Books
pEPLHVr
0n he ba
Allan Radcliffe talks to ARCHIE GEMMILL about his chequered footballing career and the sensational goal that spawned a thousand replays.
f the name Archie (iemmill doesn‘t immediately send alarm bells ringing in your head. chances are the phrase ‘scored against Holland in the l‘)78 World Cup will provoke some kind of response. Maybe you‘re one of the thousands of paid-up members of Ally‘s Tartan Army who rode the emotional rollercoaster that was Scotland‘s notorious campaign at the 7X finals in Argentina. Perhaps you can pinpoint exactly where you were when the diminutive midfielder sprinted past three Dutch defenders into the penalty area before chipping the ball into the net to score the most famous goal in Scottish football history. If you‘re too young to vividly recall that great event. chances are you‘ll have enjoyed re-runs of (icmmill grabbing the crucial game by the scruff of the neck as
the goal frequently crops up in the upper reaches of
polls of the greatest sporting moments. MFA recently declared it the seventh greatest in history. And those few seconds of genius have trickled their way into the public consciousness in less orthodox ways. Irvine Welsh‘s Renton famously compared his ‘lirst shag in ages‘ to the joys of that goal. The mazy dribble was turned into a ballet entitled The Nurnwg Suite and was set to music and performed as a dance by 2()() children at l-lampden Park.
Clearly. with that single moment of sporting prowess. (iemmill has bequeathed an unforgettable legacy to Scottish football fans. And. in his enjoyable new autobiography But/I Sir/es Off/Iv Burr/(W. the goal features as one of a number of highlights in (iemmill‘s eventful career. ()ne of the most compelling episodes in the book focuses on a teenaged Archie‘s early career. in which he balanced training with St Mirren with at 4am milk round and a job as an apprentice electrician. 'l‘hroughout. (icmmill
26 THE LIST ii '21) Sup you?)
‘IF WAYNE ROONEY KEEPS HIS NOSE CLEAN HE'LL BE A LEGEND'
compares his own experiences with those of today‘s bright young things. and notably expresses his mixed feelings of admiration and concern for brilliant young hothead. Wayne Rooney.
‘I think that‘s a good part of the book for today‘s youngsters to read to get a sense of what life was like for players back then. If Rooney keeps his nose clean he‘ll be a legendary player but his abrasive personality could get him into trouble off the pitch.‘ (icmmill‘s own playing career was characterised by exhilarating highs and depressing lows. He was the dynamo of Brian (‘lough‘s championship-winning Derby side of the early 70s and followed the charismatic manager to Nottingham Forest. As (iemmill admits: ‘l‘ve been my own worst enemy just by being outspoken.‘ and his reputation as a nippy sweetie occasionally led him into trouble.
In the book. (iemmill speaks out for the first time about his bitterness over (‘lough dropping him from Forest‘s l‘)7‘) liuropean (‘up li‘inal side. which led to his disastrous transfer to Birmingham. 'When you‘re told. “(iet yourself lit and you‘re playing.“ and you do get fit but you don‘t get to play. it feels like a betrayal.‘ he says. ()therwise. (iemmill paints a favourable portrait of the legendary (‘lough. who provided the book‘s foreword before he died. ‘He was a great man manager and he could tell you what you were doing right or wrong in a couple of sentences.‘
So. does (iemmill ever get sick of being asked about that goal'.’ ‘()f course not. For something that lasted a few seconds 27 years ago. the amount of pleasure it‘s given a nation of live million is incredible.‘
Both Sides of the Border is published by Hodder 8. Stoughton on Mon 12 Sep.
. e l
>l<
THE. BEST BOOKS, COMICS & EVENTS
=l¢ Archie Gemmlll The wee man behind the biggest single moment in Scottish football’s relatively recent past releases his autobiography, Both Sides of the Border. Just don't mention Trainspotting. Actually, you can. He’s fine with it. See preview. Hodder & Stoughton. * ladle Smith After the lukewarm reaction to The Autograph Man, the London scribe hits straight back to form with On Beauty. a brash tale of some rather rotten people. See review. Hamish Hamilton.
* 'l'lm Krelder Why Do They Kill Me? it's a very good question and one which is assaulted with vigour in this latest piece of political cartoonery from a man who doesn’t half feel utter contempt for the US leadership. See review. Fantagraphics.
* Alan McKenzie This third version of How to Draw & Sell Comic Strips takes on board the massive technological changes that have affected the genre and, as such, remains a valuable tool for anyone fancying a go. See review. Titan.
* Deva Sobel Popular science has never been so darned popular in the hands of Sobel (pictured), whose new one, The Planets, is set to go positively stratospheric. Glasgow Science Centre, Fri 9 Sep.
* Vlkram Seth Still a rather suitable boy when it comes to shifting barrowloads of books. Mr Seth pops by to promote his new one, Two Lives, a memoir of his family and their struggles against oppression. The Hub, Edinburgh, Thu 22 Sep.