They say you should not get to know your heroes as they will only disappoint. Very few heroes grow in stature when you get to know them as individuals, but Billy McNeill did just that. He was more than just a football hero, more than just the first Briton to lift the European Cup, more than an imperious player, manager and authority in the game. He was generous with his time, interested in those he met, always happy to engage with fans, the perfect ambassador of our community. We lost him today, aged 79, after years of dementia.
None of us today, including those who are old enough to remember the fifties, could probably explain just what an impact Billy, Jock Stein and the rest of the Lisbon Lions had. Eight years had passed since Celtic won a trophy before the big man rose to head the winner in the 1965 Scottish Cup Final against Dunfermline. That in itself was a momentous event. If the story ended there, that Cup win, that header, would be secure in our memory. But so much more followed.
A club which had been starved of success for 40 years was deluged in glory. Nine-in-a-row was a world record. When the run ended, there was disappointment, but we were also able to look back on a staggering achievement. The European Cup, a further final and two semi-finals took Celtic and Billy’s reputations across Europe. This was a team of winners led by a titan. Billy, articulate and charming, was master of all.
He became manager of Celtic, who finished the previous season in fifth place, in 1978, immediately restoring the club to the top of Scottish football. He repeated this obligement in 1987, but by then the tides were turning. Money would determine success from that point on and Billy retired to what was his first role at Celtic – a supporter.
News of Billy’s dementia spread before the family made the announcement and I met him a few times during that period. On one occasion, he stopped my son with a question: “When did Celtic win the European Cup?” On hearing the right answer, Billy joked, “You’ve got a better memory than me.” And with a smile, added, “I suppose I should stop making jokes like that”. The inner strength the man had was astonishing.
The last time I spoke to Billy he was in the company of John Clark and I was with my Dad. After a few moments chat, Billy said, “I remember you, you delivered butcher meat to my mother.” 40 years had passed since that was true, and Billy was already suffering dementia, but he remembered the ordinary Celtic fans who returned the joy he gave them for so many years. Even through his illness, he inspired and impressed.
For all the trophies, the goals and the glory, my fondest memory of Billy is when the Celtic media team took him back to the tunnel at Estadio Nacional. He explained the team’s walk from the dressing room and how they raised themselves in that tunnel for the task ahead. None of what that team did was easy. It took courage, hard work and extraordinary ability.
If you met him, if you knew him, tell people about him for the rest of your life. Share the memories and the joy. Remind people that he was hard as granite when he needed to be, that he was intelligent, funny and a great football player.
Today’s loss is overwhelmingly to Liz, the family and their close friends. The rest of us can only wonder at how lucky we were to have Billy in our lives.
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Norriem –
Clicked on your link and wondered what I was missing (as usual!) but the reached picture 14, brilliant!
NORRIE…
I need to get THAT Photo for My Wall, has anybody got any idea where in Glasgow I could arrange to buy THAT Photo of the LIONS, and obviously to have it enlarged to take up most of my Wall, if not all of it ?
ALSO….On a Bad note,
While I welcome ANY Messages of Condolences from Hun Fans , about Big Billy’s passing….I do Predict that some of THAT Mob will soon be spouting Chants and “Songs” of Hate about Billys death, in the VERY Near Future ?
I sincerely hope that I am wrong ?
HH
Anyone KNOW for FACT, IF when Celtic played Vovjvdina in March 1967 at Celtic Park, in that quarter Final, that IF Celtic ( Big Billy), had NOT Scored , and the Aggregate Score would have obviously been 1-1….Would the match have went to Extra Time….or is My memory playing tricks, as I seem to remember that in the event of a Tie on Aggregate, both Teams would have to play a “Play Off” Match in Rotterdam…re UEFA Rules at that time ?..in other words, a Third Match ?
HH
I wonder if the huns will have a minutes applause/silence, for the ex Aberdeen manager who passed away?
https://www.facebook.com/ThaiTims/videos/1069881039715808?sfns=mo
Big Jimmy 9.14am
Archie McPherson mentioned that with minutes to go everybody was thinking off to Rotterdam, before my time so didn’t have a clue why, think your explanation is bang on the money
Big Jimmy & Bada Bing
Had a look on FF last night. It had a thread on Billy’s passing. The vast majority of posts were full of praise and respect whilst a few were less so. References were made to other fora where there were some hate filled remarks. Most of the bears seemed disgusted by the few who were bringing shame to their “club.”
