language and I thought it would never happen for me. I knew nobody.
“I came to appreciate so much the opportunity to work with that level of professional people because it made me something like them.
“At Celtic Football Club and at Aston Villa Football Club I was privileged to live a life competing at a high level and playing the game I love, supported by the most passionate fans.”
Samaras said the Celtic squad were thinking of the former club favourite.
“It’s really hard to say something about this situation as sometimes you can’t find the right words to say about some things you feel,” he added.
“Myself, all the guys in the dressing room, and, of course, all the people at Celtic and the supporters, wish him all the best for this really difficult battle he is having.
“I just wish him and his family all the best, and hopefully he will win as he is a fighter.”
Celtic manager Neil Lennon backed his former team-mate Petrov to win his latest battle.
“As a player, he was the all round modern-day midfielder,” said Lennon. “He was box to box and technically very good.
“He was a fanstastic goalscorer, very humble; a great team-mate and a great friend.
“Unfortunately, his spectacular career has been curtailed. He’s got other battles to win in his life and I’m sure he will.”
Summa
BT- sounds like you all had a good night. Did you get my e-mail reply?
Not long up after a good old fashioned Byres Road pub crawl last nite. Did ok until we started on the single malts whooft….
Hope everyone enjoys their champion day!
HH
Brooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnyyyyyyyyyyyy
WGS —–
I agree that Montella seems destined for great things .His Catania were a joy to watch.
I would be astounded of forehead if he ended up at Celtic ..
Italian media have him linked with AC Milan / Inter / Juventus / Chelsea / Manchester City / Barcelona / Malaga / Real Madrid , Borussia Dortmund and PSG [ destination will be determined once this summer’s expected managerial merry -go-round clicks into action !].
I read recently that Fiorentina are the most popular to watch Serie A team in France / Germany and Spain..
Montella is rumored to be the only Italian player to have won an argument with Fabio Capello
New thread bhoys
Welcome back Broonie
Andy Walker is a disgrace with his comments about Wright’s elbow into Lustig’s face.
Wow just noticed ahm still signed in, thanks Joe, fifth time this season ah think
The draft 5 way agreement shows that Mr Bryson either changed his mind or was told to change his mind or had his mind changed for him!