It’s been a joy to read all that’s been written about Billy McNeill since his wife Liz decided to tell the story of his dementia yesterday. Much of it, inevitably, reflected on a magnificent life. For now I’m not going to tell you about what he did for Celtic, what his leadership made possible, even today, or what he was like as a human being. That’s a story for another day. Dementia is not the end of the story, so we should not treat this news as such, but it does become a profound end to most of what defined the life that proceeded it.
For long enough after his diagnoses (seven years ago), Billy remained as charming and entertaining as ever. I knew of his condition but would never have been aware if his ability to talk football, or about Bellshill, was anything to go by. He once joked about his fading memory to me, before issuing himself a tongue-in-cheek caution, “Don’t suppose I should joke about that these days”.
The last time I met him was with Davie Hay at a publicity shoot in late 2014 for a book we did. He could still recall great detail about the young Davie, but for the first time I could see a fragility about the man. There was no joking about his memory this time.
It may be 50 years since Billy’s greatest moment, but his stature remains unparalleled. In speaking openly about his condition, Liz will hopefully give strength to the many other sufferers in our communities. It also gives us reason to consider the consequences of heading the heavy footballs of the 1950s, 60s and 70s. While the modern ball doesn’t retain water like earlier models, it is still a 1lb weight that is regularly propelled at 70mph. Small sample sizes lead to bad conclusions, but if you put your head on a long clearance as it drops from the sky, it will not take a lot to convince you it’s not a healthy activity.
When news like this breaks people are often full of regret at opportunities not taken. Not with Billy. He was adored by his elders, his contemporaries and by those who got to know him by his legend. He spent his life living among his people, openly and accessible. We all got a moment with Billy McNeill. And you know what? He loved every minute.
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TonyRome 6:38
Hi Tony , thanks for your help and info for Cowiebhoy… I’ve been putting feelers out for anyone Locally with a digital turntable , a DJ, who might be kind enough to copy my John Doc vinyls to MP3….from there I can burn them to disc….. any DJ local within the Stirling area that could help I would be extremely ££ grateful…
HH Bhoyfromsky ☘️☘️
The Unthank Road…have you got your dates right? In 1954 Billy would have been 14 years old…or did you mean ’65?
GuyFawkesaforeverhero on 27th February 2017 10:14 pm
Why do you think I am a pretend Tim?
BhoyfromSky
Jobo posted a way to do it last night, through a unit you can get in Maplin
Now Jobo may even do the task for you if you speak to him nicely :-)
Unthank Rd
Yes John Doc
Must have played Cowie Bowlers for about 10-15 years every Sat night/Sun afternoon
BhoyfromSky was a fan :-) and looking for the records to get onto a Cd so he can pass onto a friend as a special gift
As stated, Doc is very friendly with my Auld Da, and they still keep in touch
Hail Hail
Wee Booby Collins
I was born 1948 ,therefore I’m 68. You could well be right, memory is a menace. Can’t remember the times Celtic won the cup after 54??? Remember the garden fete, remember the cup. Do I have the wrong cup??? I’ll dig out the photo and see if someone can identify it for me.
Thanks. Always thought Billy was 14/15 years older than me???
Must be that Kafflick edukation, St Aloysius has a lot to answer for. ( with apology to Fr Tracy and the Jesuits for the preposition at the end!
Ouch.
real feckin annoyance tonight that tv has Gordon Smith talking about billy at all.
your a feckin bankrupt, unqualified, baldy , hair dying, failed executive,
what has his opinion got to do with anything,
Saint Stivs,
Ye forgot wig wearing. .;-)
Wee B C
It was Clyde 1955, according to my wee sis. Does this make sense? What the heck was the Cup doing at Sacred Heart?
really confusedFC
Cowiebhoy
Met John Doc about 4 years ago in the Hibs , Carfin. Still in top form, amazing, Backed my friend Ann O’Niell who told me they had played together 40/50 odd years ago !
We won the cup in 1954 – beat Aberdeen 2-1. Then promptly lost to Clyde in 1955 1-0 at replay. Then lost to Hearts 1956 3-1.
Thanks Cowiebhoy at 10:38
Hello JoboBaldie, asking as nicely as I can:) Do you still have your Maplin device ? And would you be able to help?
Regards ☘️
F**k sake. If I didn’t know any better I’d say this site was 75% taig infested. Maybe they’re just taking the time to get the right men on board. Even if we did beat the sheep worriers to second and won the SC how many of you wouldn’t think this season was a complete fuck up anyway? I’d rather they took their time and got the right folk on board. If they did rush to get someone and it was the wrong someone then we’re back to where we were.
…..
