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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Thebarcamole
My email address is david@cqnmagazine.com
The one Lion who has seen more than most inside Paradise…John Clark.
What that man has seen over all those years would be worth hearing.
Hail Hail.
Winning Captain
Do not take it to heart. Love won the day. It never fails.
You just happened to be a necessary part of the lesson.
Invictus
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the CAPTAIN of my soul.
William Ernest Henle
Cowiebhoy,
Your dad doesn’t need to read the papers to no it will be all twisted to be in favour of the majority.
Sorry to here that about your dad, nice to know his family make the time and effort.
Yep, soooo looking forward to tomorrow and thanks again for the invite….acgr said something about pole dancers in your garden…surely not!
weeminger
22:59 on 16 May, 2014
I see Didier Drogba has donated a million to victims of the Turkish mine disaster. Good lad.
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The big strong man, who dives like he has been shot, isnae so bad after all.
A tremendous gesture from Didier. That is a lot of money, I hope others will donate similar amounts in the future to things that Really Matter.
Takes all the Army and the Navy.
watching us beat the old huns 3-0.
kriss commons scored 14 goals in his first season, then went 30 games without scoring,
unbelievable, given this season,
great watch,
long may they be dead,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIgdKlYVBoE
A wee song for a boy that will be remembered a long time:-
In My Heaven
Petec, Winning Captains.
Tommy Gemmell handled today like a CQN veteran. He certainly does not need handers. Intelligent, honest. Charming, Interesting, eloquent and quintesesstially Celtic. Something this good blog has been missing for some time.
HH
petec,
Oor Neil
Hail Hail.
The Daily Record.
Their scribes will be knotting themselves laughing at the internal squabble affecting the Celtic family whom they have intentionally provoked by their sensationalist headlines.
High fives all round.
Twists and Turns
Thank you sir! Took an E/W treble at Aintree, Colebrook, Dawn Commander and Celtic Agent!
Happy Days. :)))
Sat up all night for an email
Night Night boys
CowieBhoy, sorry, busy, Bada.
doccqten@gmail.com
macjay1 for neillennon
00:33 on17 May, 2014
Until they remember Phils recent tweets. Tommy Gemmell on CQN would be a relief for the high fivers..and the the bass line from Soul II Soul kicks in………..back to life …back to reality ;-)
HH
Wherefore art thou WG and Estadio??? Love and respect to the honest CQN contributors… Who are worthy of much more than the duplicity mired in effluence that abounds from the egocentric blowhards that pass themselves off as ‘the purveyors of truth and wisdom’… So, answer me eh! Like so many before me, maybe this blog will be no more than a passing cloud… Que sera! And hey, not a flounce, a bit like when I gave up the Morning Star… Regards & Hail Hail… TBM
TheBarcaMole
WG is en route to Wembley
Love
MWD
Sent Bhud
Doc, sorted thanks
:-)
Awe Naw
D.R.
Toxic for Tims.
six
two.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rQ96X9ekag
winning captains
Yo met with willie
Has that got anything to do with what you were alluding to a few months back about Celtic in a different league
Here’s hoping
Ps
Cos he’s the manager of thon team fae Carlisle
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo
00:31 on 17 May, 2014
Petec, Winning Captains.
Tommy Gemmell handled today like a CQN veteran. He certainly does not need handers. Intelligent, honest. Charming, Interesting, eloquent and quintesesstially Celtic. Something this good blog has been missing for some time.
HH
________________________________________
I think that people are now too scared to post, what they really think.
I post what I really think and it is likely to be offensive to many. BoBBY seems to have my Bach.
Being a poster that regurgitates what someone else is saying, well, that is just dumb.
HH big chap.
Delaneys Dunky
00:34 on 17 May, 2014
Twists and Turns
Thank you sir! Took an E/W treble at Aintree, Colebrook, Dawn Commander and Celtic Agent!
Happy Days. :)))
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Bash those bookies.
WC, have forwarded you my contact no.
Macjay
The whole industry is a proven lowlife corrupt cesspit. Scottish sports press the cream of that pit.
HH
Travellerbhoy
My bhoy and I loved meeting your bhoy and you. A reunion is a must bud. :)
Delaneys Dunky
00:53 on 17 May, 2014
Travellerbhoy
My bhoy and I loved meeting your bhoy and you. A reunion is a must bud. :)
_______________________
Any chance I can join ye? for a beer.
moonhowlers.csc
Tomorrow’s article will be up at 12:00 but I’ll not be around. Could someone leave a note here? Thanks.
Petec
Love taking money off the fat bookie.
So do my four children and six grandchildren. :)
Petec
Up for a meet in the Rock anytime. Dalmuir is 10 mins away. Or you in the Horse and Barge for a rebel night?
pablo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-cHCuOHqGs
Celtic///…\\\Celtic
Delaneys Dunky
00:56 on 17 May, 2014
Petec
Love taking money off the fat bookie.
So do my four children and six grandchildren. :)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aidan is starting to gamble, he is saying “I bet you this, I bet you that”.
God’s story is very exciting, currently, my life is mundane, that’s not to say that my life will not be transformed in an instant. God can, Yes he can, in an instant, make me the King of this World, mentally, anyway.
It was a shame I missed Bobby’s do, as I said I was going then not going. It was totally spiritual, I think.
SOAL, thanks… Hope that WG enjoys the day… God Bless… Regards & Hail Hail… TBM
Night Timdom.
HH jamesgang
Delaneys Dunky
01:01 on 17 May, 2014
Petec
Up for a meet in the Rock anytime. Dalmuir is 10 mins away. Or you in the Horse and Barge for a rebel night?
_________________________
As long as you are ok talkin’ about the dark side of humanity?
moonhowlers isnae for the faint hearted.
Get my number frae Bobby, Friday next week is likely. Dumbarton or Dalmuir, no difference IMO.
delaneys dunky
00:53 on 17 May, 2014
Travellerbhoy
My bhoy and I loved meeting your bhoy and you. A reunion is a must bud. :)
Absolute pleasure
Love your posts no what I expected
Your son is a credit to you
My bhoy said that you two were his most favourite meet ups(apart far BMCUP)
Hail Hail
Ps
I’d love to meet up with you again