Sean Fallon was known as The Iron Man, a hard left back at a time when pretty much all footballers were hard. I met him and his wife Myra at their home a few months ago to prepare an interview in advance of his autobiography, which is due for release soon, the hard-man reputation could not have been further from the character of the person.
He was the most generous spirited man I have been in the company of for years. Myra is a force of nature, unquestionably the wind in his sails. You have never met a happier couple.
The stories he told about how Celtic were transformed from a sporting irrelevance into one of the most powerful and feared clubs in Europe were incredible. His story was one of huge and dramatic achievement. You and I are the beneficiaries.
The players he signed are legendary. Kenny Dalglish, who was in tears in Sean’s home the night he agreed to go to Liverpool, Danny McGrain, a person Sean could not speak highly enough about, and countless more. He was a committed Celtic man but took no pleasure in the death of Rangers, such was his generosity of spirit.
Sean described Jock, himself and Sir Robert Kelly as a three man team who had the vision to drive Celtic forward. He believed that when Sir Robert died in 1971 the club’s loss was significant. Nothing was the same again.
His own parting from Celtic, in 1975, was far from satisfactory, but if he told me once, he told me 10 times, “I don’t want a single word said against Celtic”. The club that you and I recognise is the creation of Jock, Sean and Sir Robert. They transformed an amateurish football club into a legendary movement. He, more than anyone I ever met, never wanted a figurative goal scored against this legend.
Today we have lost one of the architects of all we hold dear, a man who achieved the Miracle of Lisbon. His insights reach back into the depths of our character. His decision to author an autobiography is a gift to you and me. I’ll share many of his anecdotes between now and when it’s published.
My sincere condolences to Myra, son Sean and all the family. We have lost the man who was our greatest living legend but they have lost a great husband, father and grandfather. A remarkable life has come to an end.
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God bless Seans family may he rest in peace
The term ‘Legend’ is excessively used these days, but certainly not in the case of Sean Fallon.
May he rest in peace.
God bless you Sean. Thanks for everything. RIP
hail hail
RIP Sean. A great man and a great Celt.
Paul67, he was a true Celt may he RIP.
Hopefully the GB can get something planned for tomorrow to honour Sean.
LB
Sad, sad day for the whole Celtic family.
R.I.P. Mr Fallon.
HH
/Paul
Lovely and fitting tribute Paul. “A man for The Celtic”
God bless Sean Ó Fallúin, Celtic legend, gentleman and Sligo full forward.
Fondly remembered, never forgotten.
Hail Hail
DD
RIP.
To a true legend.
Wonderfully poignant Paul67 your article has brought tears to my eyes.
ASonOfDan
10:21 on
18 January, 2013
R.I.P and God Bless Sean Fallon.
After helping Celtic win the Scottish Cup against Motherwell Fallon said later: “As I walked off Hampden Park I felt I had got everything out of life I had ever wanted. I had become a member of the famous Celtic FC and holder of a Scottish Cup badge all in one year.”
He lived the dream…
———-
tomtheleedstim
10:23 on
18 January, 2013
Love the title of his obituary above “Sean Fallon – a man for the Celtic”
THE Celtic………..
says it all for me
RIP, Sean
From all the Wishaw Celts
I was fortunate to meet Sean a couple of times, a true gentleman, RIP Sean, thoughts and payers are with your family.
YNWA
P67…too quick there, thanks
A really lovely article Paul67 ,thankyou
RIP Sean, a true legend in every sense. Condolences to all his family and friends, his memory will live on in many.
Hail Hail
Sean Fallon RIP
What a man…….may he rest in peace …… His contribution to the Club he truly loved cannot be measured……..he will be remembered…
RIP Sean Fallon and condolences to his family.
Really sorry to hear this sad news.
Deepest sympathy to Sean’s family and friends from West Belfast.
Sleep well brave Celt.
P67
Nice tribute …well done
7-1
Carrigan, he absolutely was.
tomtheleedstim, to be honest, Tom, it’s impossible to pen a truly fitting tribute. Not today, anyway.
Hamiltontim, you would not believe the generosity of the man, to me, to the Celtic legend he created, even to Rangers. This was an incredible Iron Man.
Marrakesh Express, no worries. A common occurrence on these occasions.
borgo67, you are very welcome.
PFayr, thank you.
A fitting obituary, Paul.
Thank you.
Deepest condolences to the Fallon family.
sad day……………..rip. good night,god bless
R I P Sean , a true Celtic Legend.Met him once a lovely ,gentle ,man.Be difficult to find anyone prouder to wear our jersey.
We owe Sean so much……………Thank you seems so inadequate.
RIP
Very sad news indeed. RIP Sean.
RIP Sean ,
may your family remember the many good times and take comfort from the joy you brought to their and others’ lives.
HH
Sanna
A fine tribute to a great man, Paul.
I met Sean many times and he was truly a gentleman above all other things.
In many ways, that’s the greatest achievement for any man.
Yet on top of that he was also one of Celtic’s indisputably great figures, a peerless servant and a true legend.
Rest In Peace, Sean Fallon.
YNWA Sean Fallon, Celtic Legend.
Interesting what he thought about Robert Kelly’s death in ’71. Will look forward to the book.
Was fortunate enough to spend a bit of time in Sean’s company in the summer. And despite his utter disappointment at the fact Ireland were losing to Croatia in the Euro’s, he was as engaging, friendly, and humorous man as you could meet.
A gentleman, by all accounts – a terrific footballer, a great ambassador for our club – Celtic’s Iron Man is and always will be – a true Legend.
Paul67
Great obituary. Very fitting for a man who was a pillar stone of the moden Celtic.
RIP Shaun
Thoughts are with his family and his Celtic family.
Shaun Fallon- in his case the Celtic jersey had to grow to fit the Man
Great tribute.
RIP Sean
HH
Sean Fallon HH
Eternal rest..