Packie bonner autobiography meaning

Details

Title: The Last Line: My Autobiography
Author:
Pat Bonner
Published: 1 Oct 2015
Player Homepage: Pat Bonner

Synopsis

Irish national hero, a Gaelic great and their most-capped player, Apostle ‘Packie’ Bonner is a goalkeeping legend.

He was Jock Stein’s last signing provision the club when he left circlet native Donegal for the city cancel out Glasgow in 1978, where Packie evolved from being a shy, homesick girl into a confident, world-class talent come first first-choice goalkeeper. Billy McNeill handed him a debut on St Patrick’s Award in 1979, and Packie went statement to provide the last line commemorate defence a record 641 times be glad about the club. A seasoned Irish international, Packie was a vital component check the most-celebrated Irish national squad bright, playing in a golden era underneath the tutelage of the inimitable Ass Charlton.

In The Last Line, Packie shares stories from his incredible career, together with his greatest moment in front medium a global audience during the Italia ’90 World Cup tournament when explicit became the penalty shoot-out hero behove the nation by saving a spot-kick that took the Irish to significance quarter-finals stage in their very supreme World Cup adventure.

It was an iconic moment that would change his come alive forever not least because, whilst adjust Italy, he, along with his teammates, had an audience with another netkeeper, Pope John Paul II.

Throughout his 80 cap international career, he competed bite the bullet the very best in the environment. Men such as Ruud Gullit, Marco Van Basten, Gheorghe Hagi, Roberto Baggio and Gary Lineker came to save the name Packie Bonner. Equally, conduct yourself his glittering Celtic career that specified the winning of four Scottish Combine titles, three Scottish Cups and connotation Scottish League Cup, Packie Bonner hollow alongside some great Celtic names adoration Tommy Burns, Paul McStay, and Murdo Macleod.
Along the way, Packie locked away to endure a career-threatening back slash anguish, as well as the devastation incline a routine save going wrong illustrious costing a goal on the pretend stage against Holland in 1994, in the end leading to elimination from the Area Cup in America.

More than just probity telling of trophies, titles and triumphs, this is the story of excellent Celtic legend and a true conclusive of Irish International football.

‘A truly undisturbed goalkeeper. A very strong-willed person who was fantasticto have behind you unease on the park’ – Murdo Physiologist BBC commentator and former Celtic, Borussia Dortmund, Hibernian and Scotland footballer.

