The loss of our greatest living legend

1049

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.

Click Here for Comments >
Share.

About Author

1,049 Comments

  1. The Yorkshire “HeeHaw” has angrily slapped down the weathers attempt at snowing and has demanded that for the good of scottish football, in future, it only snows on days when the tribute act are not ‘performing’.

  2. ArranmoreBhoyLXV11 on

    HH

     

    Juve tickets arrived .. Excited .. Today I can t wait.. Respects for Sean Fallon and in his memory a typical hard tackling Sean Fallon type win..

     

     

    For Sean Fallon today !!

     

     

    HH

  3. Never thought I’d be looking forward so much to a game against the dour Jambos.

     

     

    Don’t expect Lenny would agree with my line-up (history is somewhat against me) but would dearly love to see that midfield three of Brown, Wanyama and Ledley. Their performance together – can’t remember what game it was – well, I don’t expect to see it bettered.

     

     

    Slight concerns about the defence. It will probably be Rogne and Mulgrew, which makes sense if you believe 2 CBs should consist of one heir-the-baw and one passer. Rogne has frustrated me recently. His bad habits- hoofing the ball out or to their keeper/defenders – are starting to outweigh his strengths. I’d rather see Lustig at CB instead, but if it has to be Rogne, Matthews deserves the LB berth more than Izzy imo. Then there’s Gershon – will he get an immediate start? Hopefully he’ll play a part today.

     

     

    HH

  4. prestonpans bhoys on

    leftclicktic

     

    11:54 on

     

    19 January, 2013

     

    prestonpans bhoys

     

    Flurries of snow starting in ML5 :((

     

     

    Can’t be as bad as here. Time to dig oot the car and get to Wester Hailes and pick up the bhoys. Enjoy the game!

  5. ASonOfDan

     

    11:10 on

     

    19 January, 2013

     

    voguepunter

     

     

    You heard anything about the Rutherglen Reformer reporter who runs the zombie site rangers standard?

     

    ——————————————————————————————————–

     

    Gave up on the Reformer dunkkies ago after an article on young Orank ludge

     

    carrying on the proud traditions of their fore (4) faithers.

  6. Are hearts now the full fat huns now that the big huns are deid?are they now the big cousins now that the others are a tribute act? Allythe pie man demands to know…..

     

    Makes sense tae me……

  7. BIG-CUP-WINNERS on

    Looks like another poor crowd. Pity all those clamouring for Champions league tickets couldn’t be persuaded to watch the team today.

  8. My friend in Dublin has been badly let down re Juve ticket. Mine dropped through letterbox today but have now missed deadline. Any kind CQNers point me in direction of a ticket which would make a Dublin Bhoy eternally grateful ?

  9. tommytwiststommyturns on

    Brief flurry of snow in G14. It’s gonna be Baltic up in 408 today….the best thing the muppets who run Scottish football could do, apart from resigning en masse, is start the league in March. Summer fitba please!

     

     

    T4

  10. ROW Z - Let Celtic Flourish By The Cleansing Of The 'Den! on

    On the SFA ‘Fans Charter’ intellectual vacuum.

     

     

    74% of the respondents never or hardly ever go to an away game.

     

     

    33% of the respondents never or hardly ever go to a home game

     

     

    Why are we taking account of the views of armchairs about attending games?

     

     

    Would the ‘results’ be different if these views were set aside?

     

     

    What are the views of those who actually go and pay the money to keep the game alive?

     

     

    HH

  11. Looking forward to the game today and to give a roar for Mr Fallon what a great and dignified Celt. Snow starting in G62 t-shirt back in the wardrobe hoody on.

     

    Postman WIlliam ya orc where is my Juve tickets.

     

     

    HH

  12. Burghbhoy

     

    Double check those tickets,they may be copy’s,never trust a “Sevco Postie”HH

  13. Spooky!!!!!

     

    Just getting ready to go the game and reading the Sean Fallon tribute in The Herald. Is it just me or has Tosh MacKinlay managed to photoshop himself into the Lisbon Lions open deck bus tribute? Check out the guy sitting in front of Sean. Steve is sitting to the right of Sean and the guy sitting in the front of Sean is the spitting image of Tosh. Not only that the figure beside Bobby Lennox looks like Skippy?

     

     

    I need to get off the drugs.

  14. Juventus ticket arrived, great.. Moved my seat for the Uefa punters, poor.

     

    Getting ready to go to match via BourneSoupRecipeville. Really quite excited about today for some reason. I fancy a right good victory and performance.

     

    I don’t normally wear replica kit, (I buy them and give them away), to old for all that.

     

    However, today I will be sporting the Hoops of 1956 in honour of Celtic legend, Sean Fallon.

     

     

    Enjoy your day everyone.

     

     

    EC67

  15. Juventus ticket arrived, great.. Moved my seat for the Uefa punters, poor.

     

    Getting ready to go to match via BourneSoupRecipeville. Really quite excited about today for some reason. I fancy a right good victory and performance.

     

    I don’t normally wear replica kit, (I buy them and give them away), to old for all that.

     

    However, today I will be sporting the Hoops of 1956 in honour of Celtic legend, Sean Fallon.

     

     

    Enjoy your day everyone.

     

     

    EC67

  16. Robert Tressell @ 12 08.

     

     

    The only practising Catholic I know in Scotland is a big home and away Hearts fan . He will be at Celtic Park today .

     

     

    He will also be at Celtic Park for the Juve game. He will be in the Juve end . He will be very much hoping that Celtic win that game ..

     

     

    It’s a complicated world

  17. YEEEHHHAAA Postman William now officially a Patrick and not an orc. Tickets just came and patrick says is that yer Juve tickets yer a lucky mhan a stood in the queue and got turned away. I had to offer him my sympathies when I actually wanted to do a wee jig in the drive.

     

     

     

    HH

  18. The BBC News website prints a list of 10 things we didn’t know ast week.

     

     

    The current list is:-

     

     

    1. Two per cent of Europeans lack the genes for smelly armpits.

     

    More details (Scientific American)

     

     

    2. It is possible to beam an image (the Mona Lisa, in this case) to the Moon using a high-powered laser.

     

    More details (Huffington Post)

     

     

    3. Russian soldiers don’t wear socks.

     

    More details (NPR)

     

     

    4. Horse-eating is called Hippophagy.

     

    More details

     

     

    5. You can make beer out of Sugar Puffs.

     

    More details (The Guardian)

     

     

    6. Overbites didn’t become standard until everyone started eating with a knife and fork.

     

    More details (The Atlantic)

     

     

    7. The East Midlands has a history of small to moderate earthquakes.

     

    More details

     

     

    8. Swiss cheese plants suffer from stress.

     

    More details

     

     

    9. Inflatable space capsules are as safe as metal ones.

     

    More details (New Scientist)

     

     

    10. Trees that are more than 100m tall cannot grow leaves.

     

    More details (New Scientist)

     

     

     

    I am unsure if my life is any richer for this knowledge.

  19. tommytwiststommyturns on

    ht – left-back, mate. Can’t believe he’ll start today, but not sure on the injury front.

     

     

    T4

  20. tommytwiststommyturns on

    SFTB – you might have created a monster there!

     

     

    ht – story of my life! It’s going to be cold in the stadium today….wonder if I could sneak in some miniatures to pour in the bovril?!

     

     

    T4

  21. Btw for anyone who lost out on Juve tickets you can turn up at the TO this week and get 3 tickets for the cup semi at Hampden next week for less than you would have paid for the CL game ;-)