In early May Celtic Star Books will publish Celtic historian David Potter’s latest book, Willie Fernie – Putting on the Style. David was along at Celtic Park yesterday afternoon for the first ever Celtic FC Women’s match to be played at Celtic Park in front of a decent sized Celtic support and he certainly seemed to enjoy his day in the Parkhead sunshine. You can read his post match thoughts below.

READ THIS… A nice day out in the Parkhead sunshine – David Potter

And as well as enjoying yesterday’s splendid performance from Fran Alonso’s side, David Potter took some time to answer some quick-fire questions for us on the Celtic legend Wille Fernie and his long-overdue biography Putting on the Style.

This will be The Celtic Star’s fifth book following on from Invincible, Walfrid & The Bould Bhoys, Alec McNair – Celtic’s Icicle and Harry Hood – Twice as Good. The Walfrid book has completely sold out but the others are still available from Celticstarbooks.com and Invincible and Alec McNair books are currently half price.

So to David Potter’s  Q&A on Willie Fernie – Putting on the Style. Watch this short video first though, it’ll put a wee smile on your face…

What is your earliest memory of watching and/or hearing about Willie Fernie? Dens Park, 29 March 1958. Dundee 5 Celtic 3 on a very rainy day on which many referees would have said that the pitch was unplayable. A poor performance by Celtic who, out of the Scottish Cup, had more or less given up for the season but the supporters were still basking in the 7-1 game of last October. Pitch was far too wet -almost flooded in parts – for Fernie to exercise his passing skills.

Can you tell us about your favourite memory or anecdote of Willie Fernie? The way that he provided an “auld heid” for the youngsters when he came back in 1960, and it almost paid off. Charlie Gallagher in particular was very appreciative of Willie Fernie.

What do you recall about the Coronation Cup triumph of 1953 and the League and Cup double the following year? I remember them, but I was just too young to really appreciate what they were all about, but I do remember everyone enthusing about the part that he played in the winning goal scored by Sean Fallon in the 1954 Scottish Cup final.

What are your recollections of Hampden in the Sun? Do you think this was Willie’s finest hour as a player? Just too young to be allowed to go to this game, but obsessed about it and recollect vividly coming home from the matinee at the cinema to be told by my gibbering and incoherent father that they had won 7-1 after having heard vague rumours coming up the road. And yes, I think it has to be Willie Fernie’s finest hour. Supporters and press are unanimous on that point.

Do you remember Willie leaving Celtic for Middlesbrough and if so how you felt about that/how you heard about that? Yes! Almost in tears and wondering why he would want to do that. But my father commented immediately that it was all to pay for the floodlights! Or simply sheer greed from the club.

Do you recall his return to Celtic Park and the mini pitch invasion by youngsters beforehand? Were you one of them? Yes, and I remember being excited about it, but, no I wasn’t there that day.

On a similar vein, do you remember the 1962 Scottish Cup semi-final at Ibrox where Willie scored for St Mirren against his old team? Were you there? Again I wasn’t there, but remember being numb with disappointment after everything had been so rosy and optimistic before the game especially as we beat them on the Monday night before at Love Street, and believing that Fernie was now too old to harm us.

Also recall talking to a supporter who blamed it all on Dunky MacKay’s odd decision to play against the wind. It was not in itself enough to lose the game, but the bickering and the arguments among the defenders was significant, and it struck a chord with me for I had seen that sort of thing several times on the field in other games that season. I hoped and prayed that Willie could turn it on for the Saints in the final against Rangers, but Rangers were far too slick and professional for St Mirren that day.

Where does Willie Fernie stand in your list of favourite Celts? Very high up indeed. As with Bobby Murdoch, I thought he was a better right half than a forward, although he himself preferred to be up front.. But he was so versatile!

Who are the others from his era who you most enjoyed watching? Bobby Collins, Billy McNeill, Pat Crerand, Charlie Gallagher

What was the driver or inspiration for you to write Willie’s biography, Putting on the Style? What support have you enjoyed from Willie’s family? Simply that he was such a great Celtic player and no-one else had written a biography of him. Maximum support from his two sons Alex and David Fernie, and his sister Mary Gillies to whom I am very grateful. Not to mention my co-author John McCue – “The Boro” – who covers Willie’s period at Middlesbrough in Putting on the Style.

When is Wille Fernie – Putting on the Style out and where can supporters order a copy? 

Wille Fernie – Putting on the Style is published on 6 May and advance orders can be placed now via Celticstarbooks.com/shop – I have been asked by The Celtic Star to sign these advanced copies and am happy to include any personal dedication that readers would like added, maybe for a special birthday or Father’s Day in June.  The Celtic superstore and other club outlets will also stock Putting on the Style as will Celtic’s online store.

You can pre-order a signed copy using the link below.  If you would like a personal message added to your book from David Potter please email the text you would like added to editor@thecelticstar.co.uk and I will pass this on to David to sort for you.