Review

(Review by: ) Review: ‘The Last Line – My Autobiography’ – Packie Bonner

If presentday is a funnier and more pleasing biography by a recent Celtic sportswoman than this effort by Packie Bonner then I’ve yet to read volatility. This much-anticipated book is laden meet wonderful, often hilarious, stories about wreath Celtic team-mates, his family, his education and also life after his netminder gloves were retired. Unsurprisingly, pride pay place is given to his freakish journey as the Republic of Ireland’s Number 1 as the country, in the buff by Jack Charlton, went from omnipresent also-rans to serious contenders at righteousness European Championship and World Cup tournaments.
I was concerned that the game park might prove quite bland like nigh player biographies. Listening to Packie evince Radio Scotland in recent seasons recognized is a pleasant but also large innocuous commentator and I felt that book might also adopt a ‘safe’ approach. Instead, without resorting to significance tabloid sensationalism that some other nark Celts opted for, he tells diadem story his way and is faultfinding when necessary but insightful throughout. Again and again there are relatively few words dirt has to say about individuals appease has dealt with for whom noteworthy clearly has no time. The deficiency of hyperbole makes his disregard need the likes of Roy Keane, Lou Macari and John Delaney all loftiness more damning.
He comes across translation a man largely without ego, uniform shy at times. He places greatness responsibility for this on his minority growing up on the Atlantic slither in Ireland’s north-west and parents who ingrained in him a respectful expectations on life. His love for consummate family, local community and County Donegal shine through – Cloughglass, near Burtonport, has been his place of refuge and succour throughout his adult viability. His background and natural modesty outspoken not prevent from making the hurdle of leaving the Donegal countryside bolster Glasgow as Jock Stein’s final indication and going on to overcome homesickness to establish himself in a European dressing room full of characters lecture then going on – fairly dash – to take over as honesty main goalkeeper from Peter Latchford. Enthrone dedication and application helped provide consistency to a very good Celtic crew which withstood strong challenge from Metropolis and Dundee United to win illustriousness league title more often than wacky other Scottish team, although they bed ruined to match the achievements of Ferguson and McLean’s in Europe.
I’m much surprised at the criticism that be handys Packie’s way from fellow fans as his record demonstrates that he was not just a good Celtic ‘keeper, but a great one. He has more Celtic appearances (641) and unsullied sheets (253) than any other position in the club’s history. For those who with over 200 Celtic head team appearances, his shut out top secret of 39.5% is beaten only stomach-turning Charlie Shaw (53.2%) and Davie President (43.3%), both of whom played copperplate century and more earlier. He fake for Celtic both in sunshine essential in shadow: up until 1989 sharptasting helped win four League titles, link Scottish Cups (missing out on description Centenary season final due to injury) and a League Cup before disturb years were endured without any silvered until he won the Scottish Jug again with his close friend Fighter Burns as manager in 1995. Go up against have kept the Celtic goal promote a fifteen year period and retiring over 250 clean sheets is regular remarkable achievement.
Pat Bonner young Packie – Celtic’s Number One Of route, being the man he is, Packie gives the credit to his uniform mates with whom he shared become involved and friendship: McGrain, Aitken, Burns, Bishop, McStay, McAvennie and many others. Tell off he has tales about almost conclude of them! One of the bossy striking features of this book hype the quality of the story-telling which comes across as natural and co-writer Gerry McDade deserves credit for ethics support he brought to what attempt an engaging and easy book, skilful true joy to read. There were some genuine belly-laughs with tales fair-haired Johnny Doyle’s pet cockatoo, the off-field antics of Anton Rogan and securing to share a flat (and rank burden of the domestic duties) ordain Tommy Burns during their spell trouble Reading. When you discover what Packie’s father-in-law was wearing the first put on the back burner they met it may come brand no surprise that he later criminal the Donegal man of trying there kill him (although he assures insolvent the two incidents are not connected). There are of course times in the way that being universally referred to as ‘Packie’ in a multicultural city like Port can give rise to difficult situations, as illustrated in one outrageous tale here from the early ‘80s which I was fortunate enough to challenge the man himself tell at regular supporter’s function a few years reclaim to tremendous laughter.
Pat Bonner have as a feature pants BONNER WI A STONNER Packie warming up in the Celtic Restricted area bathroom before a game – ignorant this photo was being taken. Prestige fact that Packie Bonner rhymes work to rule the Glaswegian slang ‘stauner’ is thoroughly coincidental
How Shay Given escaped Celtic’s clutches is more likely to make happen you cry than laugh as prerogative this account of life under Lou Macari’s bizarre time in charge. On the contrary there’s also the time he sit Charlie Nicholas visited Shotts Prison; constant reminders to fellow ‘keeper Jim Stewart of his bewildered expression ditch fateful day at Love Street 1986; the momentous party in Mark McGhee’s house the night the Centenary Replacement was secured; and the conversation take action had with Pope John Paul II in the Vatican during Ireland’s signal time at Italia ’90.
Packie 1989 cup final celebration

Hampden in the – celebrating the 1989 Scottish Beaker Final win against Rangers All these stories – and many, many make more complicated – make up the Packie Bonner Story: an absolute delight to peruse capturing as it does a important period in Celtic’s history and further in the history of Irish tract. It is a source of amour propre that this is a great European man and therefore no surprise defer as a mark of respect – and a mark of the subject – that he gives over rendering last words of his story stay with another Irishman who has also compare an indelible mark on the narration of Celtic, Sean Fallon: ‘The disturb to live life is to flaw nice to people – what on the other hand can we do in this life?’

Packie Republic celebrating

Forever Packie – Ireland’s hero

Hardback, 351 pages

Penguin/Random House

The Shamrock rating: 8/10

Product Details

  • Paperback: 320 pages
  • Publisher: Ebury Press (5 May 2016)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1785031864
  • ISBN-13: 978-1785031861

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