In Search of Alan Gilzean: The lost legacy of a Dundee and Spurs legend

The memory of Gilzean has been re-awoken. Morgan is rightly aghast that there is no plaque honouring Gilzean, or a street named after him in Coupar Angus. He likens it to his own hometown, Belfast, failing to mention that George Best happened to be a native. But Best, unlike Gilzean, is no longer with us. -- Alan Pattullo, The Scotsman

In Search of Alan Gilzean is as enigmatic as the subject and James Morgan, whose father I may have bumped into while worshipping the early Gillie at Dens Park, should take that as the highest compliment. An absolutely enchanting book. A cracking read. --Patrick Barclay, The Times

Morgan too is modest. He is something of a philosopher. At one point he notes that in satisfying our hunger for truth, we stifle our imagination. But his book is a quest, a search for truth that never offends the imagination but stimulates it...Gilzean was evasive, but Morgan was assiduous as he tracked down his old team-mates in the Dundee title-winning team, spoke to people who d known him as a boy, and talked with journalists and some of Gilzeans Spurs contemporaries...Morgan writes with such unaffected honesty...So many football books are laddish, flashy and in your face; this one is gracious and subtle, and in many ways its modest tone reflects its subject. Gilzean was a sublime player, but a quiet man. --Harry Reid, The Herald

In Search of Alan Gilzean has been painstakingly researched, and cleverly crafted, by Spurs fan and Glasgow journalist, James Morgan. The biography is unlike any other written about a footballer, past or present, in that it contains an element of suspense. You itch to find out if the author actually does locate his reclusive subject and in what circumstances he finds him. Morgan unearths some wonderful anecdotes. Among them is one about how, on a night out in Japan with Spurs, Gillie takes a run at a sumo wrestler and bounces off him. Someone should have warned this famous son of Coupar Angus to go easy on the sake. --Brian Scott, Daily Mail

Theres a new book about my former Tottenham strike partner out tomorrow. The author did well to track down Gilly, who has become something of a recluse in recent years. Believe it or not, I havent set eyes on the fella for the best part of 40 years. From 1964 until 1970, we were like blood brothers. Then I left Spurs and went on my path to self-destruction ... a couple of years later Gilly did pretty much the same, by all accounts. Id just urge you to read the book of his life, because I reckon its one hell of a story. --Jimmy Greaves, The People

This diligent search for a man who, after being the undisputed King of White Hart Lane, abdicated to become a commoner before all but disappearing, is strangely compelling. --Nick Townsend, The Independent

This is a singular, unusual and well-written book; highly recommended to Spurs and Dundee lovers and haters alike. -- --When Saturday Comes

Morgan too is modest. He is something of a philosopher. At one point he notes that in satisfying our hunger for truth, we stifle our imagination. But his book is a quest, a search for truth that never offends the imagination but stimulates it...Gilzean was evasive, but Morgan was assiduous as he tracked down his old team-mates in the Dundee title-winning team, spoke to people who d known him as a boy, and talked with journalists and some of Gilzean's Spurs contemporaries...Morgan writes with such unaffected honesty...So many football books are laddish, flashy and in your face; this one is gracious and subtle, and in many ways its modest tone reflects its subject. Gilzean was a sublime player, but a quiet man. --Harry Reid, The Herald

In Search of Alan Gilzean has been painstakingly researched, and cleverly crafted, by Spurs fan and Glasgow journalist, James Morgan. The biography is unlike any other written about a footballer, past or present, in that it contains an element of suspense. You itch to find out if the author actually does locate his reclusive subject and in what circumstances he finds him. Morgan unearths some wonderful anecdotes. Among them is one about how, on a night out in Japan with Spurs, Gillie takes a run at a sumo wrestler and bounces off him. Someone should have warned this famous son of Coupar Angus to go easy on the sake. ----Brian Scott, Daily Mail
There's a new book about my former Tottenham strike partner out tomorrow. The author did well to track down Gilly, who has become something of a recluse in recent years. Believe it or not, I haven't set eyes on the fella for the best part of 40 years. From 1964 until 1970, we were like blood brothers. Then I left Spurs and went on my path to self-destruction ... a couple of years later Gilly did pretty much the same, by all accounts. I'd just urge you to read the book of his life, because I reckon it's one hell of a story. --Jimmy Greaves, The People

This diligent search for a man who, after being the undisputed King of White Hart Lane, abdicated to become a commoner before all but disappearing, is strangely compelling. --Nick Townsend, The Independent

This is a singular, unusual and well-written book; highly recommended to Spurs and Dundee lovers and haters alike- - ---When Saturday Comes