Dan Doyle
The Life and Death of a Wild Rover

Marie Rowan (foreword by Neil Lennon)

Category Sport Biography
Pub Date April 2007
ISBN 1 84502 146 0
Extent 192 pp.
Price £7.99
Format Paperback, 216 x 138 mm
Plate/Illustrations 8 pp. mono



Legendary Scotland and Celtic captain Dan Doyle was a character unlike any other, before or since, in the world of football. A brilliant player but with a stormy temper and a troubled relationship with gambling and drink, Doyle’s life on and off the pitch makes for an incredible story.

Until his retirement in 1899, Doyle was always a controversial figure. Involved in an on-pitch incident that resulted in the death of another player, prone to vocal outbursts against opponents, referees and the FA and even the subject of a prolonged campaign in the English press to have him permanently banned from playing in the country, Doyle never tempered his character. He was free to do as he liked because of his incredible gift as a footballer and because a Celtic or Scotland team with him was infinitely better than one without him.

Including a wealth of material scoured from the many interviews the always outspoken Doyle gave, Dan Doyle: The Life and Death of a Wild Rover is the story of Scotland’s first bad-boy football superstar.

Read a review of Dan Doyle: The Life and Death of a Wild Rover on Celtic fansite Keep the Faith.