Our very own Setting Free The Bears has kindly written a review of Seville – The Celtic Movement, which I hear has already sold out in some WH Smith stores. SFTBs contributed a chapter to the book, which he didn’t cover in his submitted review, but which has been added in context below. Here it is:
How do you solve a problem like Sevilla? The question which Oscar Hammerstein originally posed in regard to describing the will o’ the wisp qualities of a flighty and frolicsome postulant nun, is no easier answered when the object of the question is replaced by the event, precedents and aftermath of the UEFA Cup Final played in Seville on the 21st May 2003.
That is the task set in the book Seville: The Celtic Movement, published by CQN books, a development arising from the Celtic Quick News fan website, a site which itself started in 2004 by Paul Brennan who was exasperated by the fictions commonly held by the old media and its fan adherents over “what happened to the Seville money?”.
Though Mr. Brennan appears and contributes to the book, it is largely the work of Brogan, Rogan, Trevino and Hogan who wrote 50% of the chapters, and Winingcaptains, who organised, edited and designed, with credited assistance, the format for bringing this mammoth task to the table in the shape of a readable and enjoyable book.
Though these two provide the base structure of the book, there are additional individual chapters provided by a credited journalist, some enthusiastic amateur writers, an academic and, even the old media is represented in the form of BBC extracts in one chapter. However, what rounds out this book and what gives it its unique flavour are the contributed memories of myriad fans gathered in Chapters 22 and 23, and credited to their blogging names.
It is a tough task to make the collective memories, reminiscences and reviews of the Seville experience coherent and readable, but the editors and publishers have done a very good job of ordering and editing under the various themes. Inevitably, there is some repetition and occasionally, there are some factual mistakes but these do not spoil the flow and readability.
This may be a new style of journalism and sports book but it pays decent heed to the traditional virtues of storytelling by providing laughs, tears, drama and in one memorable incident, that staple of modern literature, a skitter of scatology.
In addition to the quality of the writing and the comedy, drama and tear-jerking quality of the tales, the book has far surpassed the normal publishing standards of both the Sports Book industry and any niche publishing sector.
There are 64 pages of colour photography included with the book, many photographs provided by the contributors themselves, which provide tremendous visual garnish to the narrative descriptions within the book. This is more than double what you would find in most Sports books from “quality” publishing houses and four times what you normally get from hurried and ill-considered publishing ventures. All of this and the book is available at a price of only £18.99.
There are also several cartoons, by Bill Houston, which illustrate aspects of the tales told and provide even more comic input. The publishers and designers have gone to considerable expense to set a high standard for this new-ish area of book marketing.
It is fitting that such well told tales are given a setting which is fitting to their worth. This is a high quality and well-presented piece of work and CQN publishing have set a high industry standard which will be difficult to match.
This is the definitive source book for anyone seeking to understand what the Seville experience, which is more than the football match, means to Celtic fans. As Celts descended on Andalusia from all over the world, there is no single person who has an overall perspective on what occurred back then.
The real Celtic story requires the gathered perspectives of Celts of all hues, proud, defiant, exasperated, angry, sad, vindictive, proud again and, often all shades of emotion were experienced as the event unfolded and was reviewed.
The opening three chapters set the scene with an overview of Celtic’s history and standing in Europe, a description of the goal that saw Celtic qualify for the final and a depiction of the city and the impact of the visiting fans.
Setting Free the Bears wrote one of the most captivating sections of the book; 5000 words about the 10 seconds leading up to Henrik Larsson’s epically important goal in the semi-final second leg against Boavista. It is not so much the story of a goal but the story of an awakening. All the drama contained within one man’s Celtic supporting life poured out in the story of this goal. You have to know the value of Celtic to understand but the very essence of what the club is all about reaches from this chapter.
There was more involved in the goal that it’s likely your memory will recall. Our leaders were represented, the
The first hint of mysticism comes here as Celtic’s re-appearance in a European final takes on the overtones of a late-life romance with a lost and rediscovered former teenage sweetheart.