Looks like ‘bigdak’ on Sevco Media has the whole shebang sussed.
Absolutely marvellous entertainment over there.
Sorry for the sweary word there folks.
The Unthank Road…dinnae worry sir…as a 1947er I know a thing or two about fading memory and confusion. All the best to you.
THANK YOU Wee BC.
Been off here for a while , obviously need to get back in my stride again! Anyway, second part of my story with the John Greig jersey is sound. We played Shotts the next weekend after the jerseys, and got a really savage kicking. Home team, their ref, nothing changes, eh?
The Unthank Road…when you wore the Greig shirt did you get the urge to kick your opponents?
Bonsoir,
The news about Big Billy brought it all crashing home for me – my auld fellah is now in the (horrible) final stages of the disease. Absolute scunner of a thing. But I’m not going to dwell on that – others on here, have more eloquently summarised the situation than I ever could.
However, what did catch my eye was Paul’s leader today – the bit about getting hit by a 450g fitba travelling at 70mph. You see, here offshore, we have it constantly drummed into us about the risk of dropped objects (and having seen the mess a 1″ stubolt falling from height can make of a fella, I can promise you it’s not a subject that’s taken lightly).
So to determine the risks associated with dropped objects the following (industry wide) calculator is referred to, when assessing the criticality of an operation/event.
http://www.dropsonline.org/assets/documents/DROPS-Calculator-Metric-A4.pdf
As you can see (according to the DROPS calculator, at least) a 450g ball dropped from 30m will (hypothetically) be fatal.
So this has got me thinking – how long in this HSE correct society that we live in before there’s a lobby movement for anybody playing fitba to wear headgear?
Yes – it does (often) get boring offshore.
:-)
bournesouprecipe on 27th February 2017 9:32 pm
Leicester City’s caretaker coach is called Craig Shakespeare.
Just so you know, he’s called Shakespeare
======================================
Aye, and he’ll try to take the credit for their win tonight, but it’s well known that the team was actually picked by Christopher Marlowe…
Nuff said, I’m out. Goodnight friends…
WeeBobbyCollins
I wonder if you could help me? I have been contacted by the family of a Celtic player in the 1950s who are trying to find out more about his Celtic career, other than what they can find online etc.
The player is John Jack and he was a centre half from the 1950s. He made 68 appearances – in the 56/57 season he missed only one game.
Do you remember him?
THE UNTHANK ROAD on 27TH FEBRUARY 2017 10:37 PM
Wee Booby Collins
I was born 1948 ,therefore I’m 68. You could well be right, memory is a menace. Can’t remember the times Celtic won the cup after 54??? Remember the garden fete, remember the cup. Do I have the wrong cup??? I’ll dig out the photo and see if someone can identify it for me.
Thanks. Always thought Billy was 14/15 years older than me???
Must be that Kafflick edukation, St Aloysius has a lot to answer for. ( with apology to Fr Tracy and the Jesuits for the preposition at the end!
Ouch.
================================================
Bobby Collins was at that garden fete.
:-)
Joe Mc Beth , a pal of mine. Ring a bell ?
Affoot.
Mags, you’re a pretend Tim as you didn’t post a response to Guy within the regulation 19 minutes when he announced our yoofs got beat by Well,.
Obvious really.
See all these posters writing equally heart warming and heart wrenching memories of Caeser and loved ones. Obviously kid on Tims.
Harumph!!!!
Sandman…..
LOL
Brilliant!
HH
AOW
Thanks for the clarification! :)
It seems weird that I was singled out.
The Celtic fc website gives little info about Eboue Kouassi’ performances.
I realise he is building up his fitness after illness but it would be good to know if he appears to be a first team player in the short term or an expensive prospect.
Floatin’
WC,
As mentioned earlier on the thread, John Jack (not his original family name) was one of three Celtic centre halfs of Lithuanian extraction.
The other two being Billy Mc.Neil and John Kurilla.
He was a no nonsense, powerful player , who was replaced at CH by Bobby Evans, who was slowing down at hat stage in his career.
JJ played in the Scottish Cup tie against The Them, which ended in a 4-4 draw. Johnny Hubbard scoring a late penalty equaliser.
Celtic won the replay, 2-0, in a game where Shearer virtually ended Johnny Higgins’ career.
MargaretMcGill 27th February 2017 10.25pm
Excuse me, I’m slow off the mark always. When I’m reading through I try to keep up but it all goes too fast on this ipad thing. My family bought me a laptop for Christmas and when I’ve looked at at for another while, I’ll be ready to plug it in.
I call you a pretendTim because, from all I’ve read of your contributions to the blog, you’re either the only Tim in the village or a fraud.
