Book description
As the first British player to score a goal in European club
competition in 1955, Hibs hero Eddie Turnbull holds a unique place in
footballing history. In Eddie Turnbull: Having a Ball, he
charts his extraordinary career and tells the story of his eventful
life so far.
Turnbull explains how he became one-fifth of the most celebrated
forward line ever to grace Scottish football - the Famous Five of
Hibernian FC - and reveals how he had to wait until he was eighty-two
to be awarded his first international 'cap', despite having played for
Scotland nine times throughout the forties and fifties.
After his playing career ended, Turnbull achieved lasting fame as
manager of Aberdeen and his beloved Hibs. 'Turnbull's Tornadoes' beat
Jock Stein's Celtic side to lift the Scottish League in season 1972-73
and won the Drybrough Cup twice, in 1972 and 1973. During his decade
with Hibs, Turnbull also managed George Best, and here he tells all
about his turbulent time with the late great legend.
In this engrossing memoir, Turnbull candidly explains why he walked
away from football in 1980, recounts many entertaining
behind-the-scenes stories and gives his diagnoses of the ills of the
modern game.
Eddie Turnbull was one of Hibernian Football Club's legendary
Famous Five. He won three league titles with the club in 1947-48,
1950-51 and 1951-52, and captained the team after they became the
first British side to play in the European Cup in 1955. He lives in
Edinburgh with his wife.
Martin Hannan is an award-winning journalist and writes for
Scotland on Sunday on racing, boxing, rugby, football and a
host of other sports. He is also the author of Rock of Gibraltar:
Ultimate Racehorse and Fabulous Prize in a Race of Giants. He
lives in Edinburgh with his wife and two children.
