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Adventures in the Golden Age: Scotland in the World Cup Finals 1974-1998
The enthralling inside story of Scottish football's golden ageThe 2018 World Cup Finals in Russia mark 20 years since Scotland last qualified for a major football tournament. It's a poignant, painful reminder of the state of our footballing nation. Qualification has never been easy, of course, but the golden age of many memorable and nail-biting nights is well worth remembering – in the hope that one day they may come again.Archie Macpherson commentated on all 18 of Scotland's World Cup matches during that purple patch from 1974 to 1998, and now in his Adventures in the Golden Age, he tells the story of the matches and the men that raised and dashed hopes in almost equal measure at the greatest tournament on earth.Between the 1974 clash with Zaire and the defeat against Morocco in 1998, there were adventures against Iran, Peru, Costa Rica, Brazil and many others. And, throughout it all, Archie was the voice of Scottish football. He knew the players, the managers and the fans. He witnessed clashes of personality, managerial rages, nocturnal antics, BBC wranglings, the shadiness of FIFA – and that last painful evening in France.Archie Macpherson's World Cup adventures are brilliantly entertaining, capturing a golden age in Scottish football that may never be seen again.
- GenresHistory
400 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 26, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 25, 2021
This brought back some memories - 1974 was too early for me but 1978 I will never forget, especially that Archie Gemmill goal against Holland. The overall impression is of underachievement in those two World Cup finals ( the level of talent in the team then compared to now is remarkable) and overachievement bordering on wishful thinking that we could get any further after that.
Archie Macpherson does have some interesting insider knowledge but overall he is too long winded a writer for me and I should really have been absolutely hooked on a book about a subject so close to my heart. It does at least make me think more positively about Scotland’s recent performance in the Euros. That may have followed the usual pattern but at least by qualifying we have stopped the rot and put things back in the right direction.
Archie Macpherson does have some interesting insider knowledge but overall he is too long winded a writer for me and I should really have been absolutely hooked on a book about a subject so close to my heart. It does at least make me think more positively about Scotland’s recent performance in the Euros. That may have followed the usual pattern but at least by qualifying we have stopped the rot and put things back in the right direction.
June 14, 2021
I loved this, a fantastic, fun jaunt down the memory lane of Scottish World Cups past. I remember the Italia 90 and France 98 World Cups, albeit the former only very distantly.
Scotland's professionalism and preparation certainly got better between 74 and 98 judging by this book, but seems the quality of players didn't given we've never been back since 98... but, we still live in hope! 🏴
Scotland's professionalism and preparation certainly got better between 74 and 98 judging by this book, but seems the quality of players didn't given we've never been back since 98... but, we still live in hope! 🏴
June 26, 2019
A great read for Scottish football fans or indeed any football fan interested in World Cup history. If you're a bit weary of all the Beckhams, Ronaldos and Messis of football and hanker after a time when footballers were actually human beings instead of social media fueled grotesque parodies then this is the book for you.
I grew up with Archie commentating on the bulk of matches I watched on TV as a boy. He writes the way he commentates - its not everyone's cup of tea.
However, this is a detailed account of a glorious period for the game in Scotland when we produced some of the finest players ever to set foot on a pitch.
My only grumble would be that you don't really get a great deal of insight from Archie on the 6 World Cups that Scotland graced. Its a narrative, a good narrative. I guess i was looking for Archie to convey what he thought of individuals, the SFA, the teams and Scotland's chances. Perhaps i'm looking for something that just isn't there.
All in all, an easy to read highly enjoyable romp through Scotland's glory years. Haste them back!!!
I grew up with Archie commentating on the bulk of matches I watched on TV as a boy. He writes the way he commentates - its not everyone's cup of tea.
However, this is a detailed account of a glorious period for the game in Scotland when we produced some of the finest players ever to set foot on a pitch.
My only grumble would be that you don't really get a great deal of insight from Archie on the 6 World Cups that Scotland graced. Its a narrative, a good narrative. I guess i was looking for Archie to convey what he thought of individuals, the SFA, the teams and Scotland's chances. Perhaps i'm looking for something that just isn't there.
All in all, an easy to read highly enjoyable romp through Scotland's glory years. Haste them back!!!
May 6, 2019
Wooft! A fine look back at the exploits of Scotland who appeared in every tournament from 1974 to 1998, bar 1994 where we failed to qualify. We haven't qualified since 1998 and, in a way, that is a blessing as watching us at the finals is mostly torture.
1974 we were possibly naive. 78 we actually believed we had a chance. From then on I didn't anticipate us getting beyond the first round. I called it right. The memories come flooding back, both the good, the bad and the ugly. If you are a fan of Scotland and old enough to to recall all the cup finals covered then this is a must read. Billy Bremner's miss. Archie Gemmill's wonder goal. Miller and Hansen colliding. All this and more. It is all here. As Archie MacPherson's STV rival, Arthur Montford, would have said, what a stramash!
Ray Smillie
1974 we were possibly naive. 78 we actually believed we had a chance. From then on I didn't anticipate us getting beyond the first round. I called it right. The memories come flooding back, both the good, the bad and the ugly. If you are a fan of Scotland and old enough to to recall all the cup finals covered then this is a must read. Billy Bremner's miss. Archie Gemmill's wonder goal. Miller and Hansen colliding. All this and more. It is all here. As Archie MacPherson's STV rival, Arthur Montford, would have said, what a stramash!
Ray Smillie
June 3, 2019
An enjoyable book that brought back memories of various World Cup campaigns.
The downside was the pompous writing style. I think that the author sees himself in the Tom English/Hugh McIlvenney mould, which he certainly is not.
The downside was the pompous writing style. I think that the author sees himself in the Tom English/Hugh McIlvenney mould, which he certainly is not.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews