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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10 years ago today king henrik played his last game at paradise
Therefore the last time i cried..was 10 years ago today
B-(
I miss the fitba already.
Pog
It’s pre watershed here :-)
From Celtic snippets – Peter Johnstone the Lanky Fifer 1913.
http://theshamrockglasgow.wordpress.com/2014/05/16/celtic-snippets-peter-johnstone-the-lanky-fifer-poetic-tribute/
From out the Kingdom, Peter hies,
From Glencraig Celtic, to be precise,
And thence unto the Paradise,
The summit of his fame.
With every trick that’s in the trade,
Full many a role has Peter played;
The brilliant deputy he made,
Adds lustre to his name.
A loyal servant you have been,
Long may you wear the hoops of green,
Your well-kent face of old be seen
On our own Paradise.
No warmer Celtic heart than thine,
Long may your star ascendant shine.
Full sure when Celtic made you sign
They booked a prize.
Brilliant CSC
V
Steinreignedsupreme
The Redskins .
I rememember them . I had 2 of their 45s -Lev Bronstein / Lean on me ,.
” Borrowed ” by my son and never returned .
Never saw them but did see some of them in a band called-No Swastikas -in the early 80s.
Kevjungle
Can you tell us more, don’t get STV and nothing online.
Thanks
HT
The bike my father rode
Kevjungle
I just googled it. Thanks anyway.
HH
Fernando Ricksen – Don’t Shrink son.
http://www.dontshrink.com
HH
bhoylo83
19:50 on 16 May, 2014
10 years ago today king henrik played his last game at paradise
Therefore the last time i cried..was 10 years ago today
—————————————————————————
Yer a hard hearted sod if you’ve not cried since ;-)
I watched the game in Lourdes in a restaurant/ hotel called Bernadette’s owned by a woman from Scotland. Yes a few tears were shed that day and in my own case quite a few since?
mrsofteecsc
vhman,
……and they can’t take that away from us!
fredastairecsc.
Evening Timland from a warm hun free mountain valley.
So Messi has a wage rise.
Someone on the minimum wage, and there are plenty, will have to work for over 23 years, a 40 hour week, no holidays, to earn the same as Messi gets in a week.
Something no right there then.
HH
Pogmathon
Ok il confess i mite have shed the odd wee tear over a woman since haha
But that day i was truely blubbing my heart out…
I never thought a man could have that kind of affect on me!!
B-)
A Pride of Lions
rwe
20:09 on 16 May, 2014
Kevjungle
I just googled it. Thanks anyway.
HH
………….
Rwe, I think KevJ said he was off oot!
Vmhan Offski innaw
Tooodaloooo champions!
TET
and they’ll pay tax
Do what’s £50m to the Abu Dhabi’s?
Joke decision again, Platini & co are like the SFA.
Corrupt
Thoroughly enjoyed reading through the TG Q&As, CQN at its best. When you get a legend like him praising Peter Lawell for ensuring past players are well looked after and made to feel welcome as part of the present-day Celtic Family – fair play. Some on here think PL is the devil in disguise.
Vmhan
I believe that a memorial garden is planned for Peter johstone in glencraig
bhoylo83
A truly emotional day. I was a youth when we lost some of the Lions, Davie Hay and Kenny Dalglish but I was in my late 40’s when Henrik went – very emotional!! No-one would foresee the impact he would have on us and our club the day he made his debut for us ;-)
Good evening friends.
My bhoy and his ghirl are going on holiday to Turkey in a fortnight’s time and planning on getting a taxi or similar from Dalamaan Airport to Marmaris. Anyone recommend any particular reputable firms to use?
betterthanjeevesCFC
thomthetim for Oscar OK
Thanks for that, appreciated. I was too young at the time to remember Billy playing but got to know him better in later life. Good guy. Just got a wee bit too fond of the sauce, unfortunately.
It’ll warm my old mans’ heart to hear of big Billy being fondly remembered by the Celtic family.
Rwe,
A very good evening to you. Just saw the site. Best wishes to your son (?). Will take more time to look through it again. Lovely to see the CQN folk on there. HH.
South of Tunis, from my days of listening to john peel two band names stick out.
The whole populatio of China &
1,000 Mexican hats.
Have you ever heard anythin?
The names stuck but their sound did not lol
HH
Three Cheers For Tommy Gemmell. Never seen him playin ‘live’ but the choon was there when I grew up, long after what he done for us. It was in my head for the last two hours or so when I was reading back. Thank you Sir.
HH
Gene
Aye, tax is for the poor.
HH
I’ve cried more times this week than I have in the last ten years.
Tnt I salute you, Dawn Commander , great shout.
winningemmell, great to see you today, hope you and the bhoy get sorted for tomorrow
HH
TTTT Thanks for the tip£5 ew
Tnt well done old chap. Got 7/1. Cup Finals/La liga day oot paid for!
Generally im not an emotional person at all i tend to shy away from anythin that mite show that side of me
I tried to watch the utv documentary of wee oscar the other night…
I cudnt do it and asked the girlfriend to turn it off after the first couple of minutes
Its funny how people deal with things
Im lucky that i havnt (yet) had to deal with anything personally which has made me face up to the reality of life and death
I know i have it all ahead of me
I know you said not to thank you but cheers tnt.
For anyone interested, grand canaria queen in the last at Hamilton will be trying.
I got it at 5’s earlier but it’s come in a bit I believe.
Murray beating Nadal 6-1 first set
Cheers Googy
I forgot about that.
I’ll get it on now that corrie is finished:)
For you horse racing fans out there, a wee tipple for the Preakness………..
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/best-drink-for-the-preakness-this-maryland-rye-2014-05-16?dist=countdown
HH to TG, thanks for the memories……….
Evening fellow Tims. Good day on the blog (for the most part) playing catch-up with Tommy G’s Q&A’s.
I’ve got a quiz ready to go (about 9:15), anyone interested tonight ?
Well done CQN on getting a true legend on the site.
I was working so unable to join in but I’ve had a read through some of the pre and post 1pm comments. I’m glad the CQN team had the guts to run with it.To cancel it would have been a disgrace.
10 years since Henrik played his last game for the Bhoys. Oh god I suddenly feel old(er).
I will raise a glass of fine red wine to all Celtic Legends – heroes in the Hoops but human off the park. God bless all of you.
Cast-the-first-stoneCSC
I’m up for the wuiz