How was Jock Stein able to transform the team he inherited in the mid-1960s into the European Champions?
Tom Campbell: “First of all, force of personality combined with a real knowledge of the game – and a ferocious work-ethic. It helped that Celtic were desperate for genuine leadership, and that he had coached several of the players there years before.”
Where were you the day that Celtic won the European Cup?
Tom Campbell: “Doing my best to concentrate on teaching English to a class obviously wondering why I was so distracted. The phone in the class rang, and the vice-principal intoned, “Inter Milan won…” I hung up on him utterly dejected, and the phone rang seconds later. “I hadn’t finished, and Celtic two.” He told me later he was worried I would jump out of the third-storey window, if he hadn’t phoned back.”
What do you miss most about the football of your youth?
Tom Campbell: “I don’t miss that much. After all, I have those memories: standing on the terracings, getting soaking wet (and not caring), walking miles to the city centre, rejoicing in famous victories. I sense that supporters were more attentive then. There was no football on television; so, you had to pay attention or you would miss things. Nowadays, you can relax more, knowing there’ll be endless re-runs on television.”
What prompted you to write your first Celtic book? How did you approach the research, writing, and publishing process from Canada?
Tom Campbell: “A longish story, but here goes… I hurt my knee skiing and was off school for three days; my Canadian wife was a librarian and knew I was interested in ‘soccer’; so, she borrowed a couple of books from the library for me. I devoured them, and she asked if I had enjoyed them. I said something like: ‘Very much, but there were lots of mistakes. This game was at Hampden, not Ibrox… that was a free-kick and not a penalty etc.’ She was a bit miffed, and said something like: ‘Well, if you know so much about it, why don’t you write a book yourself?’
“The book was Glasgow Celtic (1945-1970). I used to have an excellent memory, and had seen a lot of those games and remembered them. I found out that the National Library in Ottawa (where I lived) had micro-film collections of The Glasgow Herald and The Scotsman and they were most helpful. They provided a little room, with a machine, and put aside the rolls of film I asked for; I used to go along every night about 8 o’clock and work there until midnight. It would take about three such nights to take notes on each season. The writing took place usually at the week-end and I found that much easier. When I finished it, I didn’t quite know what to do with it.
“Eventually, I plucked up enough courage to write to Cyril Horne of The Glasgow Herald and he volunteered to read it, and give me his thoughts. He also told me that Celtic would be on tour in Canada, and that I should drop in and see Jock Stein. Cyril offered to tell Jock that I’d go along to meet him, and that the Celtic boss would be very happy to deliver the manuscript back to Scotland in person.
“It all worked out; Jock Stein saw me, spoke for about an hour, explained various formations very patiently to me, and (as Cyril Horne had said) was pleased to deliver the manuscript: ‘No bother at all, son’. I was very impressed with the Big Man, especially as he must have still been reeling after losing to Feyenoord in Milan about a week before!
“I met up with Cyril Horne in Glasgow in July during the school holidays, and found him a delightful character; he was the Chief Football Writer for The Glasgow Herald, an Elder in the Church of Scotland – and the only journalist in Scotland who regularly took Rangers to task for their sectarian policies and over-physical approach. He put me at ease right away when we met up at Vesuvio’s Restaurant: ‘Before you ask, let me tell you that I read the manuscript thoroughly and I have to say this is the best book I’ve ever read about Scottish football. Living in Canada, how did you do it?’ I have to admit I was surprised; my wife, I think, was astonished.”
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