It remains a possibility that Atletico Madrid will lose today’s league decider against Barcelona and next week’s Champions League final against Real Madrid (vernacular: ‘do a Hearts), but I hope not. The fact that they have pushed the two most celebrated football clubs on the planet to the limit, across two tournaments, is already remarkable. Should they deliver on two fronts, it will be the most stunning achievement in European football in 47 years.
There was a healthy amount of bloodlust for the Uefa Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules to fine the life out of the likes of Manchester City and Paris St Germain, before banning them from Uefa competition. This was never the point.
What Uefa have done is bring Europe’s two most freely spending clubs into line. FFP will restrict City and PSG’s expenditure, transfer market activity and squad selection. This is a result.
It’s a pity we’re not at Celtic Park to lift the Scottish Cup today. *!*!
Enormous thanks to Tommy Gemmell and everyone who participated in the entertainment here yesterday. Tommy thoroughly enjoyed the banter and will be back on the blog below this article early this afternoon to catch up with the questions he didn’t have time for yesterday.
You can buy a signed copy of his new autobiography, which he can add a personalised message to, by ordering below:
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Tommy, no questions from me, and I was too young to see you play but a massive thank you for everything you did for our club. Really enjoying the q&a!
D D
Where exactly is the Polish club in Kelvingrove?
TOMMY GEMMELL
They didn’t used to be graffiti covered, but this shows where it is and why it is there!
Back in the day, of course, you’d have been up there in a couple of strides!
http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=funicular%20lisbon&source=web&cd=15&ved=0CF8QtwIwDg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Drq92QtFD9Fo&ei=_Vl3U8v3O8XxOte9gfAG&usg=AFQjCNHTPdOSfv66CKFXWWnzVpDIgboNWA&bvm=bv.66917471,d.ZWU
BRTH email sent
Thanks for earlier answer Tommy.
I was at the game in Cardiff the night Mr. Stein died, it was a very subdued bus ride home i can tell you. Where were you and could you believe it had happened? H H.
TG, I am not posting much on CQ at the moment but watching your answers and enjoying memories.
I am 69 and watched you at your peak and thanks for the memories.
I suppose you will say you are (like me) still to peak yet, well let’s hope so for both of us!
Good luck with the book and H.H.
Good to see you back on again Tommy no questions from me today as there are plenty of others being asked.
On the ole sausage debate, where I come from it’s square slice, round slice and links! That should cover all your sausage needs when you go out for your messages. These are normally washed down with tea, never coffee, or a bottle of ginger if you are younger.
Hail! Hail! PMTYH Auf geht’s BVB (Dortmund)
Tommy Gemmell
Thanks for the answer Tommy, but as you say you didn’t have the trophy for world club champions.
The 1-0 win in the Alfredo Di Stefano testimonial when Jinky destroyed them and Bobby Lennox slotted home the winner proved to me and many others, that in that moment in time, Glasgow Celtic were the finest team on the planet.
Many thanks and all the best.
SPD 1956
Tommy ,my first time seeing Celtic in the flesh was the 65 League Cup final .2-1 to us thanks to Yogi . The lap of honour was attacked be some of thier fans . I seem to remember the players throwing to cup from one to another to prevent the hordes taking it.
Any memories of this?
TG
Joe is my father n law
Take Care
Tommy,
Out with Big Jock, who has been your favourite Celtic manager & why?
HH PC67
Tommy, thanks for your reply to my question. Sometime later Celtic played an Italian team in New Jersey and my American cousins good not believe the wee man’s tricks or the pace of Bobby Lennox. Your were great ambassadors then and still are. The Lions will never be forgotten. We will not let it happen. Nor will those who come after us. Again thanks for your patience and courtesy in answering all our questions. H.H.
Tommy Gemmell
Great that you returned to the blog today.
Another memory of watching your goals was how the whole net shimmered and billowed when the ball smashed in.
Do you think Celtic should loosen the nets at Celtic Park so that young fans nowadays get that same thrill?
The Subbuteo bounce straight back out we have these days is rubbish. Sometimes my eyes aren’t even sure the ball’s gone over the line.
Let’s get goalies back to untangling the ball from the back of the net.
Tommy I remember wee jinky and willie henderson on scotsport.having a laugh and talking of games against each other.
Willie said the crowd would be whipped up when after one of your tackles on him, youz would square up, pointing in each others faces while the onlooking crowd roared.
Willie- right you dae that again and your buyin
Tommy-where we going for a pint?
Willie – in the toon if am still walkin!
Tommy-youl live and mines is a heavy !
Meanwhile us fans are going mental
Do you recall any banter
HH
Well done to the Rangers news on wishing Danny Mc Grain a speedy recovery and threatening a life ban to anyone who is discourteous to him on that particular thread.
Get well soon Danny
HH
Tommy, any memories of the late Jimmy Quinn who played for Celtic infrequently during your time?
SOAL
What a lucky man Joe is:o)
Love
TG,
My thanks for your answer to my question. My heart still beats that bit faster when I see in the old mind’s eye you lashing a penalty in to the net. The Benfica one for some reason appears in black and white although I can see you in your green and white jersey jumping for joy. That’s what age does to you, I guess. Wonderful memories.
Oh dear…good, should be …could.
Rodo1
I think my managerial days are behind me. Neil Lennon will just have to make do with my support from the Lisbon Lions stand!
