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THIS YEAR has produced another large crop of books which cover the Scottish sporting scene.
Autobiographies are to the fore as ever, with football's most colourful characters - Ralph Milne, Andy Goram, Steve Paterson and Chic Charnley - all weighing in.
If you are looking for that late Christmas present, here's where to start. We've rated our selections in a top twenty.
1. Flawed Genius: Scottish Football's Self-Destructive Mavericks By Stephen McGowan Birlinn, GBP 14.99 Jim Baxter, George Best and half a score more of the game's finest are celebrated in style by McGowan in the year's most engaging sports book. You will have heard some of the anecdotes before, but a lot of the information here is exposed to the light of day for the first time thanks to interviews with friends and former team-mates of the titular geniuses.
Andy Ritchie, Morton's idle idol, has a warning for every talented kid. The supremely skilled striker gave up too soon, and admits: "My career and my life have been a major let down."
Willie Hamilton of Hearts - and Hibs - is another excellent subject.
2. Rangers 1872 The Gallant Pioneers By Gary Ralston Breedon Books, GBP 14.99 Author Ralston turns sleuth to reveal the tale of the four youths from Gareloch who preferred rowing to football, but who can glory in the title of founding fathers of a club now woven into the fabric of Scottish society. Rangers' history has not always been faithfully recounted. Even their year of formation is up for debate, but Ralston tackles this among many other issues in a remarkably detailed study. But the very human stories shared by the pioneers makes it romantic as well as robust.
3. A Game of Two Halves: The Autobiography By Archie Macpherson Black & White Publishing, GBP 17.99 The second autobiography from the man whose commentary style is ill served by the cliche used in the title. An enjoyable reflection on life, love and the sheepskin coat, as well as such awkward moments as when our hero realises his star cocommentator - hello, Bryan Robson - does not want to speak even when spoken to. Macpherson also turns his eye on the current state of broadcasting and reveals more than just...