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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Ernesto- strictly speaking Dalbeattie, which had more Blackshirts than ‘Glasgow and Edinburgh combined’.
This article outlines the historical political and religious allegiances.
Shangri La is now a hotbed of apathy.
NFL doing the conference today
HH
Celtic Football Club @celticfc 8m
Nl: I can’t comment or dwell on it because there’s been no contact, it’s just people speculating the future.
Apropos nothing at all, I just saw Terry Hall in TK Maxx (Sauchiehall St).
Cadizzy – it were grand.
A very good night with Ylurc and Lambosfrontteeth [our second favourite Monaco ex-pat].
Expensive place to stay- hotel prices and taxi fares are in the foreign bracket.
Celtic Football Club @celticfc 9m
Neil Lennon on Everton: It’s nice recognition. That’s all it is, speculation. I’ve got a great support, group of players and I’m happy here.
Celtic Football Club @celticfc 9m
NL: Everton are a huge club with a huge history. It’s flattering to be linked but that’s all it is, a link.
Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire
14:20 on 10 May, 2013
So when does the tax man get the EBT appeal under way, anyone any idea
October.
Celtic Football Club @celticfc 9m
NL: We’re already looking at CL preperation and bringing in new players. I have a rolling contract here
Could this be what Alex Thompson is broadcasting outside Greyskull…
The British countryside is facing unprecedented change with “wildlife in crisis”. In a special series – Green and Pleasant Land – Channel 4 News finds iconic species and habitats facing wipeout.
Celtic Football Club @celticfc 8m
NL: You never know what’s around the corner but I’m in a stable job here with good backing from the board and a good group of players.
Typical Rangers Fan. Hahaha check this out!!!!! http://t.co/QGFfyLzPK0
Via Twitter.
This guy needs locked up.
Lynyrd Skynyrd unluckier than Les Freres Allman?
Let me get back to you on that.
No marriages to Cher in their c.v [I think].
Celtic Football Club @celticfc 9m
NL: It’s not up to me if I’m ready for England, it’s for other people to decide.
wee minger
bet that was special…
Celtic Football Club @celticfc 5m
NL: Lassad is out, Brown will be in the squad with a view to playing. Forrest and Matthews will also be in the squad.
How many people do you need before a bunch of people walking in the same direction can be called a march? I wouldn’t have thought the SDL would have enough members to be more than a bunch of people walking…..though obviously not walking away
I played gold with ole lambosfrontteeth at my first cqn outing….
more useless information to follow..
weeminger
14:30 on
10 May, 2013
Apropos nothing at all, I just saw Terry Hall in TK Maxx (Sauchiehall St).
===============================================
Do they have any specials on?
that gold was golf BTW
Dontbrattbakkinanger
14:27 on 10 May, 2013
I’ve read that article before.
And to be fair to Dumfries it also had an IRA unit in the 1920s, as did a number of Scottish towns.
Just after Willie arrived,this was the song in his honour
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NrwFz9wm8I
Wallace is the best buy…………
The best buy in years.
And so it proved.
blantyretim
14:32 on
10 May, 2013
BobbyRussell
14:35 on
10 May, 2013
My lips are sealed.
BT
a round of gold is a gold walk spelled
DBBIA
I had the misfortune of passing an SDL ‘march’ on the southside of Glasgow a couple of months ago. There were less than a dozen marchers, being escorted by enough police officers to kettle the entire Green Brigade and their extended families. I wonder how the village bobbies down in the Badlands will cope?
As for Eberdeen, it’s Scotland’s very own version of the principality of Monaco, but without the Casino and the good looking burdz.
DBBIA
on my wee trip to the caravan during easter break we went to the wee museum in the old windmill in Dumfries..
thoroughly enjoyable hour or so…( had mini plus 2 friends so couldn’t hit the pubs)
Lloyd K @Lloyd1888 1h
@alextomo Are you filming outside Ibrox? Can we expect the big story today?
alex thomson @alextomo 26m
@Lloyd1888 yes. No. I hope a series of things will happen from Tues. How “big” is not for me to judge.
BT – My good friend Terry will be joining you for the Q&A tonight:)
Are you allowed a wee tipple o the black stuff yet???
slainte
tony
Does SDL mean sad daft losers?
Just walked down Sauchiehall Street there. Its like a Ghost Town.
Tony
maybe a wee pint or two but I am picking up oldtim so there won’t be much drinking in his company…
Did Lenny say in the press conference that he doesn’t want to leave + would be here next season?
JC
tooo much…..
too young
NFL steadily drifting on the betting exchanges.
Now available at 4.4/1.
Malky MacKay is the new favourite.
BT – anyone in the queue yet? Wondering if I should dust down my old busking outfit.
DBBIA
Had the pleasure of meeting Lambos…
You’d have been in good company with that pair
Re Aberdeen.my boys at Uni there …dear hole
NFL coming up on sky sports news shortly
HH
Moyes to advise on his successor at Everton