Me too. I've just read The Bromley Boys, by Dave Roberts. It brought back all the passion, misery and desperation only a true obsessive can understand.

As a Celtic fan, I've had my share of dark moments, but this saga of a useless team having their worst-ever season in a lowly league puts it all in perspective.

I'm amazed that I could even relate to a tale set in a London suburb 40 years ago following a bunch of hapless amateurs. But it's bloody great - beautifully written, poignant and hilarious.

I haven't posted here in a couple of years, but I had to share this with you. Do yourself a favour - read this book.

(And no, I am not the author or the publisher)

Regards,
Davie

Davie

So is Florida pretty similar to the east end of Glasgow then?

I'll look out for the book.

Cheers

Jim

Jim:

Yeah, hard to tell the difference really. Apart from this big, irritating, round yellow thing in the sky all the time.

Davie

Davie

Strange that....I am hard pressed to find any difference between Aberdeen and Chicago....

Cheers

Jim

Thats easy, Chicago has guns and organised crime, crime in Aberdeen is far more spontaneous and the weapon of choice seems to be a broken bottle!!!

Sorry Jim, couldn't resist!

Back to the book... The main character went to every Bromley game in 1969, and always took his boots. Here's an excerpt:

"Why did I take the boots? Even though I was only 14 and not a terribly good footballer, I had a fantasy that a couple of Bromley players would get involved in a non-fatal car crash on their way to the match and, for some bizarre reason, a call would go out on the PA asking if anyone could take their place."

Priceless! That was me at Celtic Park too. I was so obsessive, I sent Christmas cards every year with SASEs, and was crushed when I never got a card back from them.

Davie

quote:

a call would go out on the PA asking if anyone could take their place."

That brings back memories as used to wait for the call over the PA system at Pittodrie. I did eventually get a call from them but it wasn't over the PA system.

Priceless indeed.

Those were the days of unfettered optimism!

Cheers

Jim

Jim: You got a call from Pittodrie? You're going to have to explain that before my jealousy runs away with itself.

Davie

Davie

I played a couple of times for the reserve team, against Hearts and Airdrie. I got three Scottish caps at U18 level before losing 18 months with a knee injury before being relegated the to the "minor leagues" at Highland league level.

I did play against your beloved hoops in a pre-season friendly when I played for Nairn - I think it ended up 1-1. Long time ago and now I sound like Springsteen singing Glory Days! :-)

Cheers

Jim

Jim:

You make it sound like nothing, but I'm impressed. On my office team, I was the guy they always made go in goal.

Davie

Davie

I was a keeper... The only one who really "made it" out of our U18 team was Davie Cooper. We drew 2 - 2 with England at the Goldstone Ground in Brighton and he was outstanding even back then. Unfortunately a 75th minute penalty and late half-scrambled goal denied us the victory. I can remember so much from that game, including being sick beforehand - and it wasn't yesterday!

Cheers

Jim

Jim:

What a shame about Davie Cooper. After his death, I felt so guilty for all the terrible things I said about him - you know what I mean, all the usual Old Firm nonsense.

Davie