If You Know The History

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Celtic Books through the Years…

Books

The history of Celtic is an incredible story and it is therefore perhaps not surprising that so many books have been produced about the triumphs and tragedies of the Bhoys.

From 500 page tomes covering the entire history of the club to books focusing on a single season, Celtic historians have never been short of inspiration.

This section features all those books which in some way attempt to chronicle the history of Celtic.

Biographies on players & managers (plus biography compilations) can be found at the following link.

General History

Book Title
Author(s)/Editor(s)
Year
Note
A Lion Looks Back Jim Craig 2008 Superb book on the history of the club upto and including 1967.
Bhoys, Bears and Bigotry Bill Murray 1998 Old Firm History & analysis
Blue & Green: Rangers v Celtic Archie Macpherson 1989
Caesar & the Assasin
Billy McNeill & Davie Hay with Alex Gordon 2014
Managing Celtic after Jock Stein
Celtic Sir Robert Kelly 1971 Ex-Director’s history of the club.
Celtic 125 Years of Celtic
David Potter & Marie Rowan
2012
125th anniversary history update of a previous book.
Celtic – A Century With Honour Brian Wilson 1988
Celtic A Passback Through History
Michael O’Neill
2014
Premium quality & price history of Celtic
Celtic & Ireland In Song And Story Raymond Daly and Derek Warfield 2008
Celtic 1888-1995 – The Official Illustrated History Graham McColl 1995
Celtic Anthology
Various
2013
Anthology of stories and poems
Celtic: The Awakening
Alex Gordon
2013
Celtic in the 60s
Celtic Benefits: Club, Fans and Charity: Testimonial football matches
Chris Cameron & Marie Rowan
2014
Celtic’s very early days, charity & testimonial matches
Celtic: Changing Faces
Paul Lunney
2013
A Celtic history
Celtic FC: The Ireland Connection Brian McGuirk 2009
Celtic Forever: You’ll Never Walk Alone
Max Troiani Luca Manes 2009
Celtic History in Italian.
Celtic’s Goalkeepers
Marie Rowan & David Potter
2016
Goakeeper analysis
The Celtic Jersey
Paul John Dykes
2022
History of the Celtic Jersey
Celtic in the 1930s: Volume 1 Matt Corr 2024 Volume 1 of 2 of the 1930s era
Celtic in the 1930s: Volume 2 Matt Corr 2024 Volume 2 of 2 of the 1930s era
Celtic in the 1980s: The Lost Decade Sean Middleston 2012
Celtic Paranoia: The Laptop Loyal Diaries Anthony Hamilton 2009 Analysis of the Press…
Celtic Paranoia The Laptop Loyal Diaries 2 Anthony Hamilton 2011 Analysis of the Press…
Celtic Paranoia….all in the mind? Tom Campbell 2001 Analysis of the Celtic support and their perceived paranoia.
Celtic Pride and Passion
Jim Craig and Pat Woods
2013
Celtic The InVIncibles 2016-17 Season David Potter 2017 The Story of a Remarkable Season
Celtic United: Glasgow and Manchester – Two Football Clubs, One Passion Frank Worrall 2007
Celtic & Man U relationship and history…
Celtic: A Biography in Nine Lives Kevin McCarra 2012 Celtic as viewed around the lives of nine different men in Celtic’s history.
Celtic: A Newspaper History Official Front page newspaper history of the club.
Dreams and Songs to Sing Tom Campbell and Pat Woods 1996 The absolute classic, covering from inception to the late 1990’s
Glasgow Celtic – 1945-1970 Tom Campbell 1970
Inside the Divide: One City, Two Teams … The Old Firm Richard Wilson 2012
Played In Glasgow Ged O’Brien 2010
Take me to your Paradise
Liam Kelly
The Celtic, Glasgow Irish and the Great War: The Gathering Storms Ian McCallum
2013
Celtic & World War One (part 1)
The Celtic, Glasgow Irish and the Great War: The Storms Break Ian McCallum
2014
Celtic & World War One (part 2)
The Celtic, Glasgow Irish and the Great War: The End of Innocence
Ian McCallum
2016
Celtic & World War One (part 3)
The Celtic, Glasgow Irish and the Great War: The Blood Sacrifice
Ian McCallum
2019
Celtic & World War One (part 4)
The Celtic, Glasgow Irish and the Great War: An Ocean of Blood Ian McCallum
2022
Celtic & World War One (part 5)
Ten Days That Shook Celtic Tom Campbell 2005
The Dear Old Paradise: The Changing Face of Celtic Park David Potter 2010 History of Celtic Park.
The Early Years
Brendan Sweeney
2015
The history of Celtic at inception of the club
The Essential History of Celtic Graham McColl and George Sheridan 2002
The Glory And The Dream Tom Campbell and Pat Woods
1986 The absolute classic, covering from inception to the late 1990’s (updated version)
The Glory of the Green John Traynor and Douglas Russell 1991
The Official Biography of Celtic Graham McColl 2008
The Official History of Celtic Football Club Brian Wilson
2013
The Old Firm Bill Murray 1994 Old Firm History & analysis
The Pocket Book Of Celtic Douglas Beattie 2010
The Story of Celtic – 1888-1939 Willie Maley 1939
The Story of Celtic – An Official History 1888-1978 Gerald McNee 1978
The Will To Win Patrick Canning (Author), Tommy Canning (Author), Allan Canning (Author) 2008
The Winds of Change: Managing Celtic FC, 1991-2004 Alex Gordon
2015
Celtic’s managers from Liam Brady upto Martin O’Neill.
Uniquely Celtic – The Soul and The Spirit (Celtic Football Club) Frank Rafters
2015
A look at some of the lesser known greats.
Walk On: Celtic Since McCann David Potter 2003

