AN ENDEARING image filtered into my thoughts as I stood among the appreciative throng for the unveiling of the statue to honour Celtic legend Tommy Gemmell in Craigneuk at the weekend.
Sunshine peeked through the clouds to add illumination to the grand proceedings on a crisp Saturday afternoon in North Lanarkshire as February took a final bow for the year.
Martin O’Neill was a late guest to add his radiating Irish charm. Former players Roy Aitken, Tom Boyd, George McCluskey, Joe Miller and Mike Conroy as well as Liz McNeill and Agnes Johnstone, widows of club idols, Billy and Jimmy, were also in attendance.
Mary Gemmell, wife of the man himself, and Karen Davies, daughter blessed with the same winning smile as her dad, took their rightful place in pole position.
IN THE SHADOW OF TOMMY GEMMELL…Karen, the Celtic legend’s daughter, and Mary, the great man’s wife, share an embrace.
Martin McCrum, who led and inspired the entire Tommy Gemmell Community Project with unflagging vigour, and Provost Kenneth Duffy, another unstinting supporter of the cause, looked on with justifiable pride.
With the rays from above playing on the sculpture and its fascinatingly accurate features of Tommy, I stood there with my missus, Gerda, and my reverie momentarily drifted off to another time in that small corner of the universe.
A gentle echo from the past conjured up the vision of a young lad on his bike weaving his way through the streets of Craigneuk on his way to Fir Park to lend his support to his team, Motherwell.
As the lad grew older and taller, his knees would clatter off the handlebars of his sole mode of transport. Undaunted, he cycled to the ground on matchday to watch his heroes.
Rain, hail or shine, Tommy Gemmell was unflinching in his vocal backing of his local team. The dream, of course, was to pull on that claret and amber jersey and join his luminaries and launch into weekly skirmishes on their behalf.
Somewhere along the way, the fantasy was redirected in the general direction of the east end of Glasgow.
MY HERO…Martin O’Neill recalls days with Tommy Gemmell at Nottingham Forest.
I was honoured to be asked to write the inscription that will sit side-by-side Tommy Gemmell’s statue for all time.
It was more, much more, than a privilege for me to be able to call this man a friend.
Once again, I felt more than entitled when I was asked to perform the eulogy almost nine years ago – March 10, to be accurate – following the passing of the celebrated Lisbon Lion the previous week at the age of 73.
There seemed to be thousands outside the ground and lining the streets to say a final farewell as the funeral cortege eased from Tommy’s beloved Celtic Park en route to Daldowie Crematorium.
I had been up since about 3am in an attempt to put something together that wouldn’t disappoint an unforgettable individual who had never once failed me.
As the limousine threaded its way across Glasgow, I was asked by one of the funeral party if I was nervous.
I have to admit public speaking is not a task I have ever embraced with any enthusiasm. But who could say no to Tommy?
However, the entire occasion had actually taken my mind off performing any kind of speech.
“I haven’t had time to even think about it,” I answered honestly.
“That’s good,” said my inquisitor who then added: “Celtic are broadcasting the event live worldwide.”
TRIBUTE…Alex Gordon’s inscription.
As a friend and confidante of Tommy for 48 years, I could image him looking down with that wonderful big, beaming smile.
He was having the last laugh.
“An ordinary fella who did extraordinary things,” I said.
I could have sat down after that. The world was already all too well aware of the many contributions of a young lad who once thumped his knees off the handlebars of his bicycle as he made his way through Craigneuk every match day en route to Fir Park.
The vision of playing for Motherwell never crystalised.
And every Celtic supporter, past, present and in the future, can be eternally grateful.
ALEX GORDON
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