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:
972 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
- ...
- 26
- »
Belfry
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_50-ZmoUWlU
Lone Justice
Nae Luck Andy, another Dunblane Legend :-)
Winning Captain you have email & Thanks
Hail Hail
Does this make me a bad person?
I’d like to see big TG kick a few cqners’ bahookies. A right hard one!
I’d also like it on YouTube so I can view over and over again when the recipients (of said boot in the bahookie) do my heid in.
I suppose that does make me a bad person.
Reading back it looks like a great session this afternoon. Well done all involved including “offended”, ” organisers”, “questioners” and especially big tommy gemmell.
Cowiebhoy.
Thank you. You made me feel valued with that comment!
HH jamesgang
Timbhoy in Spain
More like £50 a week
Unlucky Andy Murray, maybe you should use the same coaches as Nadal, oh! and then take some time out until you are fit enough to take a drugs test .
Winning Captains
Missed Tommy today sadly, I was taken aback at the reaction of some posters.
He is a true living legend, who has obviously fallen on hard times, hence the need to do a deal with the devil, a deal that 99.999999% would do if they needed a few bob.
This is the self same media that most think are a waste of space, yet when the agenda suits, they spout the msm crap.
Ashamed of some of my fellow Celtic supporters if the truth be know.
HH
jobo baldie
20:27 on 16 May, 2014
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?
:::::::::
They will need tourist visa that is best bought online. It works out around£20. Do not use internet agency or it will cost more.
Do not get taxi at Dalaman but pre book with transfer company.
A2b and resort hoppa do shared transfers cheaply but take longer unless you are first drop off.
Raintransfers. Com is worth a look too.
Winning Captains this blog is great all about opinions!
Today quite a few were of the opinion to serialise a book in the DR using anti Jock headlines was in bad taste. I don’t blame TG for that I blame his advisors (and yes we know it wasn’t you or Paul or BRTH).
Men of TGs generation are papers men, this internet “stuff” is not for them.
His advisors should have known they would make an anti Celtic slant out of any paragraph! I have no doubt that was not TGs intention.
Was a great afternoon on the blog and by the looks of it TG had a great afternoon even wanting to come back for more! He almost admitted dead legs are no excuse for not cutting down trees!
twists n turns.
I don’t know why I asked for that info,as I said to ryecatcher a couple of posts ago my head is wasted,confused .com.
SOAL
As above. and thanks for the info.got my scoop six picked,should I have bothered?.
Jamesgang
That must be 3 Legends then :-)
Minx
You’re a tough taskmistress!
HH jamesgang
Cowiebhoy
;-)
HH jamesgang
Milton Jones on Sky 158
read what winning captains said
i think what happened today was unfortunate
tommy selling his story to the daily record and coming on here to do the question and amswer session at the same time
but it does get to what i am goin to talk about
this blogs obsession with lisbon 67 including paul and all the other major contributors
it is mentioned daily most of the time
maybe its the age profile of the bloggers
yes i realise how big the achievement was, all players born in 30 mile radius, first northern european team to win it
but here in ireland it is a running joke the english fans and media are still going on about 1966
we are no better on this blog lisbon was only a year later
and we all think english going on about 66 are clinging to the past
i read some other blogger mention the above late on a few nights back
and after today i am inclined to agree with him
it will be 2014-15 season soon while lisbon was amazing it s time to live in the present
look to the future celtic fans
Bada
CRC, was trying to get a hold of you today, did he manage ?
Minx
Reading a few of your more recent posts seems to me poor HT had better get used to life without the dreaded man flu….:-))
Is that man flu, the same as man up :-)
iki – thanks for that
Winning captains – just you keep on keeping on (like a bird that flew….tangled up in blue…)
Was just about to go bed then I read Winning Captains post. To be perfectly honest I felt more than a bit embarassed today when reading some of the posts about TG selling his storey to the DR.
I remember a story I read a few years ago where Tommy was selling his medals to provide him and his wife with a pension. A guy who gave his all for a relative pittance while giving all Celtic fans memories that will never diminish with years and will be passed through the generations to every Celtic fan till time in immemorial.
Then today some posters were having a dig at him and WC. For what? Because a newspaper that hates us offered a not wealthy ex player a sum of money that can make his life easier and more comfortable.
I’m not a wealthy man and money is something that, at times, is in short supply. I have worked self employed for a substantial part of my adult life and as a result have no pension to speak of, would I have taken the money from the DR? Yes, I would and my wife would have made sure I did just that.
I bought 2 tickets for the Lions night in Greenock for £3 each, I would have gladly paid £20 per ticket if it helped my heroes live a more comfortable life in the days they have left.
