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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BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS ………Praying for our WEE HERO!
08:45 on 17 May, 2014
It’s not Bladnoch. They’re in liquidation and weren’t running long enough to have a 25 year old whisky.
Morning all from the bright blue skied Chilterns…
Grand Q&A by Tommy Gemmell yesterday – caught up with it later on.
Some cracking questions too from the CQNers.
Well done WC P67 BRT&H et al
Don’t worry too much about the naysayers and the ilk…
Over the years seen quite a bit of criticism and dogmatic attacks on CQNers (myself included) by those who feel they can possess and can espouse the credentials and bona fidez necessary for the true Celtic supporter.
Not a fan of those posts…
But I’ve got to say if anybody thinks it right to disrespect a Lisbon Lion or believe droning on about their achievements as over the top or an irrelevance today have little idea of what it is to be a Celt.
Got to be United for me today…
Dundee United 3-2 St Johnstone
macjay1 for neil lennon
08:51 on 17 May, 2014
TBJ says Wee Oscar Knox is in heaven with the angels
08:42 on
17 May, 2014
:-)
As a card carrying Jock,I don`t drink water even when it`s diluted with a tea bag.
Jackie mac? With you all the way.
…………….
You’ll live to regret not drinking water, which was exactly me up to a week ago, only had some when I was brushing my teeth.
These effin stones are excruciatingly painful. Backup confirmation from MWD if required.
HH
ElDiegoBhoy –
Game being shown by both Sky and BBC.
In terms of tickets last I heard was that amounts snapped up by (real) supporters was in the order of 28,000 Dundee Utd and 15,000 St Johnstone. One the corporate big wigs and Lorraine Kelly’s extended family are included I expect a figure in the mid 50-thousands. In fact, probably more than would have been there had the final been a Hampden.
Which is nice ;-)
Good morning my friends in Celtic,
Despite understandable reservations about the DR serialising Tommy Gemmell’s book I thought the Q&A session was generally very well mannered and respectful.
One of our esteemed posters last night urged truth rather than CQN populism in posting. As such :-
There are many fine, eloquent & educated people on here that will know that for maximum publicity ( especially football ) the DR and the Sun are the media vehicles that will give the most exposure.
Maybe not on CQN, but on the average building site. Sensationalism is what they do it sells papers.
To judge a 70 year old living Celtic legend, who did not make a fortune from the game and who has suffered health scares, is in my opinion very harsh.
HH Tommy Gemmell.
HH Jock Stein
We all have the ability to make up our own minds, “adult” was how one poster described it. Do we seriously think that our legends are flawless?
Legends they are, and legends they will remain, regardless.
Maybe the fact that this happens says more about us as Celtic supporters. As Tommy himself states PL has been extremely supportive, can we truthfully say the same.
HH, always in Celtic.
Honestly your very much mistaken
You can read what you want into my post … That’s your option
I know who and what I am getting at and so do most on here … And my sympathies lie with the legends who need funds
Tbj
looks like the rain may scupper your march to the holy ground today rather than the boys in blue…
Thanks Jobo. I misread the Live-FootballOnTV site.
TNT
The sky cameras have caught me often at matches … In fact the Dundee utd semi last year ( just after they equalised) was one recent occasion
My face was tripping me :(
Today I think I’m near the front of the main stand : need to remember not to shout ” ya Masonic bassa ” at the ref
If I get huckled I’m gonna get. Yon handle barred must ash guy as my brief :))))
desertbhoy
08:57 on
17 May, 2014
Thanks for your good advice.I`ll take note.
Glasgow`s soft water was marvellous.
Sydney`s,not so much.
Cheers again.
Tbj.
Who and what are you getting at?
I’m not part of the most on here that know what you’re talking about.
BT
I’m actually driving … Thinking were meeting in BBs. Nostalgic ;)
Some good pics of the auld yin posted the last few days on FB
Honesty
Your loss
ERNIE LYNCH
Bladnoch in liquidation?
When’s the fire-sale of their assets?
Tbj.
You win.
Have a nice day
Honestly
No winners
Have a nice day too ;)
The reality of the whole Daily Record debate is rooted in something more simple.
When you work for any organisation you cant look at their operating or trading environment in the same way you did before you worked there. You now know stuff, you have been involved.
Once you play for Celtic, once you are a professional footballer for that team, you stop being a fan.
You stop being a fan in the way that I am a fan and the rest of the posters are fans. Your life experience sets you apart. Not necessarily a bad thing, but a fact. It is probably more noticable now than ever.
When you have played professionally, things change.You know how the game works, so you play it to your advantage. Take a pragmatic view.
So Lennon and Lambert sell their books to the record. McGeady to the Sun. Their advisors will take the cold emotionless view that this is the best commercial decision. There the story ends.
We expect former players to share our passions and prejudices. Simple fact is they don’t. That doesn’t stop us being dissapointed when they make what we consider to be a poor decision but it’s the way it is.
They are not Celtic fans the way we are. They have lived a different life.
BMCUW….
