Ally McCoist - Rangers Legend
Ally McCoist - Rangers Legend

Author: Alistair Aird

Publisher: Kings Road Publishing

Published: 2011-10-27

Total Pages: 450

ISBN-13: 1843589451

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Ally McCoist is one of Scottish soccer's best-loved characters. In a two-decade career, he won the hearts and minds of legions of fans as he established himself as one of the most popular sporting personalities in the UK. A schoolboy prodigy, it was always clear that McCoist was destined for top flight soccer. At just 16 he signed his first professional contract with St. Johnstone, shooting to prominence in the 1980-81 season, scoring 22 league goals, and playing a starring role for the Scottish youth team. He was soon hot property. After two years of mixed fortunes at Sunderland, McCoist returned to Scotland and signed with his boyhood heroes, the Glasgow Rangers. Over the next fifteen years, he established himself as arguably the greatest goal-scorer ever to play for the club. He not only gave heart and soul for Rangers but was also capped 61 times for Scotland. An authoritative and affectionate portrait of this much-loved sportsman, "Ally McCoist: Rangers Legend" charts the highs and lows of a fascinating career, culminating in McCoist reaching legendary status. It also looks at the events that helped to shape his life overcoming homesickness when first playing for an English club and how he coped when his young son had to undergo several life-saving operations. Having hung up his boots, Ally's vibrant personality made him a natural for the television screen. Now, however, he has come full circle and returned "home" after a successful spell as assistant manager at his beloved Rangers, he has taken over the reins to become manager. This wonderful book is a must-read for any soccer fan, or indeed for anyone captivated by this large-than-life character."

The Official Biography of Rangers
The Official Biography of Rangers

Author: Ronnie Esplin

Publisher: Headline

Published: 2011-10-13

Total Pages: 291

ISBN-13: 0755363132

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Rangers have won 53 League Championships, more than any other club in the world. They have won the Scottish League Cup 26 times -- more than any other Scottish club -- and the Scottish Cup 33 times. In 1961 Rangers reached the final of the European Cup Winners' Cup, becoming the first British club to reach the final of a UEFA club competition. They won the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1972, having been the runners-up in 1961 and 1967, and were runners-up in the 2008 UEFA Cup Final.

Walter Smith - The Ibrox Gaffer
Walter Smith - The Ibrox Gaffer

Author: Scott Burns

Publisher: Black & White Publishing

Published: 2011-04-26

Total Pages: 248

ISBN-13: 1845023994

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This long-deserved tribute to the legendary Walter Smith sees Rangers stars past and present uniting to honour one of the most decorated and successful managers in Scottish football. Ibrox favourites from across the decades, including heroes like Brian Laudrup, Ally McCoist, Andy Goram, Jorg Albertz, and countless others, give their own unique insight into the man they affectionately call their 'Gaffer'. Light Blue legends Davie Weir, Madjid Bougherra, Nacho Novo, Pedro Mendes and Stevie Naismith offer fans a behind the scenes look at how Smith returned for his second spell at Ibrox to deliver domestic and European success against a backdrop of financial meltdown. The one thing that they all agree is that Walter Smith is simply the best!

Same Team — A Street Soccer Story
Same Team — A Street Soccer Story

Author: Robbie Gordon

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Published: 2023-12-22

Total Pages: 147

ISBN-13: 1350459364

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No.1 – Players always come first No.2 – We look to the future No.3 – We never leave anyone behind No.4 – We place others before ourselves No.5 – We keep our promises Five women have come together with one goal, one dream. Coming from very different backgrounds in life they have to work together as a team if they want to do what no one from Scotland has ever done before. To win the Homeless World Cup, and bring the trophy home. A joyful story of community and teamwork, building connections between each other and homelessness. Written with the Dundee Women's Street Soccer Team, Robbie Gordon and Jack Nurse's Same Team - A Street Soccer Story is an uplifting whirlwind through the highs and lows of homeless football. This edition was published to coincide with the world premiere at the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh, in December 2023.

Slim Jim
Slim Jim

Author: Isobel Murray

Publisher: Black & White Publishing

Published: 2014-09-04

Total Pages: 264

ISBN-13: 1845028511

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Jim Baxter - the legendary 'Slim Jim' - was arguably Scotland's greatest-ever footballer, a left-footed genius who became a Rangers icon and helped Scotland humiliate world champions England at Wembley in 1967 - with some famous keepie-uppie along the way. And although much has been written about Slim Jim over the years, the real story behind his life is now revealed for the first time. When Jim Baxter joined Rangers in 1960 for a record fee of £17,500, he quickly proved his worth, helping the team to ten trophies over the next five years. It was the start of a glittering career and a hard-drinking, hard-living lifestyle in the big city, where he fully enjoyed the fruits of his success. But behind the glamour on and off the park, Jim Baxter hid a secret that would torment him for most of his life, a secret he only discovered the full truth about when he was fifty years old. What is beyond doubt is that Slim Jim Baxter will forever be revered for his unbelievable footballing talent. He will also be remembered for his ability to live life to the full and beyond. But had he uncovered the truth earlier about the family secret that left him shattered, the life of this footballing genius might have been very different both on and off the pitch.