Then it is over to 12 chapters by Brogan, Rogan, Trevino and Hogan. In his own unique style, BRTH describes his Seville experience and the companions with whom he shared this experience. All the elements of suspense are there in a “Will He or Won’t He Make It to the Game” stylee. If they ever re-make “The Perils of Pauline” then BRTH is just the man to give a modern day Pearl White a set of obstacles to overcome. However, it would not be a silent film as Jim has plenty to say about the cast of characters involved.
This central story sets the template against which the later blogger descriptions of how they obtained tickets, travelled to and from Spain, and experienced the build-up, the day and the outcome, can be compared. The themes of loss and redemption are presaged as tickets, travel plans and friends and family members go awry before being re-united in co-incidences that would shame the credulity of James Fennimore Cooper and indeed, there is an appearance of a Mohican, or at least a haircut style, in one of the many tales.
The challenge of doing justice to the mystical experience that was Seville has led these bloggers brings out the best in their non-professional writing. They want to represent again, in the manner described by Jim McGinlay on p.84 where he states that “in essence, the people traveling were not so much going to support Celtic and, instead, were going to be Celtic.”
The middle sections of the book, chapters 15 to 19, cover the following, largely discrete themes, two of them composed by Joe Ruddy:-
*An overview of the games and the fans reaction to each tie
*An account of the BBC coverage of the day (by an Aberdeen supporter and an ex-Rangers co-commentator let me remind you.)
* An interesting range of views expressed via Twitter and other social media
* A fascinating set of extracts from Professor Giulanotti’s academic study of the Seville experience
* And a tale of technical ingenuity and hazard that allowed New Zealand’s ex-pat and descendant community to get their Seville experience
As every day is a school day, Professor Giulanotti introduced me to the novel term, dietrologia, which is, apparently, “the science of observing or speculating upon what goes on behind the scenes in powerful groups”, or paranoia as we call it in Castlemilk. The good professor describes Celtic as a “relatively exogenous community” and, though I am not sure of a precise definition of this term, I am fairly confident it has nothing to do with temperance or teetotalism.
Chapters 20 and 21 allow two further gifted writers, Blaise Phelan and L.Monaghan to describe their ticket experiences as they were particularly dramatic and comic.
Then we are onto the heart and soul of the book, the multi-faceted descriptions by numerous Celtic fans of their Seville. In Scotland we are used to having 57 words to describe various states of rainy weather but it taxes the Celtic tongue, poetic as it is, to convey the sense of oppressive heat experienced on The Long Walk to Bessa and back.
It is in this section that you will, once again, laugh, gasp, rage and cry at the descriptions of what occurred to an extraordinary people at an extraordinary time. I guarantee you that, however hard or callous you imagine yourself to be, you will cry unashamedly at the story of The Boy Jinky on page 305 about the scattering of his son’s ashes. It was far from the only occasion on which my eyes were wet.
The book concludes with a cheeky poem and a word from CQN’s main man, Mr. Brennan, on the impetus to found CQN, based on the questions being asked about what Seville meant for Celtic finances, basically, “what happened to the Seville money?”
From that question, the intent of which so irked Paul Brennan that he started a blog, CQN has grown and developed to the extent that, at a distance of 10 years, some perspective and agreement is beginning to emerge as to what Seville meant for the club.
I would not claim that the distilled essence of all that Seville means to us is here within this book but a goodly proportion of it is well represented here. With the passage of time, there may be less resentment against Porto and more of an acknowledgement of how good a team they were technically but the justified sense of wounded resentment is still well represented too, against the play-acting of the Porto team, the weakness of the referee, and the venality of the ticket touts, fat cats and a minority of our own support in the vending of tickets. There is, even, some scapegoating of our own players as this book seeks to represent all the reactions to the match and the event.
