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<\/p>\nIts Friday, everyone deserves\u00a0 a treat!<\/p>\n
Ralphs very nice friend and Mr Celtic History,\u00a0Tom\u00a0Cambell has passed on the first 2 chapters of\u00a0his\u00a0 Celtic novel ( written under a pen name) for us to share.\u00a0 According to Amazon, its\u00a0a novel based on historical fact. An account of Matt Busby’s connection with Celtic Football Club as a player during World War 2 and as manager immediately following the peace.<\/p>\n
This is a\u00a0novel that deals with Scottish football during World War II and shortly afterwards, mixes fact and fiction with\u00a0\u00a0 stunning\u00a0\u00a0 effect.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Celtic, one of the country\u2019s premier clubs, opted not to use guest players during that period, and paid a high price for their decision. Matt Busby, himself a Celtic fan, volunteered his services but was turned down. He spent\u00a0 a couple of seasons with Hibernian and transformed that club to such an extent they won the league championship three times shortly after the war. But, what would have happened had Matt Busby turned out for Celtic, made an impression, and inevitably become their\u00a0 manager?<\/em><\/p>\n Its a\u00a0very good read and word has it\u00a0\u00a0our very own Pensionerbhoy can ratify its historical authenticity – he was there!<\/p>\n Enjoy….<\/p>\n A VERY DIFFERENT PARADISE <\/strong><\/p>\n A Novel<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Ah, Love, could you and I with Him conspire<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n To grasp this sorry Scheme of Things entire,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Would we not shatter it to bits \u2013 and then<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Re-mould it nearer to the Heart\u2019s Desire?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Alexander Matthew Busby, C.B.E., K.C.G.S.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Born 26 May, 1909 in Orbiston, Lanarkshire (Scotland)<\/em><\/p>\n Died 20 January, 1994 in Cheadle, Lancashire (England)<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Busby played junior football in Scotland with Denny Hibs, but was signed for Manchester City after some initial interest from both Celtic and Rangers had evaporated.\u00a0 Originally an inside forward, Busby eventually found his niche as a silky right half, renowned for his elegant play and fine passing.\u00a0 Signed for City in 1928 he helped them reach the F.A. Cup Final in both 1933 and 1934 and was successful in the latter match.<\/em><\/p>\n He played with distinction for Manchester City until 1936 at which time he was transferred to Liverpool for a substantial fee.\u00a0 His successful playing career at Anfield came to an end in 1940 when football was disrupted by World War II.<\/em><\/p>\n Busby enlisted in the King\u2019s Liverpool Regiment and was quickly moved to the Army Physical Training Corps.\u00a0 He graduated as an instructor after training at Aldershot, and was posted in the London area before a semi-permanent move to his native Scotland.\u00a0 During this period he turned out as a guest player for Chelsea, Middlesbrough, Reading and Brentford as well as Hibernian and Celtic in Scotland.<\/em><\/p>\n He was \u2018capped\u2019 only once officially for Scotland (in 1933 against Wales) but was selected seven times for his country during the unofficial war years.\u00a0 A mature player, Busby invariably became the captain of every team he played for and his influence was effective in the dramatic improvement in Hibernian\u2019s performance during the war and in the post-war seasons.<\/em><\/p>\n However, it was at Celtic that his reputation was made.\u00a0 He played for the Glasgow club for little more than a season and a half and helped as a part-time coach.\u00a0 Immediately after the war, Celtic moved to appoint him as their manager to replace the largely ineffective Jimmy McStay.<\/em><\/p>\n Busby was able to persuade the traditionally conservative Celtic Board to venture into the transfer market and his signings included Frank Brennan, Alec Linwood, Billy Houliston, Tommy Kiernan, Charlie Tully, Bobby Combe \u2026\u00a0 His policy was highly successful both on and off the field:\u00a0 Celtic for the first time in almost a decade picked up silverware and were able to transfer players for a handsome profit later.<\/em><\/p>\n Busby formed a formidable partnership with the veteran coach Jimmy Hogan and the trainer Alec Dowdalls.\u00a0 In his five seasons at Celtic Park his team(s) won the League Championship three times, the Scottish Cup twice, the League Cup four times as well as several Charity and Glasgow Cups.<\/em><\/p>\n He left Celtic suddenly shortly after the start of the 1951\/52 season, surprisingly so after Celtic had just won the Festival of Britain Cup and had only recently completed a successful tour of the United States and Canada.\u00a0 It was rumoured that Busby had resigned after a series of rows with the chairman Robert Kelly who, it was reported, tended to interfere with essentially football matters such as team selection.