Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8512 in Books
• Published on: 2007-09-03
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 352 pages

Synopsis
Paddy Crerand's eagerly-awaited autobiography recounts the previously untold story of one of post-war football's fieriest characters. As a defensive midfielder, famed for his tough tackling, for Scotland, Celtic and Manchester United from 1957 to 1972, he was the Roy Keane of his day and this book holds nothing back on or off the field. As a Catholic born in the then infamous Gorbals area of Glasgow, Crerand was determined to escape from an extraordinarily tough background of family tragedy, religious bigotry and working in the Clyde shipyard, to become a professional footballer. As a Celtic player in the early years of Jock Stein's management, Paddy Crerand was forced to play in the shadow of the then dominant Rangers team. At Manchester United, however, he enjoyed great success in Sir Matt Busby's post-Munich Air Disaster team, winning two league titles, the FA Cup and the European Cup, and playing alongside the likes of George Best, Bobby Charlton, Denis Law and Nobby Stiles.

In his own distinctively punchy style, Crerand reveals the full truth about his controversial friendship with the hard-drinking Protestant Rangers star 'Slim' Jim Baxter and the legendary Liverpool manager Bill Shankly; what it was like to be George Best's minder and Matt Busby's confidant; and his passionate involvement in Irish nationalist politics. Crerand's life story is a genuine triumph over adversity told by someone whose informed opinion on Manchester United and football in general is as respected today as it was forty years ago.

From the Inside Flap
Paddy Crerand was one of post-war football's most fiery characters, a combatant midfielder famed for his tough tackling in the colours of Celtic and Manchester United and Scotland from 1957 to 1972.

As a Celtic player in his teens, Crerand had to play in the shadow of a dominant Rangers team. At Manchester United, however, he enjoyed great success in Sir Matt Busby's post-Munich side, winning two league titles, the FA cup and the European Cup, and playing alongside the likes of George Best, Bobby Charlton, Denis Law and Nobby Stiles.

Crerand was born into an Irish Catholic family amid the squalor and crime-infested streets of Glasgow's 1940s Gorbals. He was determined to escape from this harsh environment - a period of family tragedy, religious bigotry and unforgiving twelve-hour shifts at the Clyde shipyard - to fulfil a dream. It was Celtic who gave him his chance.

In his own punchy style, Crerand reveals the full truth about the formidable Jock Sein, his controversial friendship with the hard-drinking Protestant Rangers star 'Slim' Jim Baxter and the legendary Bill Shankly, what it was like to be Best's minder and Busby's confidant at Old Trafford, and his passionate involvement in Irish nationalist politics.

Never Turn the Other Cheek is an extraordinary story of real football and real characters. It is told from the perspective of someone whose informed opinion on Celtic, Manchester United and football in general is as relevant today as it was forty years ago.

Customer Reviews

Paddy Whacks....quite a few people, actually.
This is a really good read, Paddy Crerand`s life story is full of top quality football matches, trips abroad and punch ups! You can take the boy out of the Gorbals but, well, you know the rest. Paddy also cuts through a lot of the pc bull in some other books by describing in detail the injustice he faced on his visits back to Ireland, his real home. In fact he sums up the political problems faced by Catholics in a way not normally seen in a footballer`s book. The B Specials may be a mystery to the vast majority of readers but any Irish person resding the book will be only too aware of their malign presence. Crerand played for two massive clubs, Celtic and United. He won League championship, FA Cup and European Cup medals. And he put George Best up...for five days. His description of United`s post 1968 disintregation is one of the best parts of the whole tome. Jock Stein`s description of Tommy Docherty certainly caught my eye. Crerand`s relationship with `The Doc`takes up a good chunk of the latter part of his career and is very interesting. Brilliant read.

...and he never will.
For younger readers, brought up on Giggs, Scholes Rooney etc Paddy Crerand will not be a name that is familiar, unless a student of Manchester United history.
His playing career at United spanned from 1963 to 1976, so he was a major part of United`s greatest triumph, the 1968 European Cup wins and rapid decline into the then Second Division in the Seventies. The nearest recent equivalent is Roy Keane.(Pause for the implications to sink in)
Paddy was born of Irish descent in the tough Gorbals area of Glasgow and despite the early loss of his father in an air raid during the war, the religious bigotry and the hardship of the Clyde shipyards, he managed to fight his way into his idolised Celtic team, staying for six years, before the cracks appeared at Parkhead and he was tempted to Old Trafford by Matt Busby, keen to rebuild after the Munich Tragedy of 1958. His time at United during the Sixties is looked upon as a Golden Age as, from midfield, he supplied the ammunition for the Holy Trinity of Charlton,Best and Law as United became the People`s favourite team.
Crerand`s no- nonsense style of play followed him off the field and he tells anecdotes that illustrate that he his more than prepared to support the strength of his convictions with a handily placed fist when needed. Crerand was even manager of Northampton Town for a season 76/77 , but is honest enough to admit that his heart was n`t really in it, and that he felt the transition from player to manager was difficult for him.
For United fans, this is a must-read, and for anyone that is a non-United believer, and a football fan, there is plenty of entertainment to be gleaned from these pages.
Never Turn the Other Cheek, you know Paddy never will.

Glasgow kiss
What a refreshing change to read a real story warts and all.

The title is very apt and he never does.

Fascinating insight to the man and Old Trafford.

One of the better sports books.