Tournament Histories

Book Title Author(s)/Editor(s) Year Note
Celtic In The League Cup David Potter 2002
Celtic In Europe Graham McColl 2004
Celtic FC: European Competition 1962-2008 ? 2009

Trivia, Facts and Stats

Book Title Author(s)/Editor(s) Year Note
A Celtic A to Z Tom Campbell and Pat Woods 1992
Celtic 125 Years of Celtic David Potter & Marie Rowan 2012
125th anniversary history update of a previous book.
Celtic: A Complete Record 1888-1992 Paul Lunney 1992
Celtic: Rough Guide 11s Steve Morgan 2005
Celtic: The Encyclopaedia Tom Cambpell & George Sheridan 2008 A great accessible A-Z on the history of Celtic with great pictures, facts & anecdotes.
Now You Know About Celtic Bob Crampsey 1994
The Celtic Football Companion David Docherty 1986
The Celtic Football Miscellany John White 2006
The Celtic Quiz Book Pat Woods 1987

Memorable Games, Eras, Seasons and Triumphs, or Events

Book Title Author(s)/Editor(s) Year Note
10 “The Andy Thom Experience” 1998?
Anyone But Celtic Paul Larkin
2015
Paul Larkin’s analysis of the Scottish Referees
Armageddon Paul Larkin 2018 Third part of his trilogy.
The Battle of Motevideo: Celtic Under Seige
Dr Brian Belton 2008
World Club Championships from 1967/68
By Any Means Necessary – A Journey with Celtic Bampots
Paul Larkin
2012
The rise of the Celtic online revolution…
‘The Bould Bhoys! Glory to their name’ Matthew Marr
2023
Story of Celtic’s first league title
Celtic: The History Bhoys Alex Gordon
2017
2016/17 treble winning legendary side, undefeated
Celtic The InVIncibles 2016-17 Season David Potter 2017 The story of a remarkable season
Celtic: The Supersonic 70s Gerard McDade 2009 Celtic and the social culture of the 1970s!
Celtic’s Greatest Games
David Potter 2010
The Celtic Rising. 1965: The Year Jock Stein Changed Everything David Potter
2022
Overview of season 1964/65
Celtic War Heroes: The Bhoys Who Went to War Paul Lunney
2013
Celtic during the war years
Dougie Dougie
Paul Larkin
2011
Covers referee cover-up by Hugh Dallas
From Albert with Love
Paul Larkin
2011
Short book covering Celtic title win in 1985/86 at Love St.
From Seville to Sevilla: The Story of Celtic’s 2003/04 Season Krys Kujawa 2012 2003/04 retrospective
Hail! Hail! Classic Celtic Old Firm Clashes Martin Hannan 2010
Happy Birthday Dear Celtic Douglas Beattie 2009 1997/98 Centenary season.
Heartbreakers: Celtic, Albert Kidd and 1986 Stephen McGowan 2016 1985/1986 League championship
Invincible: Brendan Rodgers’ Historic First Season at Celtic David Friel
2017
2016/17 treble winning legendary side, undefeated
Keep The Faith: The Story Of Celtic’s Treble Winning Season 2000-2001 Ron MacKenna and Carlos Alba 2001 2000/01 retrospective.
Majic, Stan and The King of Japan Matt Corr 2023 2005/06 retrospective, Strachan’s first season.
Niet te Kraken
Herman Starink
2015
50th Anniversary Celebration of Celtic v Go Ahead matches (1965)
Oh, Hampden In The Sun Peter Burns and Pat Woods 1997
Poles ‘N’ Goals and Hesselink Paul Larkin 2012
Celtic from 1998-2008
Pride of the Lions
David Niven
2017
Focus on the family and other people in the Lisbon Lions world
Never Stop: How Ange Postecoglou Brought the Fire Back to Celtic
Hamish Carton
2023
 