<\/em><\/p>\n Busby, after three months on the sidelines, took up the manager\u2019s role at Manchester United and led them to success in both league and cup.\u00a0 United won the championship in 1954\/55 and the F.A. Cup in both 1953 and 1956.\u00a0 Meanwhile, his former club Celtic were struggling and endured several mediocre seasons.<\/em><\/p>\n Matt Busby\u2019s great years with Manchester United came after that championship season of 1954\/55 with the emergence of a young side \u2026<\/em><\/p>\n (From Rothman\u2019s Football Guide, 1994\/95) <\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n A VERY DIFFERENT\u00a0 PARADISE<\/strong><\/p>\n CHAPTER 1<\/strong><\/p>\n Bob Kelly, a director of the Celtic Football Club, sat alone at a window table of the North British Hotel and stared out at George Square somewhat morosely.\u00a0<\/p>\n His sharp eyes took in the changes that three months of World War II had occasioned:\u00a0 hundreds of sand-bags piled up against the ornate City Chambers as a safeguard against air-raids by the Luftwaffe, temporary buildings erected around the square with queues of Glaswegians lining up patiently, trying to find a way through the bureaucratic maze to find and complete application forms for ration cards, petrol permits, clothing coupons and information on finding the distribution centres for gas-masks.\u00a0<\/p>\n He realised with a start that more and more men were in uniform.\u00a0 In his late 30s Kelly was too old to volunteer for active service; and, besides, a withered right arm \u2013 the result of a childhood accident \u2013 would have put paid to any such ambitions.<\/p>\n He approved of the preparations. At least they\u2019re not trying to fool anybody this time that the war will be over by Christmas.\u00a0 When it does really start in earnest, it\u2019ll last for a long time \u2013 at least as long as the Great War.<\/em> Watching the rain start to fall \u2013 and the crowds hurrying by \u2013 he congratulated himself upon having arrived early for his appointment.\u00a0 Punctuality, the politeness of kings<\/em> \u2013 as his father had drilled into him and indeed all his sons.<\/p>\n He waved away the waitress, hovering nearby, and started to ready himself for his rendezvous with Tom White, the club\u2019s elderly chairman.\u00a0 What could he want?<\/em>\u00a0 The brief phone call earlier that morning had revealed very little:\u00a0 \u201c\u2026 important that you and I meet \u2026 away from the other directors \u2026 serious issues to be resolved \u2026 discretion necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n It has to be the matter of Maley<\/em>.\u00a0 He knew that White\u2019s relationship with the long-time manager had never been cordial but they had degenerated into open hostility shortly after the Jubilee Dinner of 1938.\u00a0 White has a right to be aggrieved:\u00a0 a handsome gift of 2,500 guineas to the manager, the perfect opportunity for him to fade away into the background \u2026 but Willie Maley never had any intention of retiring.\u00a0 That has to be the problem.<\/em> \u00a0<\/p>\n Kelly\u2019s thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of the chairman, a heavily built man in a camel-hair coat and the definite air of authority, despite his age.<\/p>\n \u201cHave you ordered anything yet?\u201d White demanded, summoning the waitress.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m having a whisky, and you?\u201d<\/p>\n Kelly nodded agreement, feeling somewhat abashed that he had not already ordered a drink.\u00a0 White always has that effect.\u00a0 Always taking charge no matter the circumstances.<\/em>\u00a0 Makes <\/em>you feel uncomfortable.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cA decent place, this, \u201c White commented after his first sip of the whisky and Kelly had to agree.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s a good place for a meeting. Public enough and not too secretive.\u00a0 I wanted to speak to you, Robert, away from the other directors because some critical decisions have to be taken \u2013 and taken relatively soon.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cAway from the others?\u201d\u00a0 Kelly ventured, but White treated the slight objection with a dismissive wave of his hand.<\/p>\n \u201cRobert, for all intents and purposes there are only two directors of the club capable of making decisions.\u00a0 You and I.\u00a0 The Colonel?\u00a0 He was at his best in the last war and he\u2019s only going through the motions these days.\u00a0 As you know, he rarely participates at our Board meetings and, besides, he sees himself as a grandfather to the reserve side. \u201c<\/p>\n White was in full spate now, as always confident that he would not be contradicted, \u201d Tom Colgan, I have it on good grounds, is planning to retire to Eire for the duration \u2013 and, in that event, he\u2019s of no use at all.\u00a0 John McKillop?\u00a0 I believe he\u2019s in poor health and is thinking of participating less in Board matters \u2013 if that is possible.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n He paused before continuing. \u201cAnd that leaves you and me, Robert.