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:
[calameo code=0003901710a55b5798f06 lang=en page=54 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]
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BT/Doc
Not sure if I have email address for you anyway mate.
Got notification to reset my password and just got a text from a mate saying he’d had 2 emails from me today about slimming plans.
Ironic, he’s so skinny he has to run about in the shower to get wet.
If Hearts were to draw against Aberdeen then beat Partick Thistle, and St. Mirren were to lose against Motherwell then . . .
Hibernian could still be the team to relegate Hearts if they play them in the first game after the split.
I’d still like to see that happen.
HT
Who won the fitba cards
SOAL
The guy that got papped oot. I’m keeping it for him.
Yogiy
21:09 on
30 March, 2014
Re.Billy Bremner v Hibs
You`ll hardly believe this,but I`m sure I went through to Edinburgh for that game.
Late `60s,certainly before we played them in `70.
I vividly remember how,almost as a one man band,he saved Leeds from defeat that night.
You`re right,he was amazing.
Thanks for reminding me.
SOAL – Can’t believe you and MJ left before I got to the party!
Zbyszek – hope you are well my friend I will send that email this week… might read like spam though :-)
HT
He was a cracker
Nice to hear that John O’Neil. Remember, If you meet not nice Poles, they are from Cracow or Poznan, hidden or straight Wisla or Lech Poznan fans.
minx1888 praying for Wee Oscar
Work it out
Love
Dena29
Posted twice on that precise subject.Once on way home from game yesterday in response to Kayal33 and this evening re occupied six counties supporters having to get boat at 7.30. If celebration had commenced immediately rather than 10 min delay we would have caught some of it.
Eddiekirkinmichael gr8 post mate. We do it because ,with all our faults, we really are so much more than a club who attempt to look after those less fortunate than ourselves for no other reason than it’s the right thing to do. What better gift to give our children than to pass that on through our love for our club.
Is mo na cumann e.
the comfortable collective
22:55 on 30 March, 2014
If Hearts were to draw against Aberdeen then beat Partick Thistle, and St. Mirren were to lose against Motherwell then . . .
Hibernian could still be the team to relegate Hearts if they play them in the first game after the split.
I’d still like to see that happen.
*********
TCC
You’ve either got too much time on your hands or you’re very clever! Either way thanks for ‘doing the math’ so dumbos like me don’t have to.
Was thinking today – just after yet another honest mistake – that it’s a shame we couldn’t be the ones to put them out of their misery. But Hibs the Sequel might be even sweeter.
Bedtime Timdom. It won’t be this in the morning as mummy jamesgang is wont to opine.
;-)
HH jamesgang
minx1888
Thank you I’m well. I don’t read those spams. They come from Pfizer and offer from 30 to 50 % discount. Looking forward to hearing from and for 70% discount. Well, it might be two emails from two different sources.
gearoid1998
23:00 on
30 March, 2014
Dena29
Posted twice on that precise subject.Once on way home from game yesterday in response to Kayal33 and this evening re occupied six counties supporters having to get boat at 7.30. If celebration had commenced immediately rather than 10 min delay we would have caught some of it.
Eddiekirkinmichael gr8 post mate. We do it because ,with all our faults, we really are so much more than a club who attempt to look after those less fortunate than ourselves for no other reason than it’s the right thing to do. What better gift to give our children than to pass that on through our love for our club.
Is mo na cumann e.
sorry I missed your posts would have agreed with them I dont have a smart phone and trying to catch up with blog .
God Bless Wee Oscar
HH
Goodnight Timland
To Oscar keep fighting the good fight.
HH
dena29
Night night kiddo. :-))
Weefra HH supporting and praying for Wee Oscar.
One of the best performances I have ever seen from a non Celt was from certain wee redhead midfielder for Fergie’s first title season at Aberdeen.WGS was some player.
The best performances I see from non Celts are anytime I see Luis Suarez in the flesh.the boy can play.He is so good that he is about 3 days ahead of opposing defenders.
SOAL
I’m sure he said he was from Wishy.
Who can name league leaders in the third tier of Spanish, French, Italian and German football…
One of the best performances I have ever seen from a non Celt was
Frank McDougall
BT,
Just got my bhoy to link series two and three, The game of Thrones on the I pad as I I’m nightshift for a month.
Such is life :))
winning captains
23:12 on 30 March, 2014
Who can name league leaders in the third tier of Spanish, French, Italian and German football…
—————
That is a great put down, hope you won’t mind me plagiarising it tomorrow night. HH
sipsini
23:13 on 30 March, 2014
BT,
Just got my bhoy to link series two and three, The game of Thrones on the I pad as I I’m nightshift for a month.
