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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Apologies for the bad language, kids, dinnae access this.
Tommy Gemmell`s posts were superb today. Reading the posts back it was like reading a conversation of a group of lifelong mates down the pub. Tremendous stuff.
The Celts from the Lisbon Lions era are living legends but they won`t live forever. It is important that they record their view of the greatest times in our club`s history while they still can to keep what was a magical era in our club`s history alive for those Celtic fans who keep the faith in the years to come.
I much prefer their version of events and history to that of an Archie McPherson or an Alex Cameron. The Lions made the history and I want to know their take on it, not that of an onlooker.
Well done to CQN for the part it has played in getting these stories published and in enabling Celtic fans of all generations to interact with the Lions.
Petec
Will do bro. Next Friday is a date. Dumbarton or Dalmuir? The Almighty will decide. I would be happy wi a night in the Rock furra change. :)
petec
00:55 on 17 May, 2014
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
Of course you can
I’d love to meet you my fhriend
Travellerbhoy
Believe me bro, the feeling is mutual. You and your intelligent son, suit oor madcap lifestyle. Noticed that both oor bhoys are much cleverer than their da’s. :))
Delaneys Dunky
01:20 on 17 May, 2014
Petec
Will do bro. Next Friday is a date. Dumbarton or Dalmuir? The Almighty will decide. I would be happy wi a night in the Rock furra change. :)
~~~~
I will not talk about Celtic much? well, maybe I will. ;)
Frankly.
I am sure a Brilliant person frae Airdrie will be with us, dinnae quote me on that though. I really hope the Amazing Travellerbhoy can make it. If, it is more suitable to go elsewhere for TB, I’m fine and Dandy with that.
Respect to Philvis always.
Delaneys Dunky
01:29 on 17 May, 2014
Travellerbhoy
Believe me bro, the feeling is mutual. You and your intelligent son, suit oor madcap lifestyle. Noticed that both oor bhoys are much cleverer than their da’s. :))
___________________________________
My Son is a genius compared to me, he is way too young to go drinking though.
Thanks TB and DD, I’m looking forward to breaking Bread with you both next week.
west of ireland csc
23:11 on 16 May, 2014
If you are fed up appreciating Mr Gemmell and his teammates why don’t you return to your chosen English Premier League team of the week.
Give us peace to appreciate these men and what they did for OUR club and us as a community.
Tommy Gemmell rose above the brain dead cretins who tried to derail his guest appearance on the blog.
The Lions will hold their place in the upper tier of Celtic’s history until another team eclipse their achievements.
One of Jock ‘s exhortations to his squad was not to live off past legends, butto create their own.
That is the challenge to today’s support.
Unfortunately, the code of good manners and respect has long departed from CQN, which has now become tabloidesque in it ‘s ethos.
Shame.
delaneys dunky
You’ve got that right my fhriend
My bhoy is an educated qualified all round good ghuy
But his best bit is he’s a Celtic supporter
That’s my best achievement
Did he show you his tattoo
I’ve got four lassies
There all tims
But no interest really
Yes they like Celtic
But they would rather watch come dine with me
Hail Hail
Farage out of his own mouth
Petec
I asked for you several times in McChuills last Saturday. Not to be! Next Friday, is to be! :)
Just home from a great night in wishaw( obviously I wasn’t drinking with soal)
I ended up getting my pic taken on the Celtic way, long way from Wishaw to Blantyre via George Sq.
I feel cqn is not the site I joined probably 8 years ago, sad but true,
I was actually glad to see Paul post today and his name in a wee yellow box.
Hail Hail
KTF.
Btw ill be in ksc all day tomorrow if anyone has a problem with me…
drinks, not fists…
thomthethim for Oscar OK
01:41 on 17 May, 2014
Tommy Gemmell rose above the brain dead cretins who tried to derail his guest appearance on the blog.
The Lions will hold their place in the upper tier of Celtic’s history until another team eclipse their achievements.
One of Jock ‘s exhortations to his squad was not to live off past legends, butto create their own.
That is the challenge to today’s support.
Unfortunately, the code of good manners and respect has long departed from CQN, which has now become tabloidesque in it ‘s ethos.
Shame.
________________________________
I noticed KevJ, who is stigmatised as a tabloid whatever, was full of the utmost respect for the latest Legend brought on to CQN.
Modren society has been manipulated by the societal Engineers.
I went down sarf to an event at Milton Keynes, it should have been amazing but it didnae work oot that way, I may tell DD and TB on Friday.
Drum n Bass
Tarrant, if he was about, would appreciate the sonic.