To give you some context, I don’t agree with Celtic’s mission statement and I don’t agree with the Celtic Trust’s, here’s how we got here.
This is what I know, who would change it?
Celtic Football and Athletic Club was formed in Glasgow by a number of Catholics in the East end of the city to supply the St Vincent de Paul Society with funds to maintain the Dinner Tables of our needy children in the missions of St Mary’s, Sacred Heart and St Michael’s.
My dear friend MWD
Today I just realized a part what you posted last night after your memorable missive.
Its when you said “another half mil”. I think I now know what you mean.
“Another half millimeter”?
Are you the one some hun slashed in a chippy a few years ago??
and was lucky to survive such a horrendous unprovoked attack.
You must know more than most then about what I meant about wanting this abhorrent culture discouraged in any way shape or form. No funding at all. Its the only thing that will work.
JUDE2005 IS NEIL LENNON
Seen you were talking about “Emby” earlier and installing on a Firestick….don’t
What you need is “IPTV” which is installed on your tv as an app.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcUJDvbMfaA
Don’t buy a Firestick get a Fire TV Box which has a better processor and double the memory of a stick.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Amazon-Fire-TV-Streaming-Media-Player-x/dp/B00UH2O6T2
MacJ
Sorry do not recall.
Problem was;- I went to 7 schools , 4 primary 3 high so no great in depth memory of pals. St Cuthbert’s Burnbank, st Ninians Hilhead, Sacred Heart Bellshill, Then Mossend, Our Lady’s Motherwell , Holy cross Hamilton and st Aloysius. Is this a world record ? Do I get five stars on my nightie?
Joe Mc Beth? Holy Cross? If so, a nice guy.
Night Night
Sweet dreams you lot
GuyFawkesaforeverhero on 28th February 2017 12:38 am
Nothing you state in 5 paragraphs pertains to me except the line
“you’re either the only Tim in the village or a fraud. ”
so do you mind explaining yourself with regard to that comment?
Floatin’
I don’t have the best memory. Was it you or Tom Conti who played in Celtic’s quizball team? Hope it was you and you’ll be floating down to Lisbon in May to meet a bunch of CQN posters. Not me, beyond my budget, unless I use Sir David Murray parameters.
..
THE UNTHANK ROAD on 27TH FEBRUARY 2017 10:13 PM Said:
Our boys guild had just been given a set of strips by “the original rangers” due to the efforts of Jimmy Dempsey MP. My dad, explained this amazing set of circumstances to Billy. He asked me which shirt I had. I replied No six, John Grieg’s. Billy with a rye smile said;- got a lot of blood on it son???
I wonder if Mr Dempsey MP’s Son was at the Fete.. and what he thought of the ‘Original Rangers’ strips as Years Later he would walk out the door of Paradise and utter the Now Immortal words: ‘The War is Over.. The Rebels have Won’
Summa of ItWasTheBigManAndTheBunnetThatDoneItCSC
Margaret McGill on 28th February 2017 12 49 am
Yes, I can appreciate my casual slander against your bullish rhetoric wouldn’t mean anything to an ex-pat who hadn’t seen Little Britain.
Trust me, you and your family are the lucky ones. Such a crock, with no Radiohead tunes to lift the mood, ever.
..
MARGARET MCGILL on 28TH FEBRUARY 2017 12:38 AM
My dear friend MWD
..
Mags..
In case Moonbeams is in Dreamtime I’ll answer for Him..
Yes it was Him..
The fact that He told You the Other night that he will attend the Rangers fixture at Paradise because his Son is craving to go after all his mates told him about the first game..
Hopefully I’ve got that 100% correct..
Mags..
You surely don’t believe All Rangers Fans and anyone connected to them are involved in the ‘Culture’ You talk of.. and what’s the Obsession with Money and telling People how to spend it.. You sound like one of they American ‘Touch the Screen’ whatever they are called..
FYI .. My Dad has been to Ibrox nearly Every Match since the Eighties and has Never went on a Supporters Bus as he describes some supporters as .*****
He has Neve once objected to me following Celtic FC although at 16 Yrs he told me about his first Celtic Vs Rangers game him and his pal were waiting if memory serves at Dalmarnock station for the train home and his pal got his face slashed by a Celtic Fan he has Never worn Football Colours in his Life and this what he was asking me to do at 16 Yrs of age..
Thinking back now Years later if he had just made that story up to protect his Son from Harm because he would Not be with me at Games.. I’d probably think more of him than l already do.. Ha
Summa
KJAM…
A good read mate, a great memory well worth sharing on the blog. God bless Big Billy. Hail Hail.
GuyFawkesaforeverhero on 28th February 2017 1:10 am
ok