Book Review: Jungle Days: Supporting Celtic in the 1980s (Pitch Publishing, 2025), by John Wight JUNGLE Days: Supporting Celtic in the 1980s by John Wight does what it says in its title. The book chronicles his support of the Bhoys in the one of the most turbulent decades of the twentieth century. Yet the tome delivers far more, giving a superb history of Celtic and its importance to the Irish in Scotland. Wight, a lifelong Celtic fan from Edinburgh, begins his story in the 1979-80 season with Celtic beating Rangers 1-0 in the Cup Final and the infamous Hampden riot after the game. His writing captures the eighties with astute insights into football and Thatcherism during the decade. Jungle Days evokes to the mood of the time from the viewpoint of a fan on a supporters' bus travelling to the games from outside Glasgow. The drink and the characters flow from the book’s pages with the eighties music of Frankie Goes to Hollywood and U2 providing the soundtrack to the coach journeys to Paradise. In each chapter the author also gives a team sheet for iconic games. Who cannot smile when you read the names club legends such as Charlie Nicholas, Frank McAvennie or Paul McStay? But Wight also mentions lesser-known Celtic players that most of us have forgotten or have tried to forget. Asking us: “Today who remembers the likes of Mark Reid and Pierce O’Leary?” His diligence in chronicling uncelebrated players is one that demonstrates the deep knowledge of a committed supporter.
