|
Showing 1 - 20 of
20 matches in All Departments
In this illustrated view of the history of Raith Rovers the author
builds up the story of the club by recounting events that happened
on every day of the year, even during the summer months. Triumphs,
disasters, shipwrecks, crazy Board Room decisions, managers (good
and bad), players (brilliant and mediocre) all feature. As do Davie
Morris, who captained Scotland when they beat all three Home
Nations in 1925; the wizardry of Alec James; the command of the
famous half back line of Young, McNaught and Leigh; and the dash
and enthusiasm of the team which won the Scottish League Cup. But
it is not just about the good days. There are bad days, and loads
of mediocre and mundane times too, as well as some accounts of
Raith Rovers in war time. The year as a whole reveals the
undeniable charm of the institution which means so much to so many
- Raith Rovers Football Club - or, as they are referred to in
Kirkcaldy, "the" Rovers.
Cricket is a very old game in Scotland - far older than football, a
sport which sometimes exercises a baleful, obsessive and
deleterious effect on the national psyche. Cricket goes back at
least as far as the Jacobite rebellions and their sometimes vicious
aftermaths. It is often felt that Scottish cricket underplays
itself. It has been portrayed as in some ways an English sport, a
"softies" sport, and a sport that has a very limited interest among
the general population of Scotland. This is emphatically not true,
and this book is in part an attempt to prove that this is a
misconception. Sixty-one games (it was going to be just 60, but one
turned up at the last minute!) have been chosen from the past 250
years to show that cricket does indeed influence a substantial part
of the nation. The matches have been selected at all levels, from
Scotland against visiting Australian teams all the way down to a
Fife school fixture. These naturally reflect the life, experience
and geographical whereabouts of the author. The games are quirky
sometimes, (and quirkily chosen) with an emphasis on important
events in the broader history of this country, notably the
imminence of wars and resumptions at the end of these conflicts.
But the important thing is that every single cricket contest does
mean an awful lot to some people.
This isn't a history of Forfar. Instead it gives readers an
excerpt, a sample, of what life was like on any given day of the
year in a community that has been both a traditional market town
and a major manufacturing centre for linen and jute. There is no
hierarchy in what has been chosen - World Wars are interspersed
with Church socials and cycling events, the affairs of Forfar
Athletic and Strathmore Cricket club, tennis and golf. The facts
and stories all have something to do with the town, and often its
place in national history. Along the way, the reader will probably
guess that the author is particularly interested in football,
cricket, politics and the Great War. The photographs are augmented
by period advertisements from local traders and tradesmen,
illustrating the development of the businesses - and the demands of
their customers - created by the rise of the major industries.
Although the bad days are incredibly hard to take at the time, the
pain of them dies through time; we surely can't be alone in looking
back and smiling at some of them. As a club firmly established in
what the legendary Bob Crampsey described as the 'middle order' of
Scottish football, it's unlikely the Pars will ever win the league
or get very far in Europe. We might as well embrace what we have
for what it is, and celebrate that ridiculous collection of
memories our love of football has given us. Many people who don't
like football sneer at those of us who do - let them sneer.
Standing in an enclosure at Elgin, under a rickety corrugated iron
roof while the rain hammers down on a grim November Scottish Cup
Saturday with the side from the higher division away from home - if
someone doesn't understand why that can be the most romantic thing
in the world, they probably aren't worth listening to.
Here is the ultimate quiz book on Scotland's national team.
Informative and fun, this is the perfect companion for those long
car journeys to Inverness or Aberdeen, or for nights down the
local. An ideal gift for Tartan fans of all ages, here's the chance
to test fellow supporters on World Cups, famous games against
England, favourite managers and cult heroes, including R.S. McColl,
Jimmy Quinn, Jimmy McGrory and Kenny Dalglish. Cryptic to
convivial, get your Tartan thinking caps on - it's quiz time!
Alec Troup, known to his many fans as 'Wee Troupie' due to his
small stature, played for Forfar Athletic, Dundee, Everton and
Scotland from 1914 until 1933. His sparkling play, gentlemanly
demeanour, good humour and extremely likeable personality
undoubtedly brightened up many a troubled heart in the dark days of
the First World War and the years that followed. Indeed, he became
a real hero of the people at a time when such role models were in
great demand to rouse the population's spirits. Troup was an
extremely talented player and he was awarded 5 caps for Scotland
during his career, playing in internationals against all the home
nations. However, he is arguably more famous for being the man who
'made' Dixie Dean. As the man on the opposite flank who supplied
many of Dean's goal-scoring opportunities, Troup's involvment in
Dean's great footballing achievements - in particular his record 60
goals in a season for Everton - is second to none. This highly
entertaining biography, lovingly researched by one of Troup's
greatest admirers, the well-known Scottish football historian David
Potter, features many details and anecdotes about Troup's career,
from an early case of maternal football hooliganism in 1914,
through the glory days at Dundee and Everton, to his life after
retirement of the game. Lavishly illustrated with many photographs
- some of which have never before been published - cigarette cards
and cartoons, these all help to tell the fascinating story of one
of Scottish football's smallest giants: Wee Troupie.
Rising to prominence with his hat-trick in the Scottish Cup final
of 1904 against Rangers, Jimmy Quinn became the spearhead of Willie
Maley's great Edwardian side who won six League titles in a row.
Some of the very essence of Scottish football lies in the story of
Jimmy Quinn.
Celtic is an unusual football club, inspiring strong feelings in
almost everyone. It is of course virtually impossible to chronicle
all that has happened in the history of the club, but this little
gem draws together some of the most interesting, quirky, and
downright odd events that have taken place over their long and
auspicious existence. Packed with facts, stats, trivia, stories,
and legend, the reader will delve deep to find out all about the
events and people who have shaped the club into what it is today.
Featured here are a plethora of stories on this charismatic
football club ranging from how the club was formed, to little-known
facts about players and managers. Here you will find player feats,
individual records, and plenty of amusing quotes. Discussing the
rivalry with Rangers, favourite managers, and cult heroes from
yesteryear, this is a book no true Celtic fan should be without.
Although the bad days are incredibly hard to take at the time, the
pain of them dies through time; we surely can't be alone in looking
back and smiling at some of them. As a club firmly established in
what the legendary Bob Crampsey described as the 'middle order' of
Scottish football, it's unlikely the Pars will ever win the league
or get very far in Europe. We might as well embrace what we have
for what it is, and celebrate that ridiculous collection of
memories our love of football has given us. Many people who don't
like football sneer at those of us who do - let them sneer.
Standing in an enclosure at Elgin, under a rickety corrugated iron
roof while the rain hammers down on a grim November Scottish Cup
Saturday with the side from the higher division away from home - if
someone doesn't understand why that can be the most romantic thing
in the world, they probably aren't worth listening to.
This isn't a history of Forfar. Instead it gives readers an
excerpt, a sample, of what life was like on any given day of the
year in a community that has been both a traditional market town
and a major manufacturing centre for linen and jute. There is no
hierarchy in what has been chosen - World Wars are interspersed
with Church socials and cycling events, the affairs of Forfar
Athletic and Strathmore Cricket club, tennis and golf. The facts
and stories all have something to do with the town, and often its
place in national history. Along the way, the reader will probably
guess that the author is particularly interested in football,
cricket, politics and the Great War. The photographs are augmented
by period advertisements from local traders and tradesmen,
illustrating the development of the businesses - and the demands of
their customers - created by the rise of the major industries.
The Lang Toun of Kirkcaldy has had its fair share of life's
problems. From 1244 to the present day, there have been events
which stand out from the ordinary. Some are the stuff of history.
Others are very personal - perhaps, to those not involved - quite
unimportant. But taken together they illustrate a community with a
common resilience to adversity, ready to face an uncertain future
with confidence and faith. Kirkcaldy resident David Potter has
found the best of those moments - one for each calendar day of the
year - and brought them together, to prompt memories of triumphs
and failures, of tragedies and joy.