\u201d\u00a0 He waited \u2013 for another sip of the whisky and for dramatic effect. \u201c And decisions have to be made.\u00a0 Important decisions.\u201d<\/p>\n The younger man was forced to agree with his chairman\u2019s assessment.\u00a0 Colonel John Shaughnessy, a fixture on the Board of directors since 1911 had slipped quietly and easily into his elder-statesman role, Devlin, at Celtic Park since 1904 or 1905, had lost much of his enthusiasm for the club while still retaining a keen interest in the annual dividend, McKillop was much the same \u2026\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n With a sudden start he realised that he, Robert Kelly, was the only active director who cared about the football.\u00a0 The chairman is not interested in Celtic as a football club. My own father, Celtic\u2019s first captain, never really trusted White: \u201cNever played the game, himself. Only interested in balance sheets (and maybe Irish questions)\u201d\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n But at this moment he was on the verge of agreeing with him.<\/p>\n White continued, \u201cThe first thing is to settle the situation with Maley.\u00a0 He has to go. No doubt about it.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think he\u2019ll be prepared to go quietly.\u00a0 I can\u2019t see him agreeing to go.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018You\u2019re right, of course.\u00a0 Look at it this way,\u201d and White paused for another sip of whisky.\u00a0 \u201cAs secretary\/manager he is nothing more than an employee of the club \u2013 and, as such, his term of employment can be terminated with due cause.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo we have sufficient justification?\u00a0 And another thing – he\u2019s been with us for more than fifty years, a lifetime of service.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAgreed.\u00a0 And he was paid handsomely for every one of those years \u2013 and look at the honorarium we gave him at the Jubilee Dinner a year ago.\u00a0 He should have taken the hint at that time.\u201d<\/p>\n Kelly nodded agreement, a shade reluctantly.\u00a0 \u201cHe did not do himself any favours by complaining about the tax he had to pay on it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou do realize that he has contemplated legal action against the club for that.\u00a0 If that\u2019s what he wants, I\u2019ll give him \u2018legal action\u2019.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 The voice was slightly raised, anger adding the emphasis. \u201cYou asked about \u2018justification\u2019.\u00a0 Frankly, we don\u2019t require any but from the point-of-view of the football alone we would be justified.\u00a0 What are we in this new league?\u00a0 Second last \u2013 and not too much prospect of improvement.\u00a0 Celtic second last! Just think of that!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Over the next few minutes, as Kelly listened, White underlined his complaints against the manager:\u00a0 at more than 70 years of age, he was too old, his failing sight meant he was no longer able to drive his car especially in black-out conditions, his general health had suffered, he had become even more blunt and autocratic, more and more out-of-touch with his players, very withdrawn at times\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cBesides, you realise that he is not fully qualified to be secretary of a club like Celtic.\u00a0 Allegedly, he has some preliminary qualifications in accountancy but that\u2019s not enough.\u00a0 I am particularly concerned about some of our accounting.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Another careful sip of the whisky.\u00a0 \u201cHe has had unchecked access to tickets and gate-receipts.\u00a0 Do you realise that he takes all the money from the turnstiles back to his Bank Restaurant after every game \u2013 and then sometime during the next week he condescends to tell us what they are?\u00a0 I cannot think that is a suitable arrangement \u2013 especially when there is tension between him and his employers.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre you questioning his honesty?\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018No, but I am right to be concerned.\u201d<\/p>\n Kelly pondered.\u00a0 The chairman is a lawyer above everything else.\u00a0 He won\u2019t come right out and slander or libel the manager.\u00a0 Nobody\u2019s ever questioned the manager\u2019s honesty or reputation in public.<\/em> \u00a0But he was being convinced; the chairman had struck a responsive chord.\u00a0 The manager has always been too dictatorial, even abrupt with directors at times, especially recently.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u201cIs this the time to let him go?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe timing could not be better.\u00a0 People are more concerned about the war, and won\u2019t waste too much time thinking about a football manager being released.\u00a0 With the rationing of newsprint coming into effect not too much will appear in the papers \u2026\u00a0 and, if we announce it round about New Year, it will sink without trace.