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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Sandman
Deano was comedy gold when he worked on Sky Sports…completely unintelligible at times and hilarious without knowing it
Gene’s a Bhoys name
fluent spanish?????? Never heard of the hombre.
So one less english manager in epl -maybe windass had a point
Fitting tribute for Sean Fallon, Paul.
Just back from Belfast, no fleg nonsense anywhere, too cauld.
Gene’s A Bhoys Name 18:47
….are you sure that’s not a typo and you meant….
Dean Windass would benefit from electrocution ??
:-)
bournesouprecipe – listen to lenny on t.v. msm) and he stated every player has his price. hopeful hooper will remain with celtic until the summer, so it seems lenny knows hoopers for the off, i think it is you who knows nothing.
stick your head in the sand CFC
Best wishes to Darren Fletcheron his recovery from surgery.
As a fellow sufferer it has amazed me how he has kept up his levels of fitness.
Thank you Sean. Thank you Paul. He WAS a Giant of a man.
goldstar
Ole you know who is heading into CP as soon as he finishes his breakfast tomorrow eurochamping at the bit.
Thanks for trying yesterday, kind of you and saved me wasting time as well ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
Rioskorrie
You may have something there – he thought he had booked elocution lessons
Explains a lot
stephbhoy
Can I have the lottery numbers for tomorrow?
Thanks CSC
BSR- aye all tanned and relaxed no doubt!
No problem yesterday, just disappointed it was all in vain, the club needs to learn from this.
Evening All,
Sean Fallon. R.I.P
RTE radio paid a fitting tribute. Packie, Lou and Tommy Gorman.
HH
Logical
Clashcitybhoy
i think the problem is that players react differently so for every player that hits the highs because he wants to impress potential employees there’s another that gets upset about not being allowed to leave, a big gamble for celtic to take. i always think if a player wants to leave you should make sure you get as much value out of him as possible.
Fine tribute to Sean Fallon on RTE News.
As chance would happen, they were in Glasgow this week filming a programme about Sean, to be screened next month.
They showed footage of Sean, filmed last Tuesday, sitting on his couch, surrounded by his grandchildren.
They were all wearing Irish International Caps, won by Sean.
A programme not to be missed.
On another topic.
The admissions of bullying, threats and complicity of the authorities in the Lance Armstrong scandal, are eerily mirrored in the threats, bullying and complicity of the authorities in The Rangers scandal.
Evening all
Just in from work and gather no mention of Sean Fallon’s passing on Shortbread this evening. It’s not important but that annoys me more than it should.
Very sad tonight as another link with the glory days is gone. Nice tribute Paul- lovely fella.
Jimbo
I read a great post back in July from our friend BRTH and thought it apt that it should be reposted tonight. Sorry if it has already been done.
Brogan Rogan Trevino and Hogan supports Kano 1000 on 31 July, 2012 at 21:08 said:
Good Evening,
Luck– everyone in life needs a little luck. Sometimes you do not recognise luck when it comes a knocking– sometimes it seems like bad luck yet turns out to be good. Sometimes it is another persons luck that ultimately benefits you and turns out to be that his or her luck becomes your luck.
Any Student of history will tell you that there was very little luck on offer when the allied forces attempted a landing at Galliploli during the great war. Not only was the planned landing a failure, but it is now thought that it was always doomed to failure– even before it started.
Whilst the Dardanelles campaign is perhaps most famous for being the first major military action undertaken by ANZAC troops, it is little realised that there were many many others there as well.
Eric Bogle’s song “And the band played waltzing matilda” describes the horror and the aftermath of the Turkish onslaught of the allied troops. Dum Dum Turkish bullets ripped through the flesh and bought death to thousands.
An estimated 120,000 men ultimately perished These included more than 80,000 Turkish soldiers and 44,000 British and French soldiers, including over 8,500 Australians. Among the dead were 2,721 New Zealanders, about a quarter of those who had landed on the peninsula. Overall there were in excess of 500,000 casualties.
Beside this, general conditions were terrible with blazing heat by day, and months later sub zero temperature by night. Dysentery, Diarreha and Enteric fever were widespread affecting 145,000 troops. There was not a lot of luck about— and it seemed that luck had deserted one young soldier when his shoulder was ripped to shreds by the dreaded dum dums.
Yet for this man, Lady Luck was present– and indeed would remain present for ever more really. He did not die, and was shipped home instead– or at least he was shipped away from Gallipoli— eventually returning to his homeland— but not before a series of operations and a long convalescence in another land— Scotland!
