Scottish Football

Did I only dream about Archie Gemmill scoring one of the greatest goals ever in beating Holland 3-2 in the 1978 World Cup? Did Jim Baxter really play 'keepie uppie' and torment the life out of the weary World Cup winners England in 1967? Were Celtic really the first British team to win the European Cup? Have we obsessives become untethered from reality? Are we hanging on to a world real or imaginary, where football dominated our lives to such an extent that it 'was more than a game', indeed 'more important than life itself'? Has my natural childhood football environment and each of its overlapping parts – cultural, religious, identity, class, political, intellectual, psychological, sociological, philosophical and, sadly, tribal – created the conditions for distorted and highly selective lapses of memory and reality? I don't think so. In this personal and thought-provoking book, former footballer and First Minister Henry McLeish examines his own and his country's dysfunctional relationship with football. Read this book and rethink your own relationship with the beautiful game in the country that took it to the world.

Are you a fan of Scottish football? Do you attend a lot of matches? If so, you will no doubt have visited one or two of Scotland's best-loved football grounds but how much do you know about these historic venues and the events that have taken place there through the years? Find out by tackling the 101 questions in this new quiz book. Which Scottish football stadium has the largest capacity? In August 1999, which football stadium was used for the fictitious Scottish Cup semi-final in the Robert Duvall film, A Shot at Glory? How many Scotland international matches have been staged at Pittodrie? The answers to these brain-teasers and more can all be found in The Scottish Football Grounds Quiz Book. With 101 questions on all areas of Scottish football grounds including capacity, location, disasters, attendances and club records as well as all the memorable matches that have taken place at these venues in the past, you are certain to learn something new. This is a must-have book for anyone with an interest in Scottish football.

In this, the follow-up to the critically acclaimed first volume of quotations about our national sport, Kenny MacDonald delves once more into Scotland's sweaty, smelly football dressing-rooms and emerges with a batch of statements which are profond, amusing, acerbic and sometimes plain bizarre.

Those who have been football supporters all their lives can never forget the first match they ever saw, although they might not recall the result. This is because it is the players that stay in the memory and the magic moments they provided for millions of spectators in their time.Every generation throws up its own football field magicians and The Scottish Football Hall of Fame encapsulates the Saturday afternoon spell cast by fine footballers for ordinary working men who lived to cheer on their heroes every week. Fervour was passed down from father to son, and in this way the future of the clubs as well as the fame of a few golden greats was guaranteed. Players like R.S.McColl (Queen's Park), Bobby Walker (Hearts), Alan Morton (Rangers), Denis Law (Manchester United) and Kenny Dalglish (Celtic) are in this pantheon, and they span the arc of Scottish football from its earliest days till modern times. These, and more than a hundred like them, are the men you will read about in these pages. Men who were once household names are captured here in their sporting immortality and introduced to generations of football enthusiasts who never saw them play. The Scottish Football Hall of Fame gives a unique overview of the beautiful game, where by means of illuminating narrative and anecdote, legend can unite with historical fact to honour not only the wearers of the famous dark blue shirt but every foot-soldier in the Tartan Army who has ever shouted 'Scotland! Scotland!' from the terraces.

Are you an aficionado of the Scottish Football League? Are you up-to-date with all the latest fixtures and club news? Looking for an opportunity to test and extend your knowledge? Then this quiz book is just what you have been waiting for. Containing 1,000 challenging questions The Scottish Football Quiz Book has been designed to put Scottish football fans through their paces. There are sections covering all aspects of the game including players, managers, scores, transfers, opponents, wins, losses and draws as well as all the memorable matches that have shaped the Scottish Football League down the years. This book is as informative as it is entertaining and is guaranteed to provide hours of fun for football enthusiasts of all ages. You'll be crying foul and calling for extra time as you strive to recall all the people and places that have played an important part in the history of Scottish football. This fitting tribute is a must have for all Scottish football fans and anyone interested in learning more about the beautiful game north of the border.

The comedy writer’s collection of “artifacts dedicated to controversial, silly and bonkers mishaps . . . [a] tribute to an alternative football history” (Daily Record). Andy Bollen has created a fantasy football museum to collect together a treasure trove of Scottish football exhibits that ranges from Jimmy Johnstone’s oar to Aggie the tea lady’s trolley. Learn why Puskás and Socrates should’ve been Scottish, the versatility of the pie and Napoleon’s links to Bovril and explore all the wonders of the game north of the Border—from Arthur Montford to the phone-in, Think Tanks, Buckfast, vanishing cream for referees, Twitter, VAR technology and flares (pyrotechnics, not 1970s attire). These exhibits distill the beauty of Scottish football into an entertaining volume that will make the perfect gift for any fan. Taking a satirical swipe at the beautifully flawed game, A History of Scottish Football in 100 Objects covers the mayhem, mavericks and bric-a-brac from the magic sponge, to the pie, hair weaves to tattoos. Bollen is the perfect curator: impeccably informed, passionate and insightful. “It’s not Hampden Babylon, but it’s very funny.” —Stuart Cosgrove, author of Hampden Babylon

A multidisciplinary analysis of sectarianism and bigotry in Scottish football Sectarianism and bigotry are among the most publicly debated issues in Scotland, often reported in the newspapers as the "e;shame"e; of Scotland's national game. The current crisis in Scottish football includes high profile controversies and disorder related to bigotry and sectarianism which resulted in new legislation to tackle offensive behaviour in and beyond football grounds. In this collection, contributors from a range of disciplinary positions present the latest empirical research evidence and social theory to examine and debate fundamental issues about bigotry in Scottish football and society. The topic has raised many questions. How should sectarianism and bigotry be defined and understood? What are the experiences and impacts of bigotry on different populations in Scotland? Are recent events unique or do they have historic precedents and contemporary comparisons beyond Scotland? What should be the response of government, football authorities, clubs, football supporters and other institutions and organisations in Scotland regarding legislation? What vision should we have for a future Scottish society and its diverse population? Bigotry, Football and Scotland will appeal to all those interested in Scotland's national game, the role of football in the 21st Century and how multicultural contemporary societies attempt to resolve prejudice and promote diversity.