We have Tommy Gemmell on the blog from 13:00 this afternoon. He will introduce himself in the comments section and be available for a ‘chat’ and questions.
Pat Woods, one of Celtic’s finest historians, sent me this excerpt from his book, Celtic, Pride and Passion:
“Although there was no formal award at the time to mark his performance, Tommy Gemmell, memorably described by Geoffrey Green in The Times (London) as “A big blond cat set among the Italian pigeons ‘, was widely regarded as the man of the match of the 1967 European Cup Final.
The continental journalists were particularly effusive, amazed as they were by the stamina, energy, determination and shooting power he displayed as he continually surged forward into attack.
Jean Cornu of L’Equipe, the most prestigious sports paper of them all, described Tommy as ‘The executioner of Inter, the man who smashed their defensive screen’, while the correspondent of the Swiss newspaper Gazette de Lausanne singled him out as the symbol of his assertion that Celtic’s display had rehabilitated football’s image and its honour.
Noting the delight on Gemmell’s face after the final whistle as the full back, With Sandro Mazzola’s ‘swap’ shirt draped over his shoulders, celebrated on the pitch, the correspondent wrote: ‘His smile was the smile on the face of the whole of football, that of real attacking football in all that world, conquering passion and conviction which we have come to love so much’.”
Tommy was in every sense a modern footballer, capable of playing with either foot, he had the kind of engine players of the 60s just didn’t possess. This gave him range, which combined with speed and a legendary shooting ability made him one of the genuine world class footballers in Jock Stein’s armoury. At the very peak of European football, the only occasion when a collection of players from the one local area became champions of Europe, Tommy Gemmell made the stage his own.
Best wishes to Danny McGrain, another of Celtic’s legendary full backs, who is recovering from a minor heart attack. We don’t know how lucky we are to have Danny on the training ground and in the dressing room with the first team players.
Today, Tommy Gemmell releases his autobiography, ‘All the best’, a fresh work, written with his friend of 50 years, Alex Gordon, which examines his life and times, in particular during that unique period in the history of sport in this country, when Celtic cast an enormous shadow over European football. It is a fantastic read, full of inspirational recollections and anecdotes.
You can order a copy signed by the man himself below. Remember to tune in from 13:00 today with questions, comments and stories for Tommy – and if you ask him about his European Cup Final goal, remember to tell him if you’re referring to the Lisbon or Milan Final!
This is what blogs were made for. Fill your boots and wallow in some unabashed Celtic glory. The stage is yours once more, Tommy.
[calameo code=0003901717b11f6e50af4 lang=en page=40 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]Tommy Gemmell: All the Best:
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Well done to CQN and Tommy G. Excellent Q & A session this afternoon.
Dan
“The wine will flow red, the music will play loud, and we’ll put this mess behind us …” Sandy Easdale, to the Union of Fans ….
WalderFreyCSC
http://www.onfieldsofgreen.com/a-nice-day-for-a-blue-wedding/
Jist Read back…
If Ye ur Looking fur a Lad who is .. Very.. Au Fait… aboot How it wiz tae Be a
Member o’ the “Lions”.
Ye should Look nae Further ,than..
Tommy Gemmell..
Thanks Tommy.. the Manner , in Which , Ye Couched Yer Answers tae the Probing Questions.. which wur posed by A
Demanding Aggregation o’ Inquisitive CQNers..
Wuz.. . Ach.. Whit the Hell..
Almost…
Erudite!( Ah hiv Bin Dying tae Use that Woid.. For A Long time,oan Here..)
Thanks,kid.. Ye Done Good.
Kojo
Still,Laughin’
Just in from cutting the grass, straight from work. Damn the grass could have caught Tommy.
Won’t be on tomorrow as I have to be somewhere!!
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Leftclicktic
Yer joking surely??!! She’s just asked me to go into the woods and cut down trees!!!! :-)
Btw,
I posted that knowing that Tommy G will be lurking tomorrow :)
HT,
The minx has your card stamped…well and truly :)
Sispini
If stamping my card equates to adding chores to it, like a checklist kinda thing, then you’re dead on mate :-)
hamiltontim is praying for oscar
18:48 on 16 May, 2014
You on duty so to speak on Sunday through your work commitments?
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Lennybhoy
I have 2 Communions on Sunday but neither are work related.