In between Hospital treatments the young man would be allowed to leave hospital, and found himself going to Celtic Park to follow Glasgow Celtic. He took in what he saw, the atmosphere, the crowd, the play and the ethos of the club. He drank it in and kept it with him– even after he went home.
The young man married, had a family, went into politics in his home town and even went on to become Mayor– twice. He is long dead now and has a street named after him in his home town.
His name? John Fallon. Former Mayor of Sligo, War Veteran, husband, father, and Celtic fan.
So it came to be that a young Sean Fallon grew up in Sligo and came to hear about the famous Glasgow Celtic. His father told him of the club with the big heart, which helped people out, which played great football and had this huge support.
The marist educated Fallon was already a Celtic fan by the time Lady Luck appeared for the benefit of the Fallon family for a second time.
The story goes that the young Sean’s sister, Lilly, got into trouble in the waters of Lough Gill and was in danger of drowning. Fortunately, a young man jumped into the water and saved Lilly, and as a reward and an appreciation, was invited back to the Fallon household.
This young man’s name was Joe McMenemy the son of Celtic legend Jimmy McMenemy. Obviously the topic of Celtic came up and when Joe returned to Scotland he made a point of sending young Sean a Celtic shirt and a copy of Willie Maley’s book “The story of Celtic”.
It is from that background that Sean Fallon would later admit that he would have played for Celtic for nothing had they asked.
I have no intention of going through Sean’s stats as a player or even an assisstant coach. He would probably agree with my fathers description od Sean as a player– which is meant to be complimentary. The ould fella describes Fallon the player as ” All blood and snotters– but as hard as nails!”
However, it is Fallon’s attributes away from the Field of play that are worthy of the absolute highest praise. My impression is that Sean Fallon is the personification of a unique quiet dignity, a presence that speaks volumes without words or dramatic action.
It was Sean Fallon who decided to make Jock Stein– someone who was seen as a makeshift, washed up, stand in at Celtic park his Vice Captain– perhaps to the astonishment of certain team mates including his best friend at the time- Bertie Peacock.
That action was to be reciprocated years later when it was Stein and not Fallon who was named as successor to Jimmy McGrory. Fallon seemed to be the heir apparent, but gracefully stood aside to allow the legend that was to become “Big Jock” take control. Fallon could have stormed out, taken the huff or whetever, but instead was more than happy to remain serving the club that he loved so much in any capacity offered.
I have heard him interviewed and at times this elderly man just reeks of unintentional phrases that shout Celtic FC. He talks about the loyalty of the fans, even through the lean 50′s and describes how it was “most important” that they got rewards like a day of “Hampden in the sun”.
Similarly, it was “most important” that Stein’s team gave the next generation of fans “something to dream about” in Lisbon. It is also ” most important” that everyone at the club remembers that it was founded by a Marist Bother and that the club is meant to do good things for people who are not so fortunate in life!
It was Fallon who persuaded Ronnie Simpson to come to Celtic, and who had to swiftly persuade a young David Hay and his dad to leave a hotel and come with him to sign for Celtic instead of waiting for the man they had intended to meet– another Celt called Tommy Docherty who was trying to get young Hay to sign a contract that very day…….. with Chelsea.
Any number of players will testify to Fallon’s gentle and dignified way of persuading them to come to Celtic Park– not least Danny McGrain and Kenny Dalglish.
However perhaps the story that most emphasises the idea of “Lucky Sean” rubbing off on someone else is the one where he took a walk through Bellahouston Park.
It is said that he came upon a Sunday football game where jackets were being used for posts. A Bounce game between a group of young men, a bunch of friends if you will.
One young player is said to have caught his eye, and eventually the young man was called over by the genial Irishman and asked if he would be interested in trying out for Celtic? Within weeks, the young man had signed to play for Celtic,signing for manager McGrory on January 7th 1965.
His name was Jim Craig.
We are often told of the ills of Scotland. We have recently been reminded of alledged bigotry in football even between club officials. Sean is living testimony as to why that does not need to be. If you ever get the chance ask him how he became a member of Pollock Golf Club? He was proposed by someone he considered one of his closest friends— deedle dawdle– Willie Waddell– whom he refers to as simply “Deedle”. Opponent on the park, close friend off it!
One time Sean’s luck failed him== that was when he failed to sign Johan Cruyff for….. Dumbarton….. but as he says himself you have to give the fans something to dream about! You had to try!