The Road to Seville
Paul Cuddihy and Joe Sullivan 2003
Celtic’s road to the UEFA Cup final in 2002/03
Season in the Sun: Celtic’s Wonder Year of 1966-67 Jim Traynor, Tony Griffin 1992 1966/67 retrospective.
Seville: The Celtic Movement
Jim McGinley & David Faulds
2014
Memories of Seville
Tears In Argentina Tom Cambell 2006 World Club Championships from 1967/68
Ten Men Who Won The League
Stephen Murray
2014
1978-79 Season, with the glorious decider v Rangers
The Road to Lisbon Martin Greig and Charles McGarry 2012 ‘Faction’ literature surrounding Jock Stein and ‘Tim’.
The Spirit of 86
Andrew Reilly
2012
1985-86 season
This Is How It Feels To Be Celtic: Dreams and Songs With The Invincibles The Sharmock
2017
The Wonderful 2016-17 Treble winning, ‘Invincibles’ season
Voor Altijd De Eerste
Ellen Mannens en Robert van Brandwijk
2020
Dutch view of the 1970 European Cup final v Celtic
We Walked Away with It
Andrew Reilly 2012 2011/12 Season review.
Wim’s Tims-The Best Thing to Hit Scottish Football in 10 Years Paul Larkin
2012
1997/1998 Season Review

European Cup Lisbon 1967

Book Title Author(s)/Editor(s) Year Note
A Season in the Sun
John Traynor (Author), Tony Griffin 1992 1966/67 retrospective.
A Year and a Day: How the Lisbon Lions Conquered Europe Graham McColl 2017
Season in the Sun: Celtic’s Wonder Year of 1966-67
Jim Traynor, Tony Griffin 1992 1966/67 retrospective.
I Leoni Di Lisbona
Giorgio Acerbis Ciriachi 2012
Book on the Lisbon Lions in Italian!
Ian Young: Life with the Lions Ian Young
2013
The wonderful Ian Young on his time with Celtic
I Remember 1967 Well
David Potter
2016
Recollections by the great David Potter
That Season in Paradise
Alex Gordon
2016
1966/67 retrospective
The Road to Lisbon Martin Greig and Charles McGarry 2012 Faction’ literature surrounding Jock Stein and ‘Tim’.
We’ll Always Have Lisbon: Celtic’s Glory Year 1967 David Frier, Pat Woods 2017

Faction

Book Title Author(s)/Editor(s) Year Note
The Last Pearl Diver
Paul Larkin
2012
Edinburgh & Celtic in the ‘Sack the Board’ years
Paradise Road Stephen O’Donnell
2012
Growing pains of a Celtic fan
The Road to Lisbon Martin Greig and Charles McGarry 2012 Faction’ literature surrounding Jock Stein and ‘Tim’.
Scotball Stephen O’Donnell

