MARTIN O’NEILL’S whirlwind four days concluded when he celebrated his 74th birthday at Ibrox as Celtic staged a remarkable comeback to draw 2-2 with Danny Rohl’s side
It was only fitting the charismatic Irishman brought down the curtain on a particularly hectic period with a smile on his face.
On Thursday evening, O’Neill led the Hoops to a historic 1-0 Europa League triumph over VfB Stuttgart in Germany.
After a sleepover, the interim manager was whisked from Glasgow Airport to Celtic Park for a media conference to discuss the upcoming derby in Govan.
On Saturday morning, O’Neill was at Lennoxtown before he received the phone call that meant an unscheduled diversion from his routine.
SPECIAL OCCASION FOR A SPECIAL MAN…Martin O’Neill with Mary Gemmell, Tommy’s wife, at the unveiling of the Celtic legend’s statue in Craigneuk on Saturday, February 28.
EUROPE CONQUERORS…Tommy Gemmell and Martin O’Neill, both European Cup winners, pose with the silverware in the summer of 2000.
Without hesitation, the popular gaffer accepted the offer to stop off at Craigneuk for the unveiling of the statue of Celtic legend Tommy Gemmell.
O’Neill made an impromptu speech to remind the hundreds who had turned up for the special event that he had, in fact, been a team-mate of Big TG at Nottingham Forest in 1971.
“Jock Stein had decided the magic of Tommy Gemmell should be seen elsewhere,” was the way O’Neill framed it.
“I was just a teenager at the time and I think Tommy was about 104! Of course, I knew of the great Tommy Gemmell and that wonderful goal against Inter Milan in the European Cup Final in Lisbon in 1967.
“I admit I used to fawn over him when he was around.”
O’Neill posed for pictures in front of the tribute to a special man, received hugs from Mary Gemmell, Tommy’s wife, and daughter Karen.
It was an emotional afternoon so wonderfully organised by Martin McCrum and the Tommy Gemmell Community Project committee.
A tear or two were shed as the memories flooded back; a fitting tribute to a genuine Celtic great.
Thanks for the memories, Tommy. They will live on forevermore.
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