Travellerbhoy
He promised to show me the tat, but alcohol and fags took over ;))
Delaneys Dunky
01:45 on 17 May, 2014
Petec
I asked for you several times in McChuills last Saturday. Not to be! Next Friday, is to be! :)
~~~~
Bobby and FFM know how I roll, they dinnae ken everything though. ;)
Kitalba called it correct today, cqn is now becoming the opposite of what it was created for.
Goodnight fholks..
setting free the bears supports res. 12 & oscar knox
Saw that earlier on
Can’t remember the last time I saw a leading politician squirm
Are people still gonnae vote for this racist party
HailHail
BT
Pleasure meeting you in Bar 67. KoSC Blantyre sounds like the sadly departed Clydebank KoSC Unity club.
Lang may St Columba’s Blantyre lum reek!
DD
as long as TOHG is there I’ll be there…
btw no date foe jubilee yet..
Flip
im opening up tomorrow, ole jackie snr due in early, hope he bring me a bottle of chateauneuf-de-pape as I gave my bottle to a lovely lady who lived in France for over 40 years tonight.
chin chin
BT
A visit to the Blantyre KoSC club is on my bucket list haha.
Have you been in my Polish Club in Kelvingrove?
Signed copy of Mr Gemmell’s book ordered.
It will sit proudly among my Celtic collection including his first book and signed copies of Mr Wallace’s and Me Hughes’ books.
We are lucky to still be able to enjoy these men’s thoughts and to have a thing like CQN to help them bring this about.
Gods curse on the Daily Record for the grief and infighting it has caused on here in the last 24 hours.
Thank you in advance to Mr Gemmell for another fine afternoon later today :D
delaneys dunky
01:50 on 17 May, 2014
Travellerbhoy
He promised to show me the tat, but alcohol and fags took over ;))
Yes that’s cool
Whereabouts the alcohol and fags would overcome me
Definitely not him
He is a multi award winner
Student of the year
The best horticulturist in Scotland from the botanical garden
The best student that showed endeavour (they made up that award because according to a reporter they weren’t going to give it to a traveller)
LLANTRA
My bhoy
Hail Hail
BT
Why now ?
I have always stated since the 5 way agreement. Meet the new boss same as the old boss rather than drawing a line in the sand when the huns died.
I don’t see anything extraordinary today to make you so obviously scunnered.
A straw that broke the camels back me thinks.
The Daily Record may be, if I can borrow a term, hokey cokey publishers but not CQN.
Surely ?
Your a closer to it than me but who you are worried about I can’t see.
HH
Travellerbhoy
Alcohol and fags took over ME. Our sons were sober, compared tae us two. :)))
Dellanys Dunkey and Petec
I and my son would love to meet up with you and your son and Petec sometime in Glasgow or nearby anytime
My email is
Lewisbhoy1888@icloud.com
Hail hail
Every time you read a headline maligning Celtic in some way, just remember, these guys are in a lot of pain.
A comforting thought….
DD
just round the corner from my work but not been in yet.
aw naw
I know that cqn has always been a PL site and I don’t agree with that but I feel cqn is now no more P67.
Mea culpa
privalage and honour to meet you last week, I told the hootenany of our chance encounter, well those who where sober enough st 7.30 last Saturday.
Bed time for me.
god bless.
All politics are skewered.
Yeshua, he is the one to turn to. Apparently the Gospel is exploding in Iran, Truth or fiction?
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TB, I dinnae ken where you stay, if it is easier, we can go for a drink in a cheap place in the City Centre, the Horseshoe is relatively cheap, I think?
It is guid to hear you are more alive now.
BT
PL gave him a yellow card ;-)
HH
Mea Culpa
02:23 on 17 May, 2014
Every time you read a headline maligning Celtic in some way, just remember, these guys are in a lot of pain.
A comforting thought….
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Things don’t change, Baby
BT
I know you like the greatest Church in the world St Simon’s Partick. After the next mass you celebrate there, follow the Poles to the club. Solidarity!
It is not easy.
Victor Wanyama, Victor Wanyama, Victor Wanyama……
I love Victor, he is everything I should have been.
When you hear of the efforts that kids go to, to just get water, it is really mind boggling. It is very hard to understand, I do know though, that we should All be praying for the Pope and the Queen, as their load is a lot heavier than any person should have.
God Bless All on CQN.
For those who think Tommy Gemmell is ancient history should not mention Jesus…… Just saying
From a cloudy rainy Shanghai .,,… Are the deid deid yet?