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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Summa of Sammi…. on 28th February 2017 1:13 am
Yes correct I dont believe all of them are like that. I know many that are not. Relatives.
However, my argument is that they are misguided in this putridness. It needs to stop. No funding. No money. No lifeline. Put up or shut up whining about the big bad cheating malevolent huns. 5 years ago I thought it had….and who are paramount in their repellent survival. TIMS!!!!
The bigot buck disney stop here!
ok good night :)
THE UNTHANK ROAD on 28TH FEBRUARY 2017 12:42 AM
St Aloysius , mate.
Must have picked you up wrongly.
One star for Lisbon .
:-)
Life is Lush
http://www.thenational.scot/sport/15121467.Football__Brendan_Rodgers_knows_his_history/
http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/772927/Graeme-Murty-Rangers-Celtic-Scotland-Old-Firm-Scottish-Premiership-Gossip-News
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/celtic/caesar-is-still-an-inspiration-to-us-says-brendan-rodgers-1-4378299
Some good news,and grateful thanks to everyone who took the time to sign the petition.
95,000 yesterday alone!
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/feb/28/deportation-student-halted-hours-board-plane
Good morning CQN from a cold, clear but surprisingly frost free East Devon.
Good morning friends from a clear skied, bright, beautiful and very frosty east Kilbride. Allow extra time to clear those windscreens bhoys and ghirls ;-)
Right BT.
Where are the reports of life on the train throught Dalmarnock??
Just sitting here in sunny Jura watching the sun trying to rise over Ben Lomond. Work is a four letter word! See being retired;- – – You just gotta try it! ! Off to walk the dogs down the beach, Yippee.
The unthank road
Wee day off today so it’s a long lie in
Back to normal tomorrow honest guv…
Glad you got your login details sorted ☘️☘️
Good morning from a bright dry and warming Lanzarote
God bless big Billy and Lizzie
GENE
Where are you staying in Lanzarote ? Wer’e heading out to Del Carmen end of March , enjoy !
Good morning timdom
What a stunning day here in the heart of Scotland. The Burg will look stunning but it’ll never move me like Glasgow does. Was at Strathclyde Uni at a meeting yesterday- amazing the feeling of getting off the train at Queen St and feeling ‘home’.
Still coming to terms with the news of Billy Mc though it was more a confirmation than news. The only solace is that his family will know and feel the sheer depth of love and respect felt by the Celtic family towards them at a time they need it most.
HH jamesgang
HH jamesgang
Word of The Day (inspired by the Moonhowlers …..)
tergiversate /ˈtɜːdʒɪvəˌseɪt/
verb (intransitive)
1. to change repeatedly one’s attitude or opinions with respect to a cause, subject, etc.;
2. to turn renegade.
3. to change sides or loyalties; apostatize
4. to be evasive or ambiguous; equivocate
Derived Forms
tergiversation, noun
tergiversator, tergiversant (ˈtɜːdʒɪˌvɜːsə nt) noun
tergiversatory, adjective
Word Origin
C17: from Latin tergivers ā r ī to turn one’s back, from tergum back + vertere to turn
KTF
GUYFAWKESAFOREVERHERO
Celtic’s Quizball team was Jim Craig, Billy McNeil, Willie Wallace and guest supporter Actor John Cairney.
Celtic beat Sunderland, West Brom then Hearts in the final.
Wallace was a last minute sub and a bit of a dummy by all accounts, he answered the question ‘What is a Garryowen?’ Instead of a rugby kick he said “the Daily Record’s racing tipster”
Would love to go to Lisbon but not by boat. Ive taken my plodding steel motor cruiser across the channel to Dunkirk and will be heading for the Med then Greece soon but Lisbon would involve tackling the terrors of the Bay of Biscay, not for me. I piloted a friend’s boat across the channel in July, despite several favourable weather forecasts we were caught out in a freak unexpected storm mid channel, scary stuff.
Remember sitting on the arm of my dads chair watching the game at 11yo, then dancing in the streets afterwards. Ardrossan was a Hun free zone that day :))))
Floatin’
COWIEBHOY, BHOYFROMSKYE if you can get the vinyl to me I will put it onto mp4 for you; either USB stick or CD (or both); whichever you prefer.
KTF
Good on Millburn (Garngad) CSC. They have started a GoFundMe page to help St Mary’s raise money to replace what was stolen and damaged in the recent breakin. https://www.gofundme.com/help-st-marys-chapel-calton?rcid=fba1448cbcca4df0988b354e4e04df83
£3385 raised in 22 hours!
We are also running a Race Night for St Mary’s this Friday. Horses and Jockeys available for £10 with a chance to win £50. Mail me at vfr@gurfuy.co.uk if interested.
Races can also be sponsored for £25.
KTF
If you haven’t read it yet,THE CLUMPANY may just have surpassed himself with his piece on Barry Ferguson. MBE,by ra way…
https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2017/02/26/barry-ferguson-sevco-manager/
BMCUW
Well done for your part in adding to the raising of awareness which has led to nearly 130,000 having signed that petition.
JJ
Having just read the Clumpany article on Barry Ferguson, I am left convinced that he is just the fella to take Sevco Rangers back to where they belong.
JJ
Bazza come on down…
Keep on Clumpin’
Aberdeen are going for 55 tonight 0:-))
JJ
JJHS
Nothing to do with me,mate. But thanks(!)
More to do with people doing what they can to sort a wrong. Fair play to the government minister who acted very quickly on finding out the details.
A wee spring in my step as I head for a pint. I’ll need it,Baltic out there!
new article posted.
Hello again all you young rebels.
A few days ago i asked if anyone could help out with tickets
for the stickies game as one of our committee was paying
his last visit home to his old town of Belfast he has just got
back to me after a bit of a family crisis and it turns out he has
been let down with the tickets he thought he was getting and
now has none, now i know it’s a long shot but if anyone can
help him and his partner sit together to see the Celtic live at
Paradise i would be grateful as it would be so good to finally
help someone who does so much work for our club and is at
the forefront of all our charitable initiatives to keep our ethos
alive here in Oz .if and it’s a big if anyone can help let me know
on here and we’ll take it from there.
Mickevertheoptimist.com
H.H Mick