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This book has been a long time coming. Not that it took me an age to research and write, but I first played about with the idea of a book on the great Rangers and Scotland centre-half Willie Woodburn around 15 years ago. Did a little bit of research and shortly afterwards wrote a biography on another Rangers great, Jock Wallace!
But we’ve finally got there and researching this project was a real eye opener. I didn’t know an awful lot about Rangers in the 1940s and 50s, but I think I do now. So it has been educational.
But what first drew me towards Willie Woodburn? Probably the same thing that attracted me to Sam English. The fact that a single moment in time had defined both guys. When folk asked what I was working on, and I said, ‘Willie Woodburn,’ the reply was usually, ‘Oh, the player who was suspended sine die?’
Yeah, that’s right, but as time wore on and I started to learn more about the footballer and man, it became clear that Willie Woodburn was far from a one trick pony. That couldn’t have been further from the truth: as three dimensional a character as you’re ever likely to meet.
The usual barometer for writing a biography is this. Are there three or four great storylines within that would entice a newspaper editor to serialise the book? The answer in this case was an overwhelming yes. Yes, yes, yes!
I was never fortunate enough to meet Mr Woodburn, but I think I would’ve liked him. By god was he a hard man on the park but away from it? He comes across as such a nice guy. Hard working, compassionate and with a real love for his family.
I hope I’ve captured the essence of the man and the footballer. But because the great man is sadly no longer with us I’ve been able to combine lots of different voices; those who knew him best, played alongside him or simply called him dad.
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The book is released only in paperback, costs £9.99 with UK postage coming in at £3.
Formidable: The Willie Woodburn Story
Published by Cadeel Publishing
Format: Paperback
ISBN Number: 9780955335266
RRP: £9.99
Available direct from the author by emailing
jeff.holmes4@btinternet.com
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