Flower of Scotland?

by archie-macpherson

Flower of Scotland? offers an intriguing passport to travel in the footsteps of the distinguished football commentator Archie Macpherson, who looks to separate myth from fact in his personal odyssey through the last four decades of Scottish football. From the early 1960s Macpherson has witnessed almost all of the great events in the game and encountered, and clashed with, most of the major personalities who influenced the character of Scottish football. His compelling narrative evokes the atmosphere of triumph and failure that punctuated the past forty years.

320 pages, Hardcover

First published September 19, 2005

Reviews

[A D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb history of some of the most pivotal moments in the Scottish game.

[Stuart S · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent review of the game north of the border, spanning four decades: and there can be few as well qualified as Macpherson to write it.

I am sure the author was aware of the limitations of a one-volume review, and hence it appears he has subjectively chosen his topics. To me, the most surprising inclusion, but nonetheless worthy, is a whole chapter devoted to the disappearance of the Third Lanark club in the early 1960s ("The most scandalous death in British football" - Archie). There are, however, the more obvious ones, such as the World Cup disaster in Argentina, and the fruitless campaigns in West Germany, Spain, Italy and France.

Other areas are also given the full treatment, such as the rise and fall of the New Firm, the present-day Old Firm stranglehold, and the influx of foreign mercenaries (my word), leading to the question of whether it is credible to talk about the "Scottish" game any longer.

Macpherson rounds it off by offering quiet optimism for Scottish football's survival. I just hope he's right.

This is far from being a statistical review of the last 40 years. It's much more compelling than that. It's a very fine (and opinionated) piece of work. An excellent read!