Luck– everyone needs a little luck and sometimes someone else’s luck becomes your luck.
There may have seemed nothing lucky about a bullet in the shoulder in 1916, but that bullet brought a man to Glasgow who would later tell his son about a football team called Glasgow Celtic– and that son proved hellish lucky for Celtic– for Jock Stein, Danny McGrain, Davie Hay, Kenny Dalglish, Jim Craig and everyone who has worn a green and white scarf or stood on the terracings from the 50′s onwards.
Sean Fallon is 90 today and still lives in the south side of Galsgow.
Stay lucky Sean!
bournesouprecipe
what is it you dont understand? are you able to listen or read? children aged between 0 to 5 years old think in concrete terms, thereafter humans grow and develop, they are able to form idea’s and opinions based on infromation and are able to do so with a range of infromation.
simply, a bit like yourself
am off can be bothered with this tonoght, going to listen to some ssb
bournesouprecipe
is this bitere fo u?
Stephbhoy,
I think we are both saying the same thing ; if he wants to go, let him go, but on our terms
RIP Sean Fallon.
Wonderful servant to the club, and by all accounts a good man.
Hoaw you two, some of us huvvnae seen the hoops since before Christmas.
Any more and some people will be walking from high Burnside to Paradise the morra and preferential tee times might be thing of the past for others.
EC67
CheekybassasCSC
Hi P67,
A classy, understated tribute to a classy, understated Celt! well written. thanks.
Torontony
Hey big man, haw’s it hanging? No ladies tonight or tomorrow morning (except Derry), so may try to get up to the club. you in the club for the game?
goldstar
I think the supporter points system has merit especially as Celtic, could be in the CL indefinitely.
It wouldn’t be hard to difficult implement
This just in …
Challenge Cup second round draw
The draw for the second round of the Challenge Cup has been completed at Millom Rugby League club in Cumbria.
The draw is as follows:
Myton Warriors v Leeds Metropolitan University
West Hull v Hull Dockers
Hunslet Old Boys v Saddleworth Rangers
If only they could both lose.
I think this is about rugby league. For some reason it just popped into my inbox.
EddieWaringCSC
EC67
Season ticket holder working Tuesday (deadline day) – no Juve ticket.
Do the Sevconians imagine that if they manage to unsettle Gary Hooper enough for him to leave Celtic in this transfer window it will somehow aid and abet their efforts to win SFL Division Three?
You would think so by the tone of them.
Celtic_First
Ole Eddie Waring better be wary about mentioning a Hup an Hunder at that game.
bournesouprecipe
The tickets have been on sale for a few weeks mate , not just Tuesday .
leftclicktic,
I too am a fellow sufferer of Darren Fletcher’s illness. I too am amazed at his levels of fitness. I was saying to a friend yesterday that I thought he ought to choose another club, where he would be under less stress. Anyway, I hope and pray he does make a comeback. As I’m sure you’re only too aware, it can be so debilitating.
Sean Fallon. R.I.P
Was talking to my youngest son earlier, he’s upset that Hooper is off.
Told him to forget about him as he’s unlikely to earn as much as a footnote in Glasgow Celtic’s history. I asked him to read Paul’s fine tribute to Sean Fallon instead.
The contrast between Sean Fallon and modern football mercenaries couldn’t be more marked.
Bournesouprecipe and Stephbhoy, not a night for squabbles guys ?
I bought my Tickets for Juve home on 27th Dec from tkt office and it was empty.
jc2
19:45 on
18 January, 2013
I bought my Tickets for Juve home on 27th Dec from tkt office and it was empty.
——————————————————————————————————
That after shave you got for Christmas…..no very good.hh
stephbhoy
You seem to be suffering short term memory loss here is the hot air, that you bumped
on your keyboard,
hooper wants to play in the epl and is refusing to sign a new contract meaning he has 18 months to go before he can walk away for free. we should try to drive up the price then sell. that money (or at least some) can be used to signed another striker who wants to pull on the hoops
Who told you that Gary Hooper was refusing to sign a new contract, and when did Gary or your ‘confidant’ tell you he did’t want to pull on the Hoops?
Danny Wilson ex hun (the pre zombie ones) has signed on loan for Diet huns
might face us tomorrow if he gets clearance.
I wonder what colour pyjamas Gary Hooper wears..
Does he use a BSR standard green and white toothbrush??
Jc2
In light of that news, can I revise my score prediction to 5-0?
EC67