Cricket is a very old game in Scotland - far older than football, a
sport which sometimes exercises a baleful, obsessive and
deleterious effect on the national psyche. Cricket goes back at
least as far as the Jacobite rebellions and their sometimes vicious
aftermaths. It is often felt that Scottish cricket underplays
itself. It has been portrayed as in some ways an English sport, a
"softies" sport, and a sport that has a very limited interest among
the general population of Scotland. This is emphatically not true,
and this book is in part an attempt to prove that this is a
misconception. Sixty-one games (it was going to be just 60, but one
turned up at the last minute!) have been chosen from the past 250
years to show that cricket does indeed influence a substantial part
of the nation. The matches have been selected at all levels, from
Scotland against visiting Australian teams all the way down to a
Fife school fixture. These naturally reflect the life, experience
and geographical whereabouts of the author. The games are quirky
sometimes, (and quirkily chosen) with an emphasis on important
events in the broader history of this country, notably the
imminence of wars and resumptions at the end of these conflicts.
But the important thing is that every single cricket contest does
mean an awful lot to some people.
North of Kirkcaldy, lucky are those - from Levenmouth through the
East Neuk to the Tay - who can count East Fife as their Club. It
is, by some standards, a very young team, founded some 20 years
after Raith Rovers, and a good 30 years after senior football had
begun to take off. The first Scotland International was played in
1872, and the first Scottish Cup final took place in 1874, yet East
Fife didn't kick their first football until 1903. The other teams
got off to a good start, but East Fife caught up. They played in
Methil at Bayview, from where in 1927 the team reached the Scottish
Cup Final and, in 1938, won the trophy, all while in the Second
Division. After the Second World War came three great League Cup
triumphs in 1947/48, 1949/50 and 1953/54, before teams like Celtic
and Hearts had even appeared in a final. In 1998, the club moved to
a new ground, much closer to the sea, and sometimes called New
Bayview. The story of these achievements includes tales of players
- famous and less well-known - and of managers, supporters,
referees, chairmen, directors and club officials. There are over
100 photographs of players, teams, strips, and crowds. Plus a full
Index of names, clubs, grounds, competitions, newspapers, sponsors
and spiders. In the words of the author: `Every East Fife supporter
would love to see the great days come back. It does not look, at
the moment, all that likely, it has to be said, but then who am I
to say that?'
In this illustrated view of the history of Raith Rovers the author
builds up the story of the club by recounting events that happened
on every day of the year, even during the summer months. Triumphs,
disasters, shipwrecks, crazy Board Room decisions, managers (good
and bad), players (brilliant and mediocre) all feature. As do Davie
Morris, who captained Scotland when they beat all three Home
Nations in 1925; the wizardry of Alec James; the command of the
famous half back line of Young, McNaught and Leigh; and the dash
and enthusiasm of the team which won the Scottish League Cup. But
it is not just about the good days. There are bad days, and loads
of mediocre and mundane times too, as well as some accounts of
Raith Rovers in war time. The year as a whole reveals the
undeniable charm of the institution which means so much to so many
- Raith Rovers Football Club - or, as they are referred to in
Kirkcaldy, “the” Rovers.
Forfar Athletic have had some dreadful times, but they have had
their share of success as well. Here the author has found something
memorable that has happened on every single day in the year - a
chronicle by a man who first watched the Loons in 1954 and whose
father and grandfather watched them way before. This is a football
book, but it is more than that - it is a glimpse of the social
history of the town, the area and the nation. Outstanding players
like Davie McLean, Alec Troup and Craig Brewster are mentioned, the
red letter days when Forfar took on Rangers, Celtic and Aberdeen in
the Scottish Cup, and the day when they astonished the world by
beating Hearts at Tynecastle. But credit is given to the less
spectacular of days as well, like defeats at Cowdenbeath,
Stenhousemuir and Dumbarton in the pouring rain. Such days are also
part of supporting a small team like Forfar.
This is the first comprehensive history of the game in Scotland.
The history of cricket in Scotland is both rich and varied, from
the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745 to the leagues of the 20th century,
culminating in the National League of the 1990's and the debut of
the Scotland team in the 1999 World Cup. Produced in A to Z format,
from Aberdeenshire to Zeneca Grangemouth, including 80 photographs.
It has been lovingly written and compiled by Kirkcaldy Classics
teacher and umpire David W.Potter in association with the Scottish
Cricket Union.
Willie Maley was one of Celtic's first players, joining the club as
a midfielder in 1888 and becoming its first manager in the
following year. He would go on to manage the club for forty-three
years, creating teams based on youth, and win numerous titles,
including the first league and cup doubles in Scotland. This
biography reveals much about the man and the ingredients that went
into creating three legendary teams at Celtic.
|
|