Take Me to Your Paradise

Book excerpt: When it comes to sporting history, Celtic Football Club is at the foremost of an elite list. Yet in all that has chronicled the unmatchable uniqueness of Celtic, little has focused exclusively on individual incidents and events. Take Me To Your Paradise seeks to redress matters by reliving the controversies, little known tales and unusual events throughout the annals of this grand old team. No time is wasted in capturing the reader's attention, with an astonishing opening incident relating to (Founding Father) Pat Welsh's daring escape, aided by a sympathetic soldier named Sargent Maley. This incident precedes the first event, in which Brother Walfrid holds his first charity football venture at Barrowfield Park in 1886. One could only imagine the impact that both stories would have on the establishment of Celtic Football Club.It's not all antiquity though, as readers are taken on an enthralling journey through the decades... from 1896 Irish Race Conventions to 1968 Soviet invasions, the Johnstone Vigilante Committee to the Jungle's last stand.There are stories of Paradise speedway meetings and other unusual uses of the stadium, Cappielow riots, British Cup champions, flag controversies, Tannadice U-turns, The Invincibles and everything in-between! With wild disorder, hysterical laughter and downright tragedy - this a different read from your usual book.Take Me To Your Paradise is ultimately an historical and contemporary record of the extraordinary Celtic story. It is told from a uniquely entertaining angle, which captivates the values, achievements and tribulations of the club both on and off the pitch.