Celtic is a club blessed with with an unrivalled library of books about the players, teams, history, supporters, triumphs and tragedies. Some of the books written by Celtic fans themselves are among the best published about football. At The Shamrock we aim to promote as many Celtic books as possible through reviews and free competitions – and also review the odd film, DVD and non-Celtic book along the way.
We hope you enjoy the reviews below. Disagree? Let us know. Got a review of your own? We’ll happily publish it. Let us know if you’ve any suggestions for books we might have missed. If you’re an author or publisher then you’re welcome to get in touch also. Contact us by email at: theshamrock@outlook.com.
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‘Celtic in the Black & White Era’ – by Steve Finan
A wonderful catalogue of Celtic images through the club’s golden period
Shamrock Rating: 9/10
Read the review and author interview here.
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‘Take Me to Your Paradise’ – by Liam Kelly
A treasure trove of Celtic tales from the earliest days to the modern era.
Shamrock Rating: 7 /10
Read the review here.
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‘A Very Different Paradise’ – by Tom Campbell
One of the finest Celtic writers re-imagines a ‘sliding doors’ moment in the club’s history
Shamrock Rating: 9 /10
Read the review here.
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‘Kenny of the Celtic’ – The Andy Lynch Story’ by Stephen Murray
Shamrock Rating: 7 /10
Review here: ‘Kenny of the Celtic’
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‘Hoops, Stars & Stripes – The Andy Lynch Story’ by Andy Lynch & Paul John Dykes
Shamrock Rating: 7 /10
REVIEW: Hoops, Stars & Stripes: The Andy Lynch Story
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‘The Last Line: My Autobiography’ by Packie Bonner
Shamrock Rating: 8 /10
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‘Celtic – The Early Years (1887 – 1892)’ by Brendan Sweeney
Shamrock Rating: 9 /10
REVIEW: Celtic – The Early Years
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‘Uniquely Celtic’ by Frank Rafters
Shamrock Rating: 8 /10
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‘Keeping in Paradise’ by John Fallon (with David Potter)
Shamrock Rating: 7 /10
REVIEWED: ‘Keeping in Paradise’
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‘The Winds of Change: Managing Celtic FC 1991 – 2005’ by Alex Gordon
Shamrock Rating: 7 /10
Book Review: The Winds of Change
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Celtic ‘4 In A Roar’ Season Review DVD
Shamrock Rating: 7 /10
https://theshamrockglasgow.wordpress.com/2015/06/22/celtic-dvd-review-4-in-a-roar/
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‘The Spirit of Walfrid’ – Charity CD (The Celtic Network)
Shamrock Rating: 8/10
https://theshamrockglasgow.wordpress.com/2015/06/13/music-review-the-spirit-of-walfrid-charity-cd/
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‘Ten Men Won the League’ – Stephen Murray
Shamrock Rating: 8/10
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‘The Spirit of ’86’ – Andrew Reilly
Shamrock Rating: 8/10
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Paradise Road – Stephen O’Donnell
Shamrock Rating: 6/10
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Yogi Bare – John Hughes
Shamrock Rating: 4/10
https://theshamrockglasgow.wordpress.com/2014/05/20/celtic-book-review-yogi-bare-by-john-hughes/
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The Road to Lisbon – A Novel – Martin Greig and Charles McGarry
Shamrock Rating: 8/10
https://theshamrockglasgow.wordpress.com/2014/05/13/celtic-book-review-the-road-to-lisbon-a-novel/
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Standing On The Shoulders of Giants – Frank Rafters
Shamrock Rating: 7/10
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Sean Fallon: Celtic’s Iron Man – Stephen Sullivan
Shamrock Rating: 9/10
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Celtic: Changing Faces – Paul Lunney Shamrock Rating: 7/10
https://theshamrockglasgow.wordpress.com/2014/02/19/celtic-changing-faces-by-paul-lunney-a-review/
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Passed To You – Charlie Tully (1958) Shamrock Rating: 7/10
https://theshamrockglasgow.wordpress.com/2014/02/17/celtic-book-review-charlie-tully-passed-to-you/
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Life With The Lions – Ian Young Shamrock rating: 7/10
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Forgotten Star – Alex O’Henley Shamrock rating: 8/10
A biography of the Empire Exhibition Cup winner Malky MacDonald. In English and Gaelic.
https://theshamrockglasgow.wordpress.com/2013/12/03/book-review-forgotten-star-alex-ohenley/
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Issues 1 -5 of The Shamrock – Celtic Retro fanzine on sale here: https://the-shamrock.net/magazine/
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