As someone who chose not to go to Seville, because I refused to go without a ticket, I found the recollections had finally altered me in that view and I echo what HamiltonTim said in stating that the failure to go to Seville was the biggest regret of my Celtic supporting life.
For those who have struggled to watch the Seville DVD and re-live the painful memories, could I commend the words of Troon Tim in stating that these CQN recollections have been “an absolute pleasure- far better than watching the DVD.” If you buy the book, you can put that act off until the 20th anniversary at least.
The final word should go to CQNs creator as he honestly evaluates the new media approach which has led to this new style of book:-
“Citizen journalism is far from perfect, in fact, it is mostly absurd, but, it is democratic in its access and, most importantly, it is ours.”
In my translation that means, these may be the views of internet bampots but they are our internet bampots and they represent well.
Get yours here:
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Just back in from a lovely day spent celebrating my parents 50th wedding anniversary.
Was joking with them about me not going to university. My 3 sisters all graduated with honours .
My folks funded a far better education for me, I’m an honours graduate in Celtic!!
Hail Hail to my Mum & Dad.
Kayal33
I stand corrected, another senior moment.
Awerabset PJ
leftclicktic We are all Neil Lennon
20:16 on 30 March, 2014
Celticrollercoaster luvs his luminious lime boots
Thank you for the wee gift yesterday OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH and your punctuality :)))).
====================================
Was I on time and Doc late again? I never noticed, ha ha!
GourockEmeraldBhoy-nice to catch up with you again, and look forward to the 3 Lions nite
HH
CRC
Crc
It’s goa no Doha ;)))
Weefra
I’m only away about 6 weeks of the year ,,, the rest of the time i need to work to earn the sponduliks to get back to India
Btw … Where’s the CQN corner … And is it a bit like boots corner at Argyle at where we used to arrange a date so we could get a swatch first then just walk by if the potential suitor wasn’t a looker ;)
burghbhoy
Congratulations on your parents golden anniversary, I was up visiting my ole mum today aged 94. Funny saying yer ole mum when your an old age pensioner. :-)))
Weefra HH supporting and praying for Wee Oscar.
Doc and CRC
Just getting round to reading back after a long 24 hours on the job. It was great to meet up yesterday. This old git got the meeting placet right this time and is now in possession of two wonderful CQN badges.
Thanks for introducing me to the others whose names I will not state in case I leave someone out. I enjoined those moments together very much. Thanks.
I understand the feelings about some on here who were making their feelings known about those who left early. I was one of the early birds. However it is worth noting that many of us would prefer to be in a position to stay but are unable to do so because of commitments. I have to leave five minutes early each Saturday to travel 26 miles in order to be at work for 6 p.m as many people depend on me being there on time. This also means I have to leave my car ten minutes away from the park to attempt to get ahead of the buses, etc leaving the area. Believe me I want to stay but it is impossible.
I also know a gentleman who takes his brother who has altzheimer’s disease to home games. They have to leave about 15 mins before the end to ensure that the brother is not caught up in the exodus from the stadium.
We do what we can to support the team we all love. Only wish it could be otherwise.
Weefra
Thanks very much mate.
Hail Hail to your auld ma!
TBJ
Naw nothing as glamorous as the ole Argyle corner, jees spent a few night up there. It’s ouside the Celtic Pools office next to the superstore. Looking forward to meeting yourself and many more CQNrs at the next home game. Whoooohoooo. :-)))
Weefra HH supporting Nd praying for Wee Oscar.
WeefratheTim
20:42 on
30 March, 2014
dena29
How are you this murky and misty ole evening? :-))
Weefra HH supporting and praying for Wee Oscar.
I’m fine and your good self?
Just taking a break and catching up with the blog , reading back and get engrossed when I come back to blog have missed 10-15 posts, never going to catch up at this rate
HH
connaire12
Great to meet you yesterday. You don’t have to worry now about missing me. :-)))
Weefra HH supporting and praying for Wee Oscar.