A History In Photographs

Book Title Author(s)/Editor(s) Year Note
Celtic Football Legends (1888-1939) Stuart Marshall 1998
Celtic Football Club 1887-1967 Tom Campbell and Pat Woods 1998
When Football Was Football….Celtic Graham McColl 2010

We Are Celtic Supporters

Book Title Author(s)/Editor(s) Year Note
The Asterisk Years
Paul Larkin
2013
The Edinburgh Establishment v Celtic
Bernie Bhoy & The Thai Tims
Paul Lennon
2013
The background to the wonderful Thai Tims
By Any Means Necessary – A Journey with Celtic Bampots Paul Larkin
2012
The rise of the Celtic online revolution
Celtic Minded Dr Joseph M Bradley (Editor) 2004 Academic quality collection of Celtic articles.
Celtic Minded 2 Dr Joseph M Bradley (Editor) 2006 Academic quality collection of Celtic articles.
Celtic Minded 3 Dr Joseph M Bradley (Editor) 2009 Academic quality collection of Celtic articles.
Celtic Submari Sandy Jamieson 2011 Villarreal CSC
And You’ll Never Walk Alone Gerald McNee 1972
Jungle Tales John Quinn 1994 History and tales from Celtic Park’s old legendary ‘Jungle’ terracing.
Not Playing For Celtic David Bennie 1995
Emotionally Celtic Matt McGlone 1995 Celts for Change” role in the “Sack the Board” days
Faithful Through and Through Richard Purden 2013
Celtic fans analysis, and celebrity talking heads
Football without fans (The History of Celtic Supporters Clubs)
Various /Researched & Compiled by David McIntyre
2023
The History of Celtic Supporters Clubs
The Gift of Celtic
Various
2013
Celtic Charity articles
Celtic and Me: Confessions from the Jungle Dominik Diamond 2010 Media personality’s biog of his love & support for Celtic.
The First Game with My Father
Michael Tierney
2014
One man reminisces about days gone by
Keeping the Faith
Richard Purden
2015
Update in Richard Purden’s interesting series
Our Stories and Our Songs: The Celtic Support Liam Kelly
2015
Playing For The LostBhoys LostBhoys 2010 Articles through season 2009/10
Playing For The LostBhoys 2
LostBhoys 2011 Articles through season 2010/11
Playing For The LostBhoys 3 LostBhoys 2012 Articles through season 2011/12
The Kingdom of Govania Cartuja et al
2016
Satire at the expense of our Glasgow neighbours
The Sevenpenny Gate: A Lifelong Love Affair with Celtic FC John Cairney 2011 Actor’s biog on his love growing up and living for Celtic.
Standing on the Shoulders of Giants
Frank Rafters
2013
Supporters stories and a mix of the club’s history
Unrepentant Internet Bampots Vol 1 Cartuja et al
2013
Graphic & photoshop satire on Celtic, the media and many others…
Unrepentant Internet Bampots Vol 2
Cartuja et al
2014
Graphic & photoshop satire on Celtic, the media and many others…
We Are Celtic Supporters
Richard Purden
2011
Examines what created the culture, ideas and beliefs of the club
Welcome to Paradise
PJ Marrinan
2023
A collection of stories & legends of the famous Glasgow Celtic Football Club & their incredible fans

The ‘Rebels’ and the McCann Era (Celtic Takeover)

Book Title Author(s)/Editor(s) Year Note
Emotionally Celtic Matt McGlone 1995 “Celts for Change” role in the “Sack the Board” days
Rebels In Paradise
David Low & Francis Shennan 1994 Later republished as “The McCann Years: The Inside Story of Celtic’s Revolution”
The McCann Years: The Inside Story of Celtic’s Revolution Alan Caldwell 1999 Sequel to “Sack the Board”
Sack The Board Allan Caldwell 1994 Journo’s hackneyed look at the Celtic Takeover.
Paradise Lost: The Struggle For Celtic’s Soul Michael Kelly 1994 Ex-Celtic board member’s retrospect on ‘Sack the Board’.
Celtic Minded: 510 Days In Paradise Jock Brown 1999 Much criticised former Celtic co-manager’s retrospect on his time.