Steve "Pele" Paterson, Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC's longest serving manager having spent over 7 years at the club from 1995 to 2002, was at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium this evening to launch his book "Confessions of a Highland Hero".

Steve "Pele" Paterson, Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC's longest serving manager having spent over 7 years at the club from 1995 to 2002, was at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium this evening to launch his book "Confessions of a Highland Hero".

The location for the launch was no accident, having been the place Pele cites as providing some of the happiest years in his football career, and you'll find very few Caley Jags fans who would deny that those early years in the clubs history and some of the games and results will live longest in our memories.....none more so than the famous victory over Celtic on 8th February 2000 that spawned the world famous "Super Caley Go Ballistic, Celtic Are Atrocious" headline.Pele spoke candidly of the problems that have haunted him for so many years, and quick flick to the books contents which includes chapter titles such as "Guttered in Gourock" and "Soiled Boxers and a Gay Thumping" give you a sharp insight into what you can expect in terms of the open and honest nature of the books content.

If you want to know more then you;ll have to buy the book.  You can purchase it online from Waterstones, Amazon and WHSmith.  If you would like a signed copy then Pele will be doing a signing session at Waterstones in Inverness this Saturday (14th Nov).

Confessions of a HIghland Hero - Synopsis

Steve Paterson was set for fame and stardom with Manchester United in the 1970s, but from the age of sixteen he became gripped by an addiction to gambling before descending into alcoholism and debt. He became a soccer mercenary in Hong Kong, Australia and Japan, but his gambling and ruinous lifestyle followed him everywhere.

Despite his personal problems, Paterson became a successful football manager, first in the Highland League and then, leading Inverness Caledonian Thistle all the way to the brink of promotion to the Premier League before taking the reins at Aberdeen Football Club from which he was sacked as his drinking and gambling escalated. By then, he had spent more than GBP1m on gambling over a 30 years period and racked up thousands of pounds worth of debt.

In November 2008 Paterson decided to confront his addictions and booked into the famous Sporting Chance Clinic in Hampshire. He has now turned his life around and today works as a social worker helping youngsters in the north of Scotland.

This candid and brutally honest memoir recounts the heady days of footballing success, twinned with the devastating hubris of his addictive personality. It is a heart-rending and insightful account of one of the most fascinating players and managers in the Scottish game.

The Author

Frank Gilfeather [www.gilfeather.co.uk] is a journalist and broadcaster and has written news and sport for all of the UK's leading newspapers over a period of more than 40 years.

He currently covers football for The Times, The Herald and the Sunday Herald and writes a weekly current affairs column for the Aberdeen Evening Express.

In addition, he covers football stories for Sky Sports News and hosts a weekly non-sports phone-in programme on the radio station, Northsound 2.