Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #89554 in Books
• Published on: 2005-10-27
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

Synopsis
From running with the infamous Calton Tongs to running Calton Athletic, David Bryce's life story is a remarkable account of crime, violence, alcoholism and drug addiction in Glasgow's gangland. A respected 'hard man', Bryce worked his way through most of HM's prisons in Scotland before an epiphany in 1977 made him realise that he was a hopeless alcoholic who needed help. A five-year battle followed, during which he sank into the abyss of heroin addiction before finally getting clean. In 1985, in an effort to help others who were struggling against substance abuse, Bryce set up Calton Athletic, a football team and social group made up solely of recovering drug addicts. Reformed gangster Jimmy Boyle was one of the first to have faith in Bryce and Calton Athletic, but the club eventually won widespread respect. Gordon Brown, then a young MP, was so impressed that he wrote an article for "The Observer" which led to a TV film starring Lenny Henry and Robbie Coltrane.

In the '90s, Ewan McGregor, Irvine Welsh and the Trainspotting crew sought Bryce's advice and friendship during the making of the internationally acclaimed cult film, while Robbie Williams begged to switch nationality and play for Calton Atheltic in an 'England v. Scotland' celebrity charity match. Bryce's uncompromising belief that the only way to come off drugs is to go cold turkey and stay completely clean saw him clash with government agencies over the 'harm-reduction' policy of recent years. The club's statutory funding was withdrawn in 1998, but today Calton Athletic are still providing an invaluable lifeline while the 'official' drugs policy has become increasingly discredited. "Alive and Kicking" is an inspirational tale of survival and success against the odds.

About the Author
David Bryce was born in the East End of Glasgow in 1949 and continues to live there. He is still the director of Calton Athletic Recovery Group.

Simon Pia is a renowned and respected journalist who has written for most of the major Scottish and London papers over the last two decades on current affairs, sport and the arts. He currently presents Talk Radio’s Drive Time show.

Customer Reviews

Food for thought. Should be on every teenager's book list.
This is an interesting read as it covers the life of a self confessed junkie without the slightest attempt to glamourise or excuse.

The style is a little basic but, hey, this is an autobiography by someone who has spent too much time on "the wild side of life" & literary style was not high on the agenda.

Salutory lessons abound within this book & none more so than the fact that the sooner society faces up to the real problem of addiction in whatever form the better but yet there is hope as well.

Inspiring if only from the aspect of what have we done with our lives from a more privileged position?

top notch read
a good read gives you an insight how junkies / alkies can rise out the gutter and better there selves the author seemes quite genuine. Another good reason why never to try hard drugs or soft drugs for that matter.