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWill it be decided at a Board meeting?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, it will have to be but I think I will speak to him in advance to prepare him for the shock.\u201d\u00a0 His words were emphatic, and Kelly felt suddenly uncomfortable, almost guilty for a second. He doesn\u2019t like him one bit.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Tom White is actually looking forward to firing the manager, and here you are agreeing with what he\u2019s saying.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cYou did suggest that there were other matters to discuss.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, I did, \u201cWhite said quietly, almost too quietly and suddenly looking every one of his nearly seventy years.\u00a0 Bob Kelly looked up sharply, and studied the chairman\u2019s lined face; he observed the dark shadow under his eyes. \u201cThis is between you and me in the strictest of confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0And he paused long enough to allow Kelly time to nod his agreement.\u00a0 \u201c<\/strong> I am not in the best of health myself, and I think it\u2019s time to think about who will succeed me as chairman.\u00a0 I would like you to be the designated heir.\u00a0 You would be the best choice.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n A wintry smile flickered across his features. \u201cFrankly, nobody else on this Board is suitable.\u201d<\/p>\n Kelly sat back, his whisky untasted.\u00a0 Chairman of Celtic.\u00a0 Just like my father. Things would change at Celtic Park, and for the better.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a great honour, of course, and I appreciate you thinking of me \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n White waved away the words.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s settled then.\u00a0 But we have another matter to consider.\u00a0 With Maley gone, we need a secretary, and I think it\u2019s time Desmond took some part in the running of the club\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Desmond White?<\/em>\u00a0 Kelly, of course, knew him well. \u00a0A tall, often ungainly, young man \u2013 although he had been a reasonable goalkeeper for Queens Park.\u00a0\u00a0 And he is a trained accountant.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n The realisation struck Kelly rapidly.\u00a0 It\u2019s going to be a deal \u2013 and everybody wins.\u00a0 I\u2019ll be chairman when the time comes and, with the help of my vote, Desmond White will be secretary. I wonder how many other directors he has hinted to about Desmond\u2019s qualifications. <\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0He had to admire his chairman\u2019s skill in manipulating the situation, in having him agree so quickly and effortlessly. \u00a0No, he didn\u2019t manipulate me.\u00a0 This is going to be for the greater good of Celtic Football Club \u2026\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n CHAPTER 2<\/strong> The meeting between the chairman and the manager was short, almost insultingly so. \u00a0<\/p>\n On Wednesday 13th<\/sup> December 1939 at 10:00 a.m. exactly on the hour, Tom White, a director of Celtic Football & Athletic Club Ltd. since 1914 and chairman of the club since 1932, opened the door of the boardroom and ushered in the manager Willie Maley.<\/p>\n At 10:06 a.m. the former manager Willie Maley closed the door behind him, struggling to resist the temptation to slam it.<\/p>\n He was a shattered man but, after more than fifty years in the limelight of Scottish football, he was able to muster enough dignity to walk the few steps to his cubbyhole of an office without attracting any adverse attention.\u00a0<\/p>\n The office was tidy and organised; the files, such as they were, arranged neatly in folders and in strict alphabetical order.\u00a0 His early training as an accountant, and years in charge of the Bank Restaurant, had helped his always-orderly mind in organising things.<\/p>\n But emotionally he was reeling; a lifetime as a Celtic player, committeeman, match-secretary and latterly as manager-secretary all swept aside at the whim of a chairman, a man not even interested in football as a sport.<\/p>\n For decades he had been the public face of Celtic Football Club, the person to whom the newspapers turned for opinions and comments.\u00a0 But now?\u00a0<\/p>\n Willie Maley sat in that office, the door shut.\u00a0 Nobody dared disturb him, nor to intrude.\u00a0 In recent years his characteristic impatience had grown much worse and many within Celtic Park \u2013 and elsewhere \u2013 had felt his wrath.<\/p>\n He continued to brood, and to seethe.\u00a0<\/p>\n Too late he regretted his only words of appeal against the chairman\u2019s decision: \u201cI\u2019ve been with this club from the very start \u2013 for fifty-two years \u2026” \u00a0Too late he realised the words sounded more like an epitaph rather than a reasoned argument. Forced to retire!