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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weet weet weet(GBWO) –
just saw that before I left…
Been to Turkey a few times and was aware of the ole Bank of England Tenner scam. But I understand this year it’s more formal – they’ve to apply for an entry visa online in advance,.I think it might cost £10 ;-)
Gene’s a Bhoy’s name
Game of 2 half’s ;)
S O A L
Bunnymen Update…
McCulloch isnae well so Embra gig postponed till June 11
So the SPFL paid BT to show sevco games.
Maestro
Is that the first time that news has been reported? It seems too astonishing to be as straightforward as it appears. I must be missing something. What reason could the SPFL possibly give for such an action?
Genuinely confused.
JJ
Jobo
A2B cabs at airport ?
They are usually at most around that area
Hail Hail
TNT,
I take it thunders dawn won… Just my luck, that tbj can fair gab ;)
Good evening all
Hate dropping in to the ole luv ins, :-)) just want to wish you all a very good night and a better week end. The planet is a better place when the ole Celtic are Top Of The Pops. Night Night Timland.
Weefra HH praying for Wee Oscar.
On Celtic research twitter
CelticResearch @CelticResearchFollow
Scottish football must be in clover if the SPFL can afford to pay £225k per year to BT towards their costs of televising Sevco matches.
In addition to the £225k towards the production costs the SPL also gave ESPN a rebate should the total number of viewers for the season fall below 4,000,000.
In effect this was another £225K subsidy for the broadcasting of Sevco’s matches
7:44 PM – 16 May 2014_
——————————-
CelticResearch @CelticResearch
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At the time of the TV negotiations around the liquidation of Rangers, Doncaster offered the deal to SKY/ESPN then sold this as a “victory.”
7:58 PM – 16 May 2014
CelticResearch @CelticResearch
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There was even more SPL generosity offered towards making sure that the the Sevco brand was given publicity in the form of viewer subsidy.
The SPL then agreed to pay ESPN (then BT) an amount per viewer if there total audience for the season fell short of their modest target.
CelticResearch @CelticResearch
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That dear Scottish football fans amounted to another £200k+ subsidy of the Rangers brand which had to be promoted in the “games interests.”
8:36 PM – 16 May 2014
Sipsini
Aye, Dawn Commander ran very well. Good price too. Drifted. Mrs Robeson stable is not a gambling yard. I suppose if your name is De Rothschild ( her maiden name, sister of Sir Evelyn de Rothschild) you don’t need to put a £1 Yankee on!
Who was that guy hogging the blog this afternoon
Timmy gammel or something …
Jeezo …. You were all kissing his bahooky like he was some kinda superhuman legend :)
TnT
Enjoy your wee drink sir :)))
I listened to an ML5 dafty(yes I know there are many) and put my couple of quid on an earlier binger:((
Enjoy the win Bhoys
It really is unbelievable how Doncaster is still in a job.
Win and bonus fund on Scoop 6 tomorrow is £10 million ( or will be at the off).
Will fulfil my ambition if I win it
A. Buy Sevco
B. Buy a bulldozer
Been in the pub. This is very unusual for me. Today was a day of very mixed emotions. We had a legend – in his seventies and not in the best if health – totally bemused at the hostile reception awaiting him on here at lunchtime.
He is of a generation that reads and likes the Daily Record. He could not get his book published – none of the publishers he approached thought he was relevant these days.
CQN thought we knew better. We added to the book and made it significantly better.
Today he was invited onto CQN thinking he would be among friends. He had done a deal with the Daily Record and although it made my skin crawl I respected a Lion. Like Yogi – Tommy was a favourite of my dad. How could I explain what they had become?
Today the paper did what I knew they’d do and we had a bemused lion. Why did they write that? Why does Cqn blame me?
Let’s be clear the Record don’t like us and we certainly don’t like them. I saw the background emails and saw it coming. But to explain to a Lion was futile – especially as the money although modest was important to him. Very…
So I suppose the abuse I took on here today – two faced etc – was worth it. It protected a lion. But the welcome – or lack of it – has left a bad taste.
I have been instrumental in getting Willie Wallace, John Hughes, Billy McNeill and now Tommy Gemmell onto this blog. CQN earlier today embarrassed me. That’s why I’ve been in the pub.
Tomorrow Tommy is coming back on to answer the remaining questions. He is among Jock Stein’s biggest fans. Yet he was within two minutes of walking away and going back to his bed.
The last 4 words on this May have been amended for the purposes of honesty….
Ticket Centre Extended Opening Hours this weekend
Due to the high last-minute demand over the past few days, the Rangers Ticket Centre opening hours have been extended over the weekend.
The Ticket Centre will open from 10am–4pm on Saturday and Sunday in order for the Club to continue to accept season ticket renewals.
If you have any queries regarding the change in payment methods, please contact Rangers Ticket Centre or email ticketcentre@rangers.co.uk
Supporters are reminded that they can renew their season ticket using the following options.
If you have already renewed your season ticket or returned your renewal form, kiss your money goodbye.
Maestro
With Armageddon beckoning, times of austerity, etc. the people(pun intended)running Scottish Football chose to filter about 1/4 million quid to a tv company to compensate them if the viewing figures were not as high as they would have liked?
Meanwhile clubs across the border are being given millions to compensate them if they get relegated.
Got to be a wind up???
Winning Captains
I hope the interaction with the support had big Tommy feeling better when he left.
I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to ” chat” with a legend today.
Thank you.
I think you did a grand job, as did Tommy…great reading about his playing days and his opinions. Thanks for making the effort to bring the lions into the cqn house. I for one appreciated it.hail, hail.