Is that what you meant? :-)
HT,
Mind your leg, wouldn’t want you chopping it off after the advice you were getting earlier :)
hamiltontim is praying for oscar
18:48 on 16 May, 2014
…………
I hear Minx has 1,888 jobs lined up for ye!
Start where ye mean to finish CSC
:>)
Sispini
Oh my leg’s safe…..I need both to do all the odd jobs :-)
Gerry fae SSB
has called his new born son – Oscar.
Well done – good luck wee ghuy.
Paul67 et al
Great stuff on here this afternoon, and more proof that the Celtic greats, like Tommy, Yogi and Wispy, were not just great footballers, they are special men.
Going off oot to ensure that
any bickering dizny find it’s
way to my door. Bye.
hamiltontim is praying for oscar
18:52 on 16 May, 2014
It was mate, you have missed your vocation in life, we should swap jobs…explain tomorrow…:)
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
HT
How’s your leg ? Did you try the vodka remedy ;)
Sips
Have the zombies in your work chipped in again for the season tickets again
Lenny
HT has found his vacation in life ;)
Heh vmhan -ynwa wee oscar
Dont usually comment on podiums
Todays tho – BELTAH ! :-))
HH
CarlsbegwhoCsC
tbj says wee oscar knox is in heaven with the angels
19:04 on 16 May, 2014
Nirvana :)
Enjoy yourself tomorrow.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Lenny
Sitting in the front of the main stand so you might see me on tv ;)
tbj says wee oscar knox is in heaven with the angels
19:12 on 16 May, 2014
Easy to spot wearing green and white…:)
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Lenny
My mate has talked me into wearing the tangerine shirt tomorrow
I wanted to wear a bed sheet and a tea towel
Just watched Fernando Ricksen
on the STV news there.
My God, that is so sad.
Thoughts & Prayers for all
who are close to him.
Off oot.
Tbj,
Nope, pity, it was funny watching thems argue who’s turn it was to go….it went a bit like…a went two weeks ago, aye bit ye only stayed twenty mins, the auld guy in the next seat told me…still went, it’s your turn.
The joys of watching hun argue with hun :)
an tearmann
19:04 on 16 May, 2014
Heh vmhan -ynwa wee oscar
Dont usually comment on podiums
Todays tho – BELTAH ! :-))
HH
CarlsbegwhoCsC
……………
Ha! Cheers amigo, I did also have to log in, which made it all the sweeter.
HH
Tommy,
Thanks for your comments about Billy Price.
Sadly, Billy passed away in 2004 but my old man will be pleased to hear what you said.
Hail Hail
vmhan,
Win with dignity, you had to log in…show off :)
I bet all you weans are jealous of us aul’ yins,who experienced all those days and games that Tommy and Yogi recalled.
Fitba is it?
Let me tell you aboot fitba, boy!
Althetim,
Billy Price was a lovely cultured left half, who brought a bit of class and composure to the young colts around him.
sipsini
19:26 on 16 May, 2014
vmhan,
Win with dignity, you had to log in…show off :)
……………….
Dignity you say!
That ship has sailed :>)
V
I hear if mo farrah wins a medal in Glasgow in the summer he’s gona sell the ribbon? Cos every1 wants the sash mo farrah wore.
thomthethim for oscar ok
19:30 on 16 May, 2014
I bet all you weans are jealous of us aul’ yins,who experienced all those days and games that Tommy and Yogi recalled.
Fitba is it?
Let me tell you aboot fitba, boy!
………….
Ha ha!
You’re not endearing yourself to the young team on here lol
The Lisbon Lions and Brazil in Mexico 1970, football bliss.
V
So Messi, whom I think is fantastic (but!!!!), is now on £308K per week. FFP my arse. Barca pay your taxes and help the less fortunate people of your country!
I posted a note on FB about Tommy G a LL and one of my wife’s family hadn’t a scooby about football so asked about it. When I explained she said ” oh! There’s a statue of a lion with Celtic on it and I was going to take a picture of it for you”, I now await said picture although she said it’s on the side of a busy road and she’d be taking her life in her hands.
I’ll post it when I get it.
V
hamiltontim is praying for oscar
19:41 on 16 May, 2014
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HT, somewhat modified but the old ones are always the best ;-)
miafarrowcsc