John Fallon is a great character in the story of Celtic Football Club, having been there for some of the biggest moments in the club’s history. There were moments of great joy as the Hoops racked up the hardware and wins, but there were moments of frustration and disappointment in Fallon’s roller coaster career. It’s fair to say that being a Celtic supporter was much of the same experience, enjoying the highs and suffering through the lows. There were a lot of both from 1959-1971.
Fallon tells his side of the story in a new autobiography from Black & White Publishing, a title called Keeping in Paradise.
It’s certainly rewarding to see a great soccer supporter become a great soccer player and that is exactly what happened to Fallon as he worked up to the peak of Scottish football. Fallon’s journey wasn’t easy thanks to a rocky relationship with Celtic manager Jock Stein, the intensity of the Old Firm rivalry (and everything went with it), and constant abuse from supporters. Simply put, being the goalkeeper puts you in the spotlight, but being between the posts for Celtic takes that to a whole another level. To say it is demanding is a crazy understatement.
This title is a must for fans of Celtic, Rangers, or Scottish football in general. It is well-written and enjoyable throughout, giving the reader a “behind the scenes” account of a golden era of football in Scotland. You certainly get a feel for the pressure and honor involved with playing for Celtic.
You really get to know Fallon, an incredible man and a very special goalkeeper. He is someone who always took the high road, a player that was successful even against the world’s very best. No wonder they call him a legend. And he just happens to be an extraordinary storyteller as well.