Follow We Will
Follow We Will

Author: Stuart Thomson

Publisher: New Generation Publishing

Published: 2021-06-01

Total Pages: 179

ISBN-13: 1800312105

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Nacho NovoWhen I left Spain for my Scottish adventure back in 2001, I could not have dreamt just how my career would take off. Six great years I spent at Rangers, making friends for life on and off the pitch. Yes, I won a league medal, scored the winning goal in a cup final, scored against Celtic and the winning penalty to take us to Manchester. However, what now gives me the greatest pleasure, is not only the memories, but knowing I am now a fan myself. I will be celebrating 55 like the rest of the Bears. Once a Ranger, always a Ranger.Robie Ferguson, GlasgowMy first away trip abroad was to Bilbao in 1969, in the Fairs Cup. Since then, my love for Rangers has taken me on over 200 trips all over Europe, South Africa, USA, Canada & Australia. From cup games to pre-season friendlies and tours, I have made good friends all over the world. Every trip has been an adventure following The Rangers.Ross McGill, Union BearsOur club and support really are second to none, and this experience at the time (in Leipzig) was a taster for the younger generation of trips to come and a bit of hope for our entire support, that natural order would one day be restored, and we would be back in Europe, following our club and at the top of Scottish football once again. Thankfully we are now there and 55 has been achieved. We are back....

Union Jock
Union Jock

Author: Aidan Smith

Publisher: Random House

Published: 2008-11-21

Total Pages: 272

ISBN-13: 1407013513

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July 30, 1966. Bobby Moore is lifting the Jules Rimet trophy, Denis Law is playing golf, and a young boy in Edinburgh is being taught the most important lesson of his life: no matter who England are playing, you support the other lot. If the opposition have a dodgy human rights record, or are cruel to wasps, or can't even be located on a large-format map - too bad. You support the other lot. Forty years on, and Aidan Smith has done a pretty good job of supporting the other lot. But these days he should be old enough, and ugly enough, to be above petty, playground-formed sporting squabbles. Besides, the World Cup is coming, Scotland haven't made it, and he's about to marry an Englishwoman. Maybe it's a sign. But can a Scotsman ever cheer for 'Ingerland'? In Union Jock, Aidan Smith investigates the age-old England-Scotland emnity, both on and off the football field. The Scots may have suffered at the hands of the Auld Enemy for centuries - Braveheart, Culloden, Jimmy Hill calling David Narey's goal a "toe-poke" (against Brazil in the 1982 World Cup, top right-hand corner) - but now they're a nation on the rise, with a spanking new parliament to prove it. But what do the fans, players, politicians, and Sassenach invaders really think about their English neighbours? Would supporting England be a denial of their Scottishness? Join Aidan Smith on his quest to put an end to centuries of not-so-friendly rivalry. That's if the Scots don't get him first. Or the English.

Ally McCoist - Rangers Legend
Ally McCoist - Rangers Legend

Author: Alistair Aird

Publisher: Kings Road Publishing

Published: 2009-10-05

Total Pages: 400

ISBN-13: 1844548414

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Ally McCoist is undoubtedly the finest Scottish goal-scorer of the last 30 years. In a career that spannedmore thantwo decades, he won the hearts and minds of legions of fans as he established himself as one of the most popular sports personalities in the UK. This authoritative and affectionate portrait of this much-loved sportsman charts the highs and lows of a fascinating career including a couple of injury-stricken years culminating in McCoist reaching legendary status. It also looks at the events that helped to shape his life such as how he overcame his homesickness when first playing for an English club, the effect his parents' separation had on him, and how he coped when his young son had to undergo several life-saving operations. Having hung up his boots, his vibrant personality made him a natural for the television screen and he carved a niche for himself with a role in sporting media. Now, however, McCoist has come full circle and returned home to be assistant manager at his beloved Rangers. This wonderful book is a must-read for any football fan or indeed for anyone captivated by this larger-than-life character."

Blink
Blink

Author: David Leslie

Publisher: Random House

Published: 2012-06-07

Total Pages: 289

ISBN-13: 1780575769

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As a young man in Glasgow’s underworld, Ian ‘Blink’ MacDonald fought, robbed and slashed his way to the top, developing a taste for the high life along the way. His notoriety earned him an offer of work from Scotland’s most feared gangster, Arthur Thompson, but MacDonald had other plans: to finance a new life in Spain with the multimillion-pound proceeds of a high-risk armed bank robbery. But the job went badly wrong, and MacDonald was jailed for 16 years. In prison, he met scores of high-profile inmates, including torture-gang boss Eddie Richardson, high-society serial killer Archie Hall, notorious lifer Charles Bronson and Ronnie O’Sullivan senior, father of the snooker star. On his release, MacDonald became a magnet for trouble, enjoying a hedonistic, drug-fuelled lifestyle and finding himself drawn into conflict with police, gangsters and businessmen. Rearrested several times, he was the target of more than one terrifying murder attempt. In Blink, MacDonald provides an eye-opening account of his highly eventful journey through life in Glasgow’s brutal gangland.

The Rough Guide to Cult Football
The Rough Guide to Cult Football

Author: Rough Guides

Publisher: Rough Guides UK

Published: 2010-09-01

Total Pages: 289

ISBN-13: 1405387963

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The Rough Guide to Cult Football is the ultimate companion to the beautiful game. The only football book of its kind, it goes beyond the usual back page material to uncover the most amazing stories and unlikeliest personalities on Planet Football. It reveals the stories behind the mavericks and cult figures that make up the real heroes of the game - from cultured midfielders to jailbirds, drinkers to hard men, local legends to international wanderers. The Rough Guide to Cult Football looks at everything from special clubs - like the New York Cosmos and Berwick Rangers - to managers and football rivalries - from 'El Clásico' to the Faroe Islands derby, via an unusual roll-call of talent that stretches from Ferenc Puskas to Stan Bowles, Eric Cantona to Jose Chilavert and Garrincha to Perry Groves. It also recalls extraordinary games, from 'The Battle of Highbury' to underdog fixtures where the likes of Northern Ireland, Wimbledon and Dynamo Kiev overcame the might of Spain, Liverpool and the Nazis. Post-match analyses of football culture, ephemera, science and some strange statistics, complete this ultimate fiesta of football fun.