<\/em> He could feel the sting of hot tears just beneath the surface. Another sign of age, too many tears nowadays \u2026<\/em><\/p>\n He continued to brood.\u00a0<\/p>\n No, he would not agree to a statement, issued by the club, to the effect that he \u2018had retired for health reasons\u2019.\u00a0 That was what the directors wanted and they could freeze till Hell froze over before he would give them the satisfaction.<\/p>\n Yes, he would remain in charge for the next game against Third Lanark at Celtic Park on December 16th\u00a0 <\/sup>at least.\u00a0 \u00a0To think that Celtic and Third Lanark, the two teams that had met in Celtic\u2019s very first Scottish Cup final back in 1889, were now struggling together at the bottom of this new-fangled Regional League.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Yes, he\u2019ll not say a word to anybody, and he\u2019ll be in charge but he would not bother his arse too much trying to contact players and arranging transportation for them at the last minute.\u00a0 Besides, it looked as if almost all the Empire Exhibition team would be available this week; at least, nobody had contacted him about being unavailable so far.<\/p>\n \u00a0No, he would not say a word, not a single word to anybody about this whole sorry development.\u00a0 When the time comes, they can draw their own conclusions and it would not be too much to ask that, after so many years of service to this club, many would prefer to take his side \u2013 especially if he retained a dignified silence.\u00a0<\/p>\n In fact, after his \u2018retirement\u2019 if he simply did not attend any further matches at Celtic Park \u2013 and refused to discuss it \u2013 that would only discredit the directors even more \u2026<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n A few yards away Tom White remained alone in the board\u2013room, quietly exultant that things had gone so smoothly.\u00a0 Nobody else on this board of directors could have carried it off quite so well,<\/em> No beating about the bush, no shilly-shallying<\/em>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Pleased with himself, and verging on smugness, he allowed himself the luxury of reviewing the meeting.<\/p>\n \u201cMr Maley, the directors at last night\u2019s meeting, decided \u2013 unanimously, I should add – that it is time for you to retire. Look at the position of the team in the league table \u2013 third from the bottom and with most of the players who won the Empirex back in 1938 still available!\u00a0 Something has gone seriously wrong, you have to agree \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n It had been all too easy to counter Maley\u2019s attempts to defend the situation. Always too emotional, Maley, and increasingly so in the past few years. \u00a0Easy, yes, but only if you had the nerve to face him down.\u00a0 Lots of men had crumbled in the face of Willie Maley but not Tom White \u2013 still the old lion, aging but with the legal mind as sharp as ever. What was his reputation? \u00a0\u201c Tom White can sound like the Big Bad Wolf talking to Red Riding Hood.\u201c Not too bad a description, that. <\/em><\/p>\n Now, action is required:\u00a0 a new manager for a start and one vastly different from Maley \u2013 less of an influence on club policy, less of a voice, a Celtic man, of course, and somebody heart-set on the job. What we need is a caretaker for the duration, somebody acceptable to the supporters and shareholders, a man who will not break with the directors on issues, especially wages.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0Last night Jimmy McStay was mentioned, and he can be lifted from Alloa Athletic any time \u2013 no problems with that.\u00a0 Jimmy McGrory as well, but he\u2019s still with Kilmarnock and the rumour is that Rugby Park is going to be requisitioned for the duration of the war.\u00a0 Willie Lyon?\u00a0 An excellent choice, apart from the fact that he\u2019s an Englishman and most of our supporters would not be happy with his religion; besides, he\u2019s in the army and unavailable \u2026 McStay and McGrory have been\u00a0\u00a0 approached already, and they understand the situation:\u00a0 one word in public from either of them and they can forget about their chances at this club\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n The other directors will have to be spoken to and that will be done some time today.\u00a0 It\u2019s much better to make things look like overall Board decisions rather than an individual one.<\/em><\/p>\n Mind made up, he rose from the refectory table \u2013 salvaged years before from a church in the east end, and the only attractive piece of furniture in the room.\u00a0 He reached for his camelhair coat, put it on with customary satisfaction, adjusted the collar to his liking, and headed for the door.<\/p>\n His business interests, a law firm and a small publishing house, could not wait any longer.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Hope you enjoyed that read there. Want some more?<\/p>\n Theres more Book details AND the next<\/strong> 4 more preview\u00a0Chapters<\/strong> !\u00a0 available here: BOOK LINK<\/a><\/p>\n
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