Published by Pitch Publishing October 2017

Scotland – Glory, Tears & Souvenirs

Scotland – Glory, Tears & Souvenirs is an offbeat collection of memories, mementos, rants and aspirations relating to Scotland’s national football team. A ‘look back in hunger’ on the post-war era, with emphasis on the 1970s to date. A reminder of the way football was, the way it is now and the way we’d like it to be! There’s Switzerland 54, Denis Law, trading cards, match programmes, Archie Gemmill, Argentina 78, beermats, Kenny Dalglish, vinyl records, Spain 82, Ally McCoist, the Tartan Army, Italia 90, the Kirin Cup, Jimmy Hill, France 98, Panini stickers and James McFadden. Nostalgia and a warped sense of humour are what gets Scotland supporters through in a nightmare world where all our near-neighbours now get to ‘go to the ball’ – France 2016, at least – while we await the arrival of a Fairy Godmother and a defence that doesn’t leak goals. There’s no room for wallowing in self-pity, though. Read this therapeutic comfort blanket of a book, cheer at the good bits and laugh at the bad. We shall overcome…

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Published by Pitch Publishing October 2019

Scotland: Club, Country & Collectables

Scotland: Club, Country, Collectables continues the authors’ offbeat look at the issues and idiosyncrasies associated with Scottish international football. It’s a celebration of the good, the bad and the mementoes treasured by fans irrespective of results. There’s a flavour of the contributions made by our clubs – the players who became legends, those who tried hard, and others who merely tried our patience. A sideways look at Scottish football culture includes opposition teams and past tournaments, statistical overviews and memories full of typical Scottish weltschmerz and schadenfreude. The Road to Euro 2020 is covered, with clues offered as to whether Scotland can qualify for our first ‘finals’ in over 20 years – or will we achieve the rare distinction of being a host that fails to make it to our own party? While some Scotland supporters may only have tears for souvenirs, Club, Country, Collectables has everything from match programmes and trading cards to badges and beer labels, postcards, postage stamps and replica jerseys.

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Published by Pitch Publishing November 2021

Scottish Football: Souvenirs from the Golden Years – 1946 to 1986

Scottish Football: Souvenirs from the Golden Years – 1946 to 1986 takes a nostalgic look at Scottish football and mementoes from four decades when the game was at its (almost) egalitarian and entertaining best. It was a period with a wide spread of trophy winners: eight different league champions, 14 clubs sharing the two main domestic cup competitions, plus trophy successes in Europe for Celtic, Rangers and Aberdeen, and semi-final near-misses for Dundee, Dundee United, Dunfermline Athletic, Hibs and Kilmarnock. This fascinating book also spotlights the British Championship, the Summer, Drybrough and Texaco Cups plus a host of cult heroes, lost stadia – and Quiz Ball! Alongside this colourful history are collectable treasures. It was a time when programmes were succinct sought-after souvenirs and not bloated corporate catalogues, when trading cards were useful and informative. Annuals, magazines and club handbooks also added to our wisdom. We’ll never see an era like ’46 to ’86 again, so here’s your chance to savour it once more.

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Written by our own Robert Marshall. Published by Newlands Photographic Sevices, 23 High st. Hinderwell, Teeside.

Available on ebay for only £6 including postage. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/382882307743

Twenty Years in the Wilderness

‘Twenty Years in the Wilderness’ is an offbeat look at Scotland’s international footballing famine [1998 – 2018] as depicted in around 120 colour photographs and associated humorous narrative. The book is divided into two distinct themes – matches/stadia [from Aberdeen to Zagreb] and poster art/streetscenes. This limited print-run publication does not seek to glorify failure but instead attempts to document two decades of our sporting/social history into a quirky item of football memorabilia.