Winning captains
I had a great afternoon reading through the Q&A with the legend that is Tommy Gemmell. Please keep on doing what you are doing , giving us all the chance to interact with the Lions.
winning captains.Well said sir.
I had the privelige to see Tommy score great goals against Inter,Benfica.Feyenoord etc
& i haven´t read the thread but I´m sorry to hear Big Tam may have taken abuse from a few on here.
Unforgivable.
Good evening Wee Fra.long time no speak.
I hope you & yours are all in rude health.
Oldtim….
1957?
1954 double…..Jock was captain surely……
Don’tcallmeShirleyCSC
Hi,folks.
A tad disappointed to see so many dissenting voices being aimed at the legend who is TOMMY GEMMELL.
He,like his colleagues,gave us our best years.
Unfortunately they were not suitably rewarded for giving us THEIR best years.
Legends,on whom the history of the club has been built,are not as comfortably off as all of us would wish,nor as much as many of us are.
Someone who has made me proud since I was a child,and will always make me proud,will always have my enduring respect and more.
To criticise him is wrong,IMO.
WalkamilecosTommycannyCsc
Nail biter with Murray and Nadal… Worth tuning into.
Glasgow Egg chasers
Does that win mean final is at Celtic park ?
Sure I read if Glasgow won some game they had
To put in a proposal for final and they had choose Celtic park.
Or was it GCC choose it for them : > )
Billy Corkhill, Vince Hilaire
Freddie Flintstone, Fred Astaire
Desmond Tutu, Steve and Claire
Hello, hello, hello, hello
Winning captains
just caught up,you have done a wonderful job bringing the lions to the
the cqn pages .
people who question TG ,s serialisation in the papers may have been a
bit more understanding if he was sitting next to them …..or maybe not
anyway keep up the good work
HH
Winning Captains, been biting my teeth all day but ffs geeza break eh! Can call me if you want to discuss! TBM
TheLisbon Lion´s average wage in 1966-1967 season was 12.5k for the year.
About 250 quid a week.
Think about that.
Rooney 300k a week.
Wouldn´t have got in the team.
Not a patch on the Buzz Bomb.
Winning Captains. I logged on about 4ish and felt compelled to read all the way thro from the start to see what happened with TG.
Was worried it was going to be a car crash of an embarrassment for CQN. Seemed to come good. Hope the big guy felt the Jungle love out there.
Respect.
HH jamesgang
Winning Captains, keep doing what you are doing, as CQN is a none sensor’d forum we can get ill informed views, it happens.
I hope Tommy Gemmell’s impression of the blog was not all negative.
You needed a lovely assistant again:-)
Winning C…
Fully understand your angst.
Though for those not around at the time of the disputes it is fair to say, I’d contend, the bad mouthing (for want of a better expression) was clearly from a small number though quite strident. I thought it more I’ll mannered than malicious. Defending Big Jock is no bad thing after all but one or two were misplaced in their timing and targeting.
The VAST majority were delightedly lining up questions anticipating the great mans arrival at 1pm. We were not disappointed. Neither was TG I guess since he stayed on so long!
I hope Winning C you will be able to put things in perspective later although I can appreciate the hurt and possibly embarrassment you would have felt. I for one am very grateful for all your initiatives.
As I said at the point when perhaps TG might not come on…”of course TG will come on, he’s never taken a backward step in his life”.
More power to you and again thanks very much for your efforts.
HH
ryecatcher.
I should have stopped writing that post,my head was wasted with the diabetes,I should have been in my bed rather than on the blog.Sorry for the misinformation.
winning captains
Big Wavy owes you, BRTH, Paul, Tony and Tommy Gemmell an apology for what transpired today.
For so many Celtic fans, the session with Tommy Gemmell was just wonderful, as were the sessions with John Hughes and Willie Wallace. Bill McNeill’s post about Oscar Knox was so special. We are so lucky to get these sessions – thank you to all involved in setting it up.
I repeat one of the offending posts reluctantly, but for those who were not online at the time, they need to know what was said, because it was unnecessary, unwelcome, unfounded, offensive, and potentially, so truly damaging to this site and all it stands for. When we post thoughtlessly for whatever reason, then we have no idea of the unintended consequences that can result. I am certain that it was not the posters’ intention to jeopardize the Q & A with Tommy, but that was very nearly the result.
“big wavy 12:52 on 16 May, 2014
Winning Captains
You know exactly what I mean. The next time you and the editorial team decide to go down the anti msm route just check you’ve got the right face on when you come out preaching…”
Please apologize to Tommy Gemmell on behalf of those of us who were also very embarrassed by some comments, and we look forward to his return tomorrow for Part 2. His participation and answers today were appreciated greatly.
In addition, together with BRTH, Paul & Tony you should all be hugely proud of doing the work you do for the Celtic family everywhere.
Hail Hail
Winning captains.
All that I can say is that I believe your contribution is valued by a silent (that’s the first time BMCUWP has been described in that way) majority on here. CQN and You are doing a fantastic and valuable job. Many thanks for the effort. Guys like me and others that post here don’t get the opportunity to speak to our heroes. You provide us with that opportunity. That’s priceless.
Hail hail.
I see Didier Drogba has donated a million to victims of the Turkish mine disaster. Good lad.
From who does not care about anything not Celtic, just before I go to my cot, I thought I would share this, shattered am I. :-)))
@AyeMcClane: 10: Poor Walter of Cardigan … No money to spend. http://t.co/tpBZeWBx7n
Weefra HH praying for Wee Oscar.
wonder if this guy would get pelters for talking to the record :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=LMt_vCidSsA#t=9