KTF Reviews

TEN DAYS THAT SHOOK CELTIC - THE KEEP THE FAITH REVIEW

In a shameful act of capitalism, commercialism and the exploitation of Celtic cyberspace, Keep The Faith tells Timdom of the new Celtic book, “Ten Days That Shook Celtic”. The book is edited by our very own Tom Campbell and is about to appear in all good bookshops (and a few bad ones as well).

“Ten Days That Shook Celtic” has been written by an unlikely assembly of contributors, gathered together by the book's editor Tom Campbell, who clearly suffered much anguish and torment as a consequence of collaborating with such a variety of characters.

Indeed, from Tom's introduction to the book, “Ten Days That Shook Celtic”, it is patently obvious that the renowned Celtic historian has learned a painful lesson: working with sports writers, authors, historians, actors, academics and Celtic fanzine writers is not to be recommended if one harbours ambitions of an easily assembled manuscript.

Nevertheless Tom Campbell succeeds as editor, even finding time to contribute his own chapter, and he collates a fine collection of essays about “Ten Days That Shook Celtic”.

The ten contributors are:

Bob Crampsey, the well-respected sports writer, looks back at the first great shock in Scottish football: Celtic's defeat by little Arthurlie in the Scottish Cup of 1987

John Cairney, the actor and Celtic fan, movingly tells the story of the death of Celtic goalkeeper John Thomson in 1931

Patrick Reilly, a former Professor of English Literature at Glasgow University and a lifelong Celt, relates how Celtic became Britain's leading club by winning the Empire Exhibition Cup in 1938, but then went into a shameful and dramatic decline

Tom Campbell, the book's editor and the author of many celebrated books on Celtic, argues that the ‘paranoia' often ascribed to Celtic followers was exacerbated by a controversial Victory Cup semi-final against Rangers in 1946

Tony Griffin, published author, Celtic fan and oil worker, describes how the appointment of Jock Stein as Celtic Manager in 1965 would restore the Club to former glories

David Potter, Celtic author, Celtic historian, Celtic fan and Keep The Faith's columnist, recalls the sense of betrayal felt by many Celtic fans about the sale of Kenny Dalglish to Liverpool in 1977

Gerry Dunbar, editor of the famous and best Celtic fanzine, Not The View, examines the incompetence and double-dealing that characterised the transfer of Maurice Johnston to Rangers in 1989

Craig McAughtrie, the editor of Keep The Faith website, relives the nerve-jangling thrills of Judgement Day – or how Celtic stopped ten-in-a-row for Rangers

Tom Shields, Celtic fan and diarist for The Herald newspaper, muses on the Cup defeat that inspired the most imaginative headline in Scottish football history: “Super Caley Go Ballistic Celtic Are Atrocious”

Pat Woods, Celtic fan, Celtic author and Celtic historian, analyses how the class of 2005 failed to win the League on a last-day decider, the second such Celtic failure in three seasons

With such an unlikely assembly of collaborators, one cannot help but feel that the book launch could be an entertaining affair.

“Ten Days That Shook Celtic” costs £ 9.99 at a bookshop near you!

Or, the book is available from its publishers, Fort Publishing Ltd, Old Belmont House, 12 Robsland Avenue, Ayr.

Buy several copies today and help fund Tom Campbell's recuperation from his considerable endeavours.

The ideal Christmas present, except for a Ferrari, the Sugababes, a lottery win, a plasma TV, subscriptions to Not The View and The Celt……