BCW
My Dad is 83 so could not post on here. We did give a small contribution to the Sean Fallon story (one of the best Celtic books that I have read).
If you want to meet up with my Dad then let me know. He lives in Rutherglen ( I am in South of England). His favourites are Jinky, Tully, Fernie.
The guy who does CQN predictor (CRC?) had my email address.
dena29
That’ll teach you to take yer eye off the ball. Lol.
Right you guys, the finale of The Musketeers is about to start. Brilliant series. Toodalloo the noo. Till later.:-)
Weefra HH supporting and praying for Wee Oscar.
WeefratheTim
Glad yur Mum is going strong,like yursel goat the OAP, three years ago, ave stopped quoting the three score an ten,Ma Wee Maw 88 July, Mothers Days are something special, an the way things are going, she could see me Aff. Nae Hair,Nae Teeth,Nae Memory jist keep taken ra Tablets.
Awerabest PJ
Burghbhoy …………My folks funded a far better education for me, I’m an honours graduate in Celtic!!
Hail Hail to my Mum & Dad.
Brilliant ! Hail Hail to your Mum and Dad indeed !
Weefra
I usually walk round to meet BTs dad outside the superstore at the side of the burger van
Yesterday though was a special day in my calendar and I drove to Roslyn chapel in the morning so didn’t get to Celtic park until about 2:25 so went straight into my seat
What was best Non Celtic individual performance by a player you have ever witnessed live?
For me it was Billy Bremner for Leeds in a Fairs City game at Easter Road in the early 70’s perhaps ’72. At that time if not playing I would watch any game although my heart was alwats at Parkhead.
He played sweeper in a virtual reserve side against a very good Hibs team which I had hoped would come through but Bremner single handed, through his skills kept Leeds in the game and I think they won through on penalties.
I remember his back heels, interceptions and particularly blocking a shot on the line and then juggling the ball over an onrushing Hibs forward. He walked of to a well deserved standing ovation and I thought well done to the Hibs support..
Weefrathe Tim
I will become an OAP officially next year. Only last week my auld Dad called me a young bhoy. Mind you, he is a young 91.
Tim Sherwood, what have you done?
Weefra, LeftClick, Connaire, JamesGang et al …
Thanks for posting – the sober part of the day at CQN Corner coming back. Again good to meet face to face at what looks like a regular meeting place for those around early. We are slowly taking over ….
Saw comments about possibly drawing Liverpool in the CL. Just think of the competition – our YNWA against their version :-))
Also watched the LG video of ‘Hertz are going bust’. Right enough about up on the seats, but I stand in a different area so that’s ok. Looking forward to speaking to the staff about that :-).
Somehow think NFL will have a word or two to say about it though. He could possibly play against them sometime in the hoops and a few of the Hertz challenges can be, let’s say, agricultural !!
3 World Cup winners in Man U team, Charlton, stiles and Connolly. Game was only one week after World Cup final.
……..
That sounds right
A year or so after Celtic hammered Man U at Celtic Park in 1966, I paid my first and only visit to Maine Road to witness Colin Bell’s City blow away Spurs 4-1 in a snowstorm. They played football the Celtic way. I had a very soft spot for them, especially under Malcolm Allison, until the money men took them over. Never fancied United after they were encouraged to buy the great Paddy Crerand by Sir Robert Kelly.
CRC, five bleeding minutes late!
And you were pointing at your watch as I ran, breathless up the steps:-)
Great meeting so many CQNers yesterday.
TBJ, you were missed, next time mate, the fotos of the chapel are cracking.
CQN is here on a daily basis due to the SMSM making up nonsense regarding the income we as a club earned for season ending 2003. I was at every round apart from Liverpool at home and Vigo away. It was amazing. Like most people on here my story getting to matches and especially getting back to my hotel some fifty miles outside Seville is worth telling another time. I will also buy a ST as long as I live. My point is though. CQN is a magic place for people to discuss all things Celtic. It is more importantly a hub and home for charity donations. Can I assume that profits from the book will go to charity? Thanks. HH.
Yogiy @21:09
McStay for Scotland v Iceland ( circa 1984-5 ? )
Yogiy @21:09
Or David Trezeguet for Juventus when we beat them 4-3 in 2001.
He came on at half time and scored twice. His movement was unbelievable.
Russian media published translation from Aiden McGeady interview given to The Independent. It won’t do him a favor. Anyone who will get the offer from Russia will think twice before he makes decision.
On another note , Spartak fans put the banner saying “F… NATO 24.03.1999”. I guess Putin will invastigate and ban Spartak.
Yogiy
On a lighter note,David Provan,was always a joy to watch,when he went into a trance, when Jinky took him, and a few others to the Cleaners, every OF game.
Awerabest PJ
joe_joe_john_bobby_teddy
21:10 on 30 March, 2014
Tim Sherwood, what have you done?
Oldest bhoy just told me of the rumours on the twittersphere!!!
Not surprised, always comes across as a bit of a twat at his press conferences.
Yogiy
Rai at CP for PSG when they gave us a lesson 0-3
Just going to watch last episode of Breaking Bad…..feel as excited as ole Kilbowie
Kelt at flicks watching Flash Gordon.hh
Parkheadcumsalford
I recall City’s manager Joe Mercer referring to Celts as an inspiration to them at a time when English teams tended to ignore us.
His was one of the first football biographies that I read, only because the local library had few football books.it was worth the read though
Test
Maestro number 8 @ 2119
Absolutely spot on!
Remember that juve game well. My old ST was high behind the goals in the Jock Stein stand. We must have lost the coin toss because Juve were shooting toward the Celtic end second half. Trezeguet was incredible. Constant motion . None of our guys seemed sure of where he was and his first goal was a lethal finish.
Didn’t have the consistency or all round skills but on his day, for my money, a more dangerous striker than Thierry Henry.
Best performance I’ve ever seen live?
Roberto Baggio for Juventus against Inter, 1992. on for an hour then sustituted because he’d just done it all. Grace, vision, inspiration.
Jimmy Johnstone, versus Red Star, 1968, and against Fiorentina away, 1970.
Gianni Rivera, at Celtic Park, 1969. Inspirational, against a great celtic team.
Danny McGrain, Bobby Moore, Marco van Basten, just about any time I saw them
Reading back it seems that it was baltic in Paradise yesterday?
Not under the Billy Bhoy Beanie it wasn’t! Any chance of acquiring matching gloves?
PS Does anyone know how you go about purchasing a signed Celtic tap?
Kayal33 could not remember that game in 95’96 so just watched it on Youtube, what a lesson we got, thankfully we’ve come a long way since then and it just demonstrates the quality of player we now have. Thanks
Diego Maradona.
Every match in the World Cup finals,when they won it in Mexico 86
TT
1) Rumours on Twitter that Sherwood hit one of his players – given the recent performances including today’s you could ask what kept you and why only the one!?!?
2) I’ll confess I left early yesterday. First (and I hope) last time ever. And only cos I had to zoom the wee mhan back home and then be back to Glasgow for the Kano do. I still see going to the football as an (expensive) treat so want to make the most of it….and what if we score the minute I’m out the ground…..and shouldn’t I be there to support my team.
Must confess I was disheartened by the large number who had left last season by the time NFL had done his Nelson Mandela impersonation and been released from his 6(?) minutes on the SFA naughty step.
I spent what seemed like (9?) years losing titles to cheating stickies. So much so that this time of year is emblazoned in my consciousness by the sickening feeling of mathematical impossibilities – and I don’t just mean my Highers – and gloating WeAreRaPeeples…..
For my love of justice and all things Celtic if we’re there and I have a ticket I want to be there to the end……!!!!
HH jamesgang