Rye catcher
I think you’re confusing me with Archie Gemmill in the 1978 World Cup Finals against Holland in Argentina. Nice goal – nothing to do with me!
Kenny Dalglish was a bit of a late developer. He didn’t make an immediate impact, but, of course, went on to be world class. I would like to think he picked up a tip or two from me.
Margaret McGill
Yes, I frequented the Lady in the Lake pub in Bridge of Allan a couple of times. It was nice meeting you.
sandman
Rangers were always a huge challenge to Celtic back in the day. Will they ever get back tho their old status? Goodness only knows!
bamboo
A couple of daft fans actually attacked Billy McNeill and Big Yogi as we returned to the tunnel with the League Cup. One was about to attack Ian Young when I grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and threw him to the ground.
Ah, those good Old Firm derbies!
Pedrocaravan
Jock Stein was by far the best manager at Celtic. Jimmy McGrory signed me, but Big Jock was untouchable.
Please let me take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been in touch over the last couple of days. It’s been a fabulous walk down memory lane with the best supporters in the world.
Thank you, too, for all your kind comments. My hat will never fit me again!
It’s been quite overwhelming and I hope you enjoy my book. You can get personally signed copies from Winning Captains. The address is: david@CQNmagazine. com.
I really hope you enjoy it as much as I have had chatting with you.
Thanks to one and all.
All The Best!
A shameless plug for my niece Kirsty who is setting off this weekend with some friends to walk the West Highland Way in aid of research into Multiple Sclerosis from which my sister suffers as does my sister in law here in Derbyshire where she has been in a care home for the past seven years and is now incapable of speech or movement.
I appreciate that we all have many demands on our pockets but seem to be limitless in generosity. I think I am right in saying that Scots per head of population suffer most so please give a positive thought for Kirsty if no more.
http://www.justgiving.com/kirstyhendry
EDB
I know his daughter married me
Anyway MJ wants to know did you?
Love
An “ alternative view “ on skwerr .
I thoroughly enjoyed my two rolls and skwerr today .
However , I realised there was something odd about them just as I was about to drop them in the frying pan er I mean the grill … Dr Benaran may be lurking .
My skwerr sausage weren’t square .
Blinkin’ flip , they weren’t even rectangular .
Now I can hardly remember yesterday never mind what happened in a geometry lesson 40 years ago so I reverted to Google which revealed the fact that my sausages were in actual fact trapezoid … I won’t bore you with a definition .
So and to avoid lazy use of language , I am therefore left with no choice but to refer to said sausages in future as trapezoid .
For example , my neighbors may hear me shouting at my son , “ want a roll and trapezoid “ ?
Or if you are in Penders in Coatbridge next Saturday at about 10 am , you may hear me ask for a pound of trapezoid .
PS Don’t get me started on the round square sausage .
Stevie May looking fetching in green & white!!
Great to see the chat from the great Tommy Gemmell. I idolised Tommy in his Celtic days. A true legend!
Tommy Gemmell
All the best to you and with the book.
Don’t be a stranger to CQN.
Marvelous reading a real legend.
Will be looking out for you guys more than Ronaldo come the CL cup final.
Take care and good health and thanks for the continuous pleasure you still give to me.
HH
Watching SC Final build up on the Beeb. Stevie May wearing emerald green tracky top and baseball cap. Do you think he’s trying to tell us something?
L Cup -Tommy it was quite wild at the final whistle in the unsegregated enclosure at Hampden where I was . Their pitch invasion ended laps of honour in those games.
Paul67
If I stay off the blog for a week can you line up Bobby Lennox next week ?
Is that how it works ? ;-)
HH
Thank you for your reply Mr Gemmell,
I was indeed referring the Neil Lennon and his assistants as the management team once again thanks again.
Hail hail
Many thanks Tommy. You are a true legend.
So Fred Colon
was the trapezoid sausage invented because the “Links” sausage kept rollin’ off the roll?
i think we should be told
Yes and was rejected in a most flattering way:o
And for a variety of reasons I think it was for the best. But glad I asked and feel better for it.
Really feel pretty positive these days with just 5 weeks until the first anniversary. Time does heal as they say.
Peace.
Awe Naw
Facebook also
Tommy Gemmell….
Thank you for the answer mate…..you are and always will be a proper legend to me.
The Archie Gemmill reference was said with tongue in cheek…..but just wondered if anybody who didn’t ‘t know about fitba ever confused you with him?
If you’d have had that pass from Kenny in Argentina…..I reckon there would have been none of wee Erchie’s fancy Dan stuff…..You would just have rocketed it in the top corner.
Three cheers for Tommy Gemmell……Who put us on the level……loved that song growing up.
Hail Hail Tam …..Love ya big man.
Looking forward to the cup finals today.
Well as much as I can without us being there. It’s a shame one club and set of fans will be going home disappointed.
Tommy Gemmell……..what a guy. Thank you.
EDB
Good for you
Although that 1950’s clobber you were sporting would not have helped
Gok Wan CSC
Don,t ,Can,t understand any celtic fan who would support the scum that is athletico madrid ,a club who tried ans succeeded in kicking us out of the European cup at the semi final stage,and leaving jinky black and blue for weeks,they were cheating scumbags then and I could never support them to win the big cup or la liga ,and no celtic fan young or old should.hope they get humped in both games