Out of Easterhouse: The Bobby Williamson Story charts Bobby Williamson's remarkable journey from growing up in Easterhouse to a life at the heart of professional football. Written with sports journalist Lorne Gardner, the autobiography takes Williamson through his playing career with clubs including Rangers and West Bromwich Albion and into a managerial career that eventually carried him from Scotland to Africa.
Williamson recalls working with major football figures including Jock Wallace, Graeme Souness, Ron Atkinson and Ron Saunders. Among the book's most intriguing episodes is the story behind the serious leg injury he suffered while with Rangers on a tour of Australia, together with the cover story surrounding what really happened — a tale finally being told decades later.
For Kilmarnock supporters, the centrepiece is the unforgettable 1997 Scottish Cup triumph. Williamson took charge during the 1996/97 season and led Killie to their first Scottish Cup success since 1929, defeating Falkirk 1–0 at Ibrox in the final. His later managerial story encompasses Hibernian, Plymouth Argyle and Chester City before a dramatic move into African football.
Williamson also recounts managing Uganda, winning the Kenyan league with Gor Mahia and subsequently taking charge of Kenya, alongside the intensely personal story of his battle with cancer. Spanning Scottish, English and African football, Out of Easterhouse should appeal particularly to Rangers, Kilmarnock, Hibernian and West Brom supporters, as well as readers of football autobiographies and managerial memoirs.
Life After Management — And an Eye on ScotlandLife after management has provided another remarkable chapter. After leaving the Kenya national team job in 2016, Williamson remained in Kenya, but football was soon overshadowed by a far greater challenge when he was diagnosed with cancer in 2017, later receiving the welcome news that he was cancer-free. A decade away from management has not dulled his appetite for the game: in July 2026, aged 64, Williamson was back in the headlines after putting himself forward for the Scotland manager's job, with an ambitious proposed coaching team featuring Ally McCoist, Scott Brown and Kevin Thomson. It was a timely reminder that, from Easterhouse to Africa and beyond, Bobby Williamson's football story may not be quite finished yet.
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Publisher:Pitch Publishing Ltd — View More Books from the Publisher
Published: 12 October 2026
Price: £24.99
Hardback: 400 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1836804734
Dimensions: 24 x 16 x 2.5 (cm)