Maybe we Celtic fans on here should consider how much we want to remember the Lions and maybe our next charity endeavour should be making sure these guys are financially secure in their old age????????????????????????
Minx1888
Who are these advisors?
I am sorry to say that I don’t think they exist.
Yogi’s book could have been let’s say controversial. We “advised ” on that and assisted him in many ways. I’ll not bore you with the details!
There is nothing other than heartwarming feel good stuff in Tommy’s book. The headline today was a taken from Tommy making a JOKE – it’s like me saying I’m like Messi cos I scored at the Fives. Tommy was saying he could have been playing for Barca yet Jock – rightly – dropped him. Tommy was trying to be funny. He pulls it off in a lovely book – see SFTBs review on Sunday. The Joke backfired today.
And if Tommy reckons Strachan doesn’t drink because of his session with Jinky who am I to tell him that’s nonsense? FFS
West of Ireland
I for one am very happy to cling on to that past. I will be hanging on to it until I’m too old to remember it. Those players gave us something to remember, something never to forget. If we won it again in 2 years, I’d still remember, and rattle on about 67 at every opportunity.
As for the English I don’t really care if they hang on to 1966. That was also a very significant achievement.
bognorbhoy oscar in my thoughts.
Sometimes I think we forget just how good our Hendrik was.
Ma Da says wee Jinky was the best he ever seen & I wouldn´t argue with him
but as a goalscorer my sunshine was unsurpassed.
Winning Captains,whatever they were paid,you might be right my friend but that´s whit ah read but round about then I was earning aboot 3 & a half quid a week as a 3rd year apprentice in Babcocks & Wilcox.
And keep up the great work,you´re doin a grand job mi amigo.
HH
Eddie, top post.
EddieinKirkmichael – your £3 is greatly appreciated and will go to Lions.
Cowiebhoy
Everyone knows that woman don’t understand 2 things in life. Offside rule and man flu. Nature realised woman couldn’t deal with man flu, and ensured they would never have to. They got the easy jobs. Childbirth.
Mother Nature played a cruel trick on us men.
TnT, tell my wife that, then stand way back.
She doesn’t understand man flu, the other, oh aye, she does.
Will Celtic ever do anything against the Retard? How much do we take from them in advertising?
WC, you guys at CQN do great work. How about getting the Partisan slayer Polish Jackie on CQN?
twists n turns, ma wife understands the offside rule better than ah dae.
Don´t know aboot the man flu.
Man fu maybe
winning captains thank you, I was behind Big Tam and was just into the ground when he scored against Benfica and so enjoyed catching up and reading his responses from earlier today.
Don’t let the ba……s get you down as you are doing a great job. At my time in life I am so pleased to catch up with these heroes which I absolutely idolised, so once again thank you big man.
TNT
Was away making my own cup of tea there :-)
Take it you need to do the same thing
Hail Hail
Doc
I’ll pass on that offer if that’s ok:-)
Timbhoy in Spain
Given the complexities of the offside rule these days, not sure even the referees know it either.
Wiz a loat easier in the playground. The rule was simple. Nae poachin’. Any disputes were quickly resolved by the best fighter deciding if you were oan his team, you were oanside. If not , ye were aff.
Winning Captains
I understand your angst. It must be frustrating on days like today.
But this is an inevitable conclusion when we discuss events like Lisbon 67 on current forums.
The Lions are used to being fawned over by adoring fans. You can’t expect over 40 later a new generation (or two) to be so fawning.
That said, I think Tommy, and the others, will be pleasantly surprised that they are still held in such high regard.
I’ve just read back coming in from a wee bevvy and must say that I think Tommy has fared very well all things considered – given the lurid headlines that I hear were published in the DR.
God Bless ALL the Lisbon Lions that remain in our presence.
Cowiebhoy
Indeed!!
St Johnstone winning would not be good for Scottish football. Without the huns, we need Aberdeen and Dundee United and the Edinburgh dungheaps to prosper.
TnT, wise choice mhate.
winning captains
22:27 on 16 May, 2014
………
Just back in WC and read your post at 22:27, fair play to you for bringing the Lions to Paul67’s blog, there will always be negatives and you should listen to the posters who appreciate the effort that you put in, well done you!
Looking forward to the do in the Greenock Celtic with the Lions HH
V
Big Tam ( & Stevie Chalmers) were the guides on our plane going over to see Sporting in Lisbon circa 1993. They entertained us on the plane, took us to Estadio Nacional and generally gave their time to any fan who asked, how much they earned from that trip, who knows. They deserve every penny.