Celtic Football Club is special. It’s a club that demands and gets undying loyalty from its players, supporters, and staff. It’s a special place, arguably unlike any other in the world.
Playing for the Hoops: The George McCluskey Story is a brilliant text devoted to a Celtic hero.
Celtic lives by the mantra of “more than a club” and players like McCluskey helped make it that way, so much that the phrase “more than a player” applies to him in a big way. Playing for the club means something different, something beyond what you are expected to do. It’s about something that is bigger than one person, one club, or one country. Celtic FC has a global identity with fans all over the world, but it is not a brand like Real Madrid or Manchester United. It’s bigger than that.
McCluskey is admired by the masses mainly because of his ability to connect with others that are “Celtic minded.” Those that have this particular mindset are not your typical fans or players. Those that are “Celtic minded” cling to the values of commitment, respect, and integrity. Jock Stein once said that “Celtic shirts don’t shrink to fit inferior players.” Simply put, Stein was saying that Celtic legends stand out in a world of shallow celebrities. Like the club, their players and supporters are special.
McCluskey is the perfect spokesman for the Celtic Way. He is a source of inspiration and friendship in his local community, someone who came from them and remains one of them. He represents everything the club is about: community, family, sporting success, celebration, and friendship. Everyone knows “he’s one of us” and that brings about unparalleled respect and loyalty. McCluskey is a footballer of a golden generation, an era that was absent of millionaire footballers, billionaire owners, and the demand to build a global brand for profit’s sake. It is easy to say that they don’t make them like they used to; they don’t make them like McCluskey anymore.
This book is about his Celtic journey in addition to all the other stops he made, including time at Leeds, Hibs, Hamilton, Kilmarnock, and Clyde.
There’s no question that McCluskey made a magnificent contribution to the club and deserves his own book. It’s something that needs to be done and Aidan Donaldson does a fantastic job in telling his story, a story that will be enjoyed by many.
Anyone that is thinking about this one should go out and buy it, for yourself or as a great Christmas gift. It’s a book that will be treasured by Celtic fans or anyone that loves Scottish football. It’s even great for your everyday sports fan; the story of a fan turned star or a boy that saw his footballing dreams come true in a massive way. You can’t go wrong with this one as you’ll walk away with a better understanding of what Celtic FC is all about.
