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Details
Title: From Seville to Sevilla: The Story of Celtic’s 2003/04 Season
Author: Krys Kujawa (“Psychoheart”)
Published: 28 May 2012
Synopsis
This book charts season 2003/04, as Celtic went on a quest to regain the Scottish Premier League title that had been lost in the cruelest of circumstances.
From the pre-season games in Sweden, England and the United States of America, to a Champions League campaign which would see Celtic come within minutes of reaching the knockout stages before ultimately dropping into the UEFA Cup where they would record arguably one of their greatest European results in a generation.
Through a record breaking league run, a domestic double, and a series of victories over their Glasgow rivals, read how Celtic put themselves back on top – before bidding a final farewell to their talismanic striker from Sweden, Henrik Larsson.
Through every match of the 2003/04 season, as well as the comings and goings between matches, relive the many highs of a terrific period of Celtic’s history through the eyes of the people who were there – players, managers, and supporters alike.
Review
(by joebloggscity)
It’s a big step up from writing short articles on sites like LostBhoys.com to a full book, but let’s be honest it’s a big ambition for most of their writers and that is where Kris Kujawa (“Psychoheart” on the forums) has taken the leap. He has already made a mark for himself online and on podcasts, so now he’s went for the treble in print. So how was the result?
Firstly, the subject is well picked. This book details season 2003/04, which is also the best Martin O’Neil season in this reviewer’s opinion. However, the season has been overshadowed unfairly by both the Seville season (2002/03) and the treble season (2000/01) in the minds of the support. This book will hopefully help to readdress this situation.
Kris’ book for the most part is a straight forward review of the season. He goes through every match and event chronologically (each chapter is a month in review), and summarises every game succinctly highlighting the main flashpoints. Interspersing each report with quotes and anecdotes, the level of detail is exceptionally well done and helped to even remind this reviewer of critical moments long gone. He really crams everything in like a tin of sardines. Recalling other past moments from previous seasons was an additional treat.
However, the style though has made it a very dry read, and verges at times as if reading a digested back catalogue of match reports from a broadsheet. At times I just skimmed over the line-ups and reports. Not necessarily wrong what he has done, but personally I want something else from a book. It can show lack of ambition or confidence but that’s not something that I would have identified with Kris having read a number of his articles on various sites.
One of the great parts of the book is when he retells personal anecdotes from matches (e.g. the fan in the jumper story) but they’re usually too short and too few. I think match report writing could have been curtailed for the personal notes. These bring out better the experiences of the long suffering supporter adding colour to the work. Possibly could have added more opinion on matters, for example after summarising the furore over Sutton’s comments on Dunfermline from season 2002/03, I think Kris could have added some strong criticism or support on the issue. Each to their own I guess. Personal opinion seems to be in greater quantity later in the book. The epilogue is his own view and is one of the most enjoyable parts of the book. I liked reading his own opinion whether I necessarily agreed or not with him.
To give credit to the book, there are aspects added that give the book depth in detail, some of which that sections of the support can take or leave (or will love or hate if you prefer). For example, Kris has short write-ups on events surrounding the national side, which some will find interesting others superfluous (I could have lived without them). Most match reviews include line-ups and so on, which was a bit unnecessary but others again may like it.
One final point, for a season review I think an appendix of statistics for the season could have been included. That would have perfectly rounded off a book detailing the season, and is the only real significant omission from a book that otherwise itemises almost everything else in the season.
I liked this book, it’s a good enjoyable read. I look forward to his next works.
At least buy & read it to remind yourself of what a wonderful season it was.
Product Details
ISBN 9781471723391
Copyright Krys Kujawa (Standard Copyright Licence)
Edition First Edition
Publisher Krys Kujawa
Published 28 May 2012
Language English
Pages 336
Bindin Perfect-bound Paperback
Interior Ink Black & white
Weight 0.57 kg
Links
From The Maldives To Glasgow
Posted on Friday, 1st June 2012 by Krys
(from LostBhoys site)
Eleven months ago, I got married. I can’t remember if I thanked Chris for the mention he gave me and my new wife, Ashley, on the LostBhoys podcast that followed but if I didn’t then thank you. Following that beautiful wedding on what was possibly the only decent weekend we had in Scotland last year, me and the missus were off to The Maldives for our honeymoon, leaving Oz Chris to tell you all about Celtic’s pre-season tour of the country he now calls home. You were all left in very capable of hands as he did a fine job with his greater knowledge of the A-League.
