BOOK REVIEW BOOK REVIEW 70 REDMATCHDAY REDMATCHDAY 71 Begg to DIFFER Our very own RedMatchday my Dad’s life and he loved attending the trophy for a special cup final show on columnist Ally Begg has just Hampden to re-live his own youth. The Celtic TV, where I worked at the time. published a new book. Ally is a former season after the Dons lost to Celtic in First, the free kick that fooled model, boy band member and now a 1954, Clyde won the cup after beating everybody, a moment of pure genius from successful sports producer employed the Hoops in a replay. The manager of Gordon Strachan and John McMaster as by beIN Sports based in Doha, Qatar. Clyde at the time was a gentleman called everyone in the stadium gave out a huge In a 15 year presenting career, Ally Paddy Travers, the former Dons legend sigh when both pretended to confuse hosted MUTV, Setanta Sports, Sky who was a friend of my grandpa’s. In each other. I couldn’t believe it but within Sports News, Sky News, Thomas the immediate aftermath of the 1955 the blink of an eye the ball was delivered Cook TV and ESPN Star Sports in final, Mr Travers asked my grandpa if into the box and big Alex McLeish headed Singapore. But more importantly, he would mind serving as keeper of the home the equaliser. We all jumped to our Ally is an Aberdeen fan! famous old trophy for a night due to the feet, arms high in the air, I grabbed Dad’s Ally’s book “Begg to Differ” talks about excessive celebrations the Clyde players arm as I cheered a brilliantly worked is life as an Aberdeen fan. Here are a few had in mind after the victory. My grandpa goal; Mum and Dad were clapping wildly; extracts: duly obliged and took the Scottish Cup Dad screaming “come on Dons”. I joined Legend states that in 1974 the former home with him. The day after my Dad in, the excitement in me boiling over. St Mirren chairman Willie Todd called celebrated his tenth birthday the very Pittodrie came alive again. Fans on their my grandpa and asked him for his advice same trophy took pride of place on his feet, grown men screaming at the top as he was seeking a new manager. My sideboard in his small bedroom as he of their voices, women covering their grandpa offered Mr Todd one name, Alex slept. Who would have known that mouths with their hands wondering, Ferguson! You will hear many a tale about almost fifty years later to the very day, just wondering if only! I swear in that my grandpa in this book and I make no his eldest son would take possession of moment I felt Pittodrie move! Then the apology for it; he was my hero and left a huge void in my life when he died in 1990. I would like to think that I have carried on his and Bill’s legacy in my own career. From my first Scottish final back in 1982, to my last in the year 2000, I have only missed one: the 1993 Scottish Cup Final against Rangers at Celtic Park. At the time I had just signed a five-album record deal with A&M Records and was a tad pre-occupied with learning how to sing and dance! I apologise for throwing this explanation in at such an early stage, and I will talk about this crazy part of my life a little later in the book but as valid reasons for missing a cup final go I think it’s a pretty good one! The Scottish Cup had always played a huge part in WWW.AFC.CO.UK WWW.AFC.CO.UK BOOK REVIEW BOOK REVIEW 72 REDMATCHDAY REDMATCHDAY 73 moment that will never be forgotten their flights. Ewan and I loved the vast before as a youngster outside Hampden even put his arm round me! I nearly by those present that night. Almost as empty spaces of the airport; it was like a and asked him for his autograph but fainted! I knew our time together would soon as I had taken my seat after the huge playground. Dad bought us a small never felt the need to scream in his face be short so I tried to make the most of celebrations I looked up and saw the ball ball so we played football in the terminal or have heart palpitations in his presence! it. Interviewing Sir Alex is like nothing being delivered into the box. As Dad and and re-enacted the moment John Hewitt He came over with his assistant manager I have ever experienced before. His the folk around us slowly came off their scored the winner. A couple of older at the time, Roy Aitken, a player as style, knowledge and demeanor meant seats, Eric Black got his head to the ball. guys approached us and asked if they a child I detested. I immediately felt stepping up my game. I don’t know why As Dad came up a little higher, he headed could join in, so one hour before we flew nothing but shame for hating this man as this happened, and I can’t really explain towards goal. Dad sat up a little higher back to Aberdeen – 4am local time – a a professional football player; it’s what it on paper, but in my eyes I was in the still, fists clenched, jaws agape, I couldn’t bunch of rowdy Aberdeen fans had a wee we do as youngsters and fans. We have company of greatness which meant I did see what was happening; he was in front game of football in the departure lounge our own pantomime villain. It’s all part of not want to disappoint him, or more of me as was that great big iron pillar! As of Gothenburg Airport! I don’t have any football, it’s part of the make-up of the importantly annoy him. He is nothing I tried to push my way through, Bayern’s recollections of the flight home as once game. For the record, Roy is one of the short of captivating. Questions had to be goalkeeper palmed the ball down, a gasp aboard the exhaustion hit me like a train loveliest guys I have ever met. I hope our carefully delivered and thought of to the rose from the crowd, John Hewitt was and I was out for the count before we paths cross sometime soon again. Willie point where insulting his football brain there, he connected and then bedlam!! took off. The next thing I knew we were introduced himself – as if he needed to – was the ultimate sin. In the days leading All around us people were going berserk, landing at Dyce Airport. While waiting and firmly took my hand, as did Roy. I said up to the interview I would spend time the players were running towards the 18- for the bags, Dad bought all the morning hello and thanked them both for their carefully scripting my questions and yard box, Dad was jumping up and down; newspapers. One story dominated time. As the photographer was clearly thinking how I could actually captivate Mum was cheering and clapping like a not just the front pages but the back in a rush he put us in place and took the him! Some may laugh at this, and question woman demented. Had we scored again? too: Aberdeen beating the mighty Real obligatory shots. I had other things on why this was not done with all I came in I shouted to Dad, grabbing him; “what’s Madrid to lift the Cup Winners’ Cup. my mind; I desperately wanted to have a contact with, but Sir Alex is in a different happened?” I screamed. He looked Sitting on the floor, reading the P & J, Dad kickabout with Willie. Almost sheepishly, league – he is the boss in more ways than down at me, “they’ve scored again, suggested we go to Pittodrie to welcome I asked him if we could and he duly one! kiddo, they’ve scored again”. I must the boy’s home. My first thought was obliged. Here was my childhood hero Begg to Differ is out on 1st October confess to feeling a bit lost at that point. moment Pittodrie did move, the whole a large puddle on the street. At the same school as Ewan and I were both due back playing football with me, on the pitch at 2014 priced at £12.99 – you can pre- I didn’t understand what had happened. place lifted by 25,000 fans jumping up time as he hit the deck, his legs came up that morning but unbeknown to us Mum Pittodrie. I was living the dream, it was order it now via Amazon and keep up Did we need to score again because of and down, hugging, crying, and my god behind him. His kilt flew over the top of had already organised for us to have the unbelievable and I did my best to show with everything Ally is doing and talking the away goal? “Dad, Dad” I shouted, what a moment! his head exposing him in all his glory for day off! Now this was just too much, not him I could play a bit! I was overwhelmed about via his twitter account @ally_begg “do we need another goal?” “No” he Out the corner of my eye I noticed a all to see.