Such is life :))
———–
Just finished watching them back to back, brilliant, looking forward to series 4 starting next week
Winning Captains, without Google??
of course not! and like the third tier in Scotland, who cares.
Best world class international display I have seen from a Celtic player,past or present at the time,was from King Kenny v Spain at Hampden.He was unplayable all night that night.Both goals were things of sublime beauty.
King Kenny could play a wee bit and would have been best player in the world for a couple of seasons at least,had Platini not been around at the same time.
Right guys, off to do a lamb check and then bed. This missing hour takes it’s toll. Remember to get up in time tomorrow morning for work you lot, me, don’t give a hoot, I’m retired. Best job I ever had. Hahaha. Luv yawl. :-)))
Weefra HH supporting and praying for Wee Oscar.
Dena29
Being a Celtic supporter is never having to say your sorry lol. As I said reason I posted was immediately after the game some posters were saying that it was a disgrace that so many had left before the lap of honour. I was pointing out that some (and the North Irish supporters in particular) may have had a valid reason. What club do you travel with?
Ps sorry think its Eddieinkirkmichael. Anyhows was a brilliant post. Nite nite timland.
Tom Molach from earlier. You fall into the classic “if you question anything about celtic you can’t be a fan” mould.
I would,counter that those who have unquestioning admiration are not fans but sychophants.
I am trying to improve my club. You are being lazy and complacent. As are all of the cheerleaders who populate this site.
HT
Naw
To every Bunnymen and Eels fan
LOVE
Greetings.
Seen a bizarre incident today.
A magpie carried a mouse up into a big hedge and devoured the thing! Blood was gushing from the mouse.
I fired a stone at the magpie,it flew away and left what remained of the mouse on the hedge.
Not that I am easily shocked,but I was a wee bit taken aback by the entire episode .
Don’t like mice,however those magpies are a pure evil creature,they must have beaks like razor blades.
Also it is illegal to kill the damn things by law,believe it or not.
They are a menace and a pest,although if they are keeping down the mouse population then they must be doing something useful a suppose.
HH.
Georriod 1998. If we want to leave before the end because we are crap it’s our right. I joked with the steward at the gate that he was trying to keep us in. He didn’t laugh. I think he did mean to keep us in.
Sing the songs we tell you to sing. Buy what we tell you to buy. No lateral movement. No smiling. No leaving early.
Celtic 2014.
Oppressive.
Overbearing.
Offensive.
Complacent.
Lazy.
And waiting for the Huns.
And enjoying the corruption.
Not in my name.
Why should anybody care about when somebody else decides to leave an unfinished game ?
It is no matter whether somebody decides to leave at half-time,.. or sits in his seat until 6 o’clock. It only matters to the person concerned.
They don’t get a rebate for going early.
It is not some religious duty. It is something we do for pleasure.
I remember being amazed as a child at the number of Holy Willies ( Millies) who could tell you exactly what time he/she left before the end of Mass.
No’ much of a Catholic if they would dae that !!
I often wondered how engrossed in the service these saintly people were, that they could give a commentary on who had left early.
Tin hat firmly strapped under chin……
Spirit of Arthur lee I love the eels. One of my favourite bands.
townheadbhoy
21:24 on 30 March, 2014
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
******
Celtic and Man Cityboth won their respective Cup Finals on the same day and Joe Mercer was interviewed on the pitch at full time.
The interviewer told Joe that Celtic had also won.
Joe’s answer was, ” If Celtic were playing here today, they would have won this final, too”.
Great to see ma pals Cowiebhoybhoy and Doc at the end of the game yesterday. I too stayed till the very end watching as Leigh Griffiths and his weans were last on the pitch.
Then out of nowhere the beanie brigade appeared. Oh what a joy to see the bunnetts.
I’m coming to the meeting place place at the next home game.
Ps by the way Aug 1966 v Man utd was my first big game at CP put down at the front wall of the jungle and told stay there and don’t move.
I have earlier memories of my Dad taking me and my bro to reserve games on a fri night.
Happy days walking up the hallow gate and seeing the floodlight towers as soon as we came out of Belgrove station.
HH PB1888
Paddybhoy1888, that game was the year before I was born:-)
Just sayin’
See you at the CQN corner.
martybhoy59,
I’ve been switching over when it’s advertised… Looking forward to catching up.
That should have been Gallowgate. Nite timland
HH PB1888