While I was there, my fingers got itchy. I even wrote a blog while I was there, thanks to the wifi that we had in the lovely ocean bungalow. I had also taken a few books to read, including Paul’s book “From Albert With Love”. After I’d finished reading that – and we’re pretty much talking one sitting here as I enjoyed it so much – something inside me fired up.
Sitting in the sun reading books was nothing new to me. When I went to Seville with my dad, we had a week in Benidorm. The first two days of the trip were spent getting to and from the UEFA Cup final, but the other five pretty much consisted of me sitting by the pool reading the Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy. European final, Douglas Adams – it rather amuses me that a day dedicated to his memory called “Towel Day” just happens to be May 25th, a day celebrated by all Celtic supporters.
So sitting in the sun once again, eight years on from that final, my mind began to wander. I started to remember the disappointment that followed it in the league, and how we bounced back from that. Lets face it, I’ve said often enough in my blogs and elsewhere that season 2003/04 was by far and away the best season I’ve experience as a Celtic fan. Season 2011/12 reminded me of some of it at times, but as much as I’ve enjoyed the season just gone by it still doesn’t quite match up to it.
So, I’m sitting in the sun, I’m thinking about season 2003/04, I’ve just read Paul’s book about season 1985/86, and then Harper pops into my head. I’ve known Harper for a few years now, and during that time he’s talked about writing books himself. He’s never quite managed it, and to be honest he does so much behind the scenes at LostBhoys, HomeBhoys, Hail Hail Media and all the rest that I’m surprised he has time for all of that let alone anything else, but I have faith he’ll push a book or two out to us all some day. When I first spoke to him about book writing, he told me something that has stuck with me since. I had told him that I’d love to write a Celtic book but I didn’t know how I could do something that hadn’t already been done. He told me that there are plenty of books that could be written, he had a few ideas himself and there were plenty more out there if I thought about it. Even then he told me he didn’t have time to write all the books he could think of!
So back in the Maldives it suddenly dawned on me that, of all the Celtic books out there, there wasn’t one on season 2003/04. Then another thing popped into my head – the other piece of great information I hear from writers all the time. Write what you know. So, right there and then, I had the idea to write my own book. Sitting on that small island in the Indian Ocean, I wrote what has become the introduction to my new book.
From Seville To Sevilla: The Story of Celtic’s 2003/04 Season.
Eleven months on, I have the proof copy in my hand. It took me the course of season 2011/12 to write about season 2003/04. It’s the culmination of a lot of research, and a lot of late nights sitting at work after everyone had gone home so I could get peace to do it! It’s the story of my favourite season, and I can finally share it with everyone else.
But perhaps most importantly, it’s allowing me to do something for charity. I have a real life job that I’m really happy doing and it’s one that pays me enough to do a lot of the things I want to do. I’m incredibly fortunate in that, so there’s absolutely no reason for me to take any money from what is pretty much my writing hobby. As such, every single penny that’s made on the sale of this book is going to Cancer Research UK.
The reason for that should be obvious. Of those who were at Celtic in 2003/04, we’ve lost the head of youth development, Tommy Burns, to skin cancer. John Hartson, a man who scored in the first of five wins against Rangers that season, came far too close due to testicular cancer. In the time it took me to write the book itself, Stiliyan Petrov was diagnosed with acute Leukaemia – another form of cancer. It’s a horrible disease in all of it’s horrible forms and it affects far too many. If the money I can raise from the sale of this book helps even one single life avoid the evil that is cancer, then it’s been more than worthwhile.
But I’m not going to guilt anyone into buying the book. If you want to donate straight to Cancer Research UK, then please do so. But, if you want to get a book for your trouble as well, not only will the charity benefit but you’ll get something read that should put a smile on your face and will definitely put a smile on mine. Everyone wins!
The book is out TODAY – Friday, June 1st – from lulu.com. It’s only paperback for the time being, but I hope to have an eBook version soon. And since it’s on lulu.com, there’s a few other books by Paul – who graciously agreed to do the foreword for my book – and of course three years worth of Playing for the LostBhoys on there as well that are well worth a look if you don’t have them already!
Krys (twitter @Krys1888 and for podcast and website updates @TheLostBhoys & @HomeBhoys)