Ger -fair enough,but you know Traynor will be having crisis talks with Maxwell………
BIG JIMMY
Vojvodina ?
Rules in the case of a draw necessitated a 3rd
game.It was scheduled for Rotterdam.
They were a great team.A better team than Inter.They missed an absolute sitter in Glasgow -early in the game.
Would have loved to read or watch a few words from Paul McStay who was clearly Big Billy’s most significant player in his managerial career.
Perhaps I have missed it but I have not come accross anything.
Charlie Nicholas interview had me in tears.
I know that Paul is very low key and lives in Australia but I am hoping we will see something over the next few days.Would not be surprised if he is making a trip over for Billy’s funeral.
South of Tunis
Vojvodina and Partisan Belgrade(EC finalists in 1966) provided the backbone of the Yugoslavia team which were runners up in the 1968 Euros. The winners were Italy, which had 4 or 5 Inter players.
Celtic really were among the elite then.
LAZYDYNAMITE-Paul and Willie were in my local a few months ago(Willie lives up the road from me,and i chat to regularly),the night that they buried their mum,had a good chat with Paul,not often i’m starstruck but……………,an absolute gent,and a really shy guy.A lock in and a sing song followed,what a memorable night,which helped the guys on a very sad occasion.He is loving life in Australia,his son John plays for Clyde,and is getting married soon,so he will be back home for that.HH
My friends in Celtic,
I listened to the Radio Clyde phone in last night. I thought the tributes from Hugh Keevens and Gordon Daziel were very wholesome and genuine.
Indeed the whole Clyde team and all the punters who phoned in made it a very enjoyable and respectful show.
In fact the greater media has excelled.
I intend driving to Paradise today to pay my respects on this very sad but yet very beautiful moment.
HH to all the Celtic family.
I have never met the great man.
However, his daughter’s were at my cousin’s wedding in Glasgow some years ago,
and I found myself in awe of them – me being in the same room as Cesar’s family.
I couldn’t even muster the courage to say hello.
God bless them and the rest of the McNeill’s in these difficult days.
As a recent birthday present I got to choose a match to go to
and I’m so glad to have chosen Saturday’s game.
It will be something special.
Hail Hail to all the Celtic Family.
Nice BADABING ..THANKS FOR THE UPDATE on the Meastro..great story
I see that tomorrow night’s youth cup final, Celtic v Sevco, is being shown live on the BBC Scotland Channel, kick off 7.05. Not quite sure whether our better known youngsters still play with the U18s or with the reserves but I’ll have a watch in any event.
CQN at it’s brilliant best!
Sadness and humour in equal measure.
Good to see so many absent friends on the Blog too!
Rest in peace Billy.
YNWA
!!Bada Bing!! on 24th April 2019 9:16 am
https://www.facebook.com/ThaiTims/videos/1069881039715808?sfns=mo
FABULOUS
GER 57@9 49
Yes ! .
Remember a big feature re the 66/67 European Cup in Italy’s Fitba Pink . Included an interview with Helenio Herrera . He opined that Real Madrid were the favorites but Vojvodina were very very good .He also rated Ajax , Liverpool , Dukla and CSKA . He gave Celtic a mention and stated that they’d been victims of a wrong offside decision v Liverpool in the ECWC semis. Inter eliminated Real Madrid and took 3 games to beat CSKA.
new article posted.
I will always remember Big Billy from the UEFA Cup final in Seville
I was at Glasgow airport just after checking in for our flight to Seville at about 4am in the morning and heading up the escalators towards the flight gates when I saw Billy a bit in front of me with heading towards his own flight with his family.
Now as probably happened to him hundreds of times Billy got caught in conversation with some fellow fans
while his family made their way ahead to the gates.
About 15 minutes later all you could hear was Billy getting shouted on from his family in the distance ”Billy are you coming”
Billy as usual had become so engrossed in talking with fellow fans that he had let his family walk miles into the distance without him
A man of the people there is no doubt, Mr Celtic there is no doubt