The Scout

Sir Alex Ferguson said: "It is impossible not to have known of Bobby Dinnie if you have in any way been involved in Boys´ Club and Youth Football from the mid 50s to 90s. I had many experiences of Bobby in his time with Possil YM, firstly as a young player with Drumchapel Amateurs and later when I was a young fledgling manager with St. Mirren. Bobby had the wonderful ability to spot young talent and nurture them to greater things and his most famous boy, Kenny Dalglish, was testimony to his ability." Kenny Dalglish said: "I first met Bobby when I was about thirteen-years-old when a friend of mine took me to Possilpark YMCA for a game of football; we played at Perthshire Juniors´ park in a friendly on a Sunday morning. It was the start of a few really enjoyable years playing football and mixing with a great group of lads who were involved at the YMCA. None of us would have had the opportunity to have enjoyed ourselves if it hadn´t been for the dedication of Bobby Dinnie. People like Bobby are the lifeblood of football and without them the professional game would not be what it is today and many of the lads that made a career out of football that played for Bobby at the YMCA would not have done so without the help of Bobby. He was an influential figure for many lads who did not make a career out of football and who were also better people for having met and enjoyed the man who is, Bobby Dinnie." 'The Scout: The Bobby Dinnie Story' follows the life path of one of the most successful and well-known football talent scouts ever to grace the beautiful game in the United Kingdom: Bobby Dinnie MBE. Synonymous with spotting and nurturing the talent of Kenny Dalglish, the Celtic, Liverpool and Scotland legend; he also worked under legendary icons, namely: Tommy Docherty, Bob Stokoe, Billy Wright, Graeme Souness, Walter Smith and Jock Wallace. In the book authorized author Stephen Hamilton secures personal and exclusive interviews and comments from famous players, managers, coaches - past and present including Sir Alex Ferguson, Kenny Dalglish, John Greig and Bertie Auld. It has a touch of humour - with Bobby telling us of the day he asked his wife, Betty, if she would like to go to the United States for their honeymoon. Ecstatic at the thought of a great trip she naturally said "yes". What she didn´t know was Bobby was also taking 18 players from his youth team along with them - to play in a football tournament there. It´s educational - where we learn the true meaning and origins of the most annoying football phrases, metaphors and clichés. Inspiring - how a quiet, unassuming and private man took an industrial declined community and pumped vitality and self-assurance into the heart of its dwellers. The book, naturally written in English, even supplies the reader with a vernacular index for readers outside the Glaswegian dialect. How thoughtful! If you´re looking for a typical football bio then you´ve definitely come to the wrong place: it´s more than that!