Re Bladnoch, heard that when I was back last then forgot all about it as I left the next day. Would have been interested in what was to be sold.
DESERTBHOY
You didnae know either?
Great!
There might be some left then…
BMCUW…. Nae chance, ACGR’s closer. He’ll have sniffed it..!
When I posted that picture of the whisky I thought it might start another referendum debate, lol, but no it seems to have ignited the great Bladnoch debate ;-)
Stringer, got to disagree with that point.
TALLYBHOY
Have a good trip back to Italy. Great catching up wi you,bud.
See ya next time!
Pog…we only debate interesting stuff!
Haven’t seen Braw for a while, is he ok?
Pog
I did an ernie and searched the name. 8)
Tallybhoy
tallyhoo the noo…
Thanks once again TG for the great memories and your insight into what was happening during the Greatest Time in our History. You’ll be forever a Hero in the eyes of real Celtic supporters.
Wrt the Daily Retard, i stopped buying it 10 years ago having bought it for 35 years but there are Celtic fans out there still buying it and i’m sure no ‘Tic fan is surprised at how they handle the excerpts from TG’s book or anything else to do with Celtic.
To those involved in producing the Book, well done, your labours deserve a return(living wage? lol).
Wispy’s, Yogi’s and Big Tam’s books tell it as they saw it and we should be grateful for that.
HH
Stringer
Agree with what you say in general about ex players
But I meet an ex player most weeks at Celtic park … And at most away games I make
He never misses a match
He stands with the fans who recognise them and discusses all things Celtic but he is no Timmy big time
He runs down the board for lack of spending .. He berates non tries absolutely greedy bhoys
I recall meeting him last year in st michaels when Tom Boyd PL and he did the readings then we went into the church hall for a tea ( I think I am a tea jimmy )
As we stood talking he was in about pl not replacing victor and Gary .
As pl came over to chat he growled to me ” don’t you dare sook up to him ”
Stringer … A bigger Tim you could not meet … In fact I’m assured he’s more paranoid and anti SMSM than he ever was as a player who was in Lisbon and played under big jock often
Btw … In private he has some stories of jock and disagreements but knowing the guy he would never go public with them
Ok bhoys need to go sell some oil to the arabs or is it get some arabs well oiled ..?
One more CQN storm in a tea cup.
Tommy Gemmell is free to earn some pocket money from the Daily Record . His choice and maybe his perceived necessity .
I went to Lisbon in 67 , I didnt care re what Tommy Gemmell thought about Lulu, the price of cornflakes or the Cold War . The only thing I cared about was how he played. He played really, really well.
I didnt care what the Daily Record had to say about anything in 1967 , I care even less now . It was an agenda driven rag in 1967 , it is even more of an agenda driven rag now.
Had the Daily Record reported on my post match behaviour on a Thursday night in May 1967 ——the headline would have been ————-
Celtic Fans Drank Cheap Wine And Got High On Pot At A Party In Cascais With Danish Hippies .
I will be in Lisbon next week for the final ——I will probably eat too many custard tarts ..
Hot and sunny -way down south .
Right. Since we are all posting honestly I have a confession to make
Whilst lying in my hospital bed on Wednesday awaiting my dad bringing my phone charger to me I was extremely bored and looking for anything to take my mind off the pain from passing yet another kidney stone. There was a knock at my NHS private room door, due to lack of beds in men’s wards I was afforded private room in a woman’s ward, and thinking way hey here we go, a lovely lady has come to take my mind off my pain. Feck. No chance. “Here son do you want to buy a paper?”. So there I was with a dilemma. Bored, in pain, needing something to distract me. And yes after buying a Mars bar, a packet of cheese and onion and a can of Iron Bru I fell from the grace of God and bought a DR,a Sun, a Herald, a Scotsman and an Express.
So there you have it. I’m a bad Bhoy.
So what do you reckon? Hung drawn and quartered.
MWD still says Aye
Aff oot to mass … To light a candle for wee oscars family
I never pray for a victory even for Celtic as it’s only a game and IMHO not worthy of the good lords blessings … But hoping for one for wee Jackie
Saw a cracking picture of a new mural in Belfast …. Wee oscar and Peter Pan ….. Anyone who can cut and paste it on here should go for it
God bless you all
I’d a drink with a Sevco mate of mine last night. Having known the guy since 67, I know and respect him well enough to realise he’s hurting so I didnt want to bring up the big story. Anyway he did.
We had a long discussion about his club and if I can summarise his thoughts, and take them as the general mindset of his fellow fans.
…majority back King although not him.
…majority including him want the manager out
…they rumbled Whyte early on but thought Green was for real
…terrified more of losing Ibrox than us doing 10 iar.
One thing that came across loud and clear is that they are being led by the press. I knew far more about the intricacies of this omnishambles than my mate.
I have slaughtered the smsm frequently on here, but its pretty obvious now, that Jabba, Jackson and co have somehow conjured up the irony of the decade. By lying to sell copy, they’ve helped to kill the club/ clubs and have cut off the very hand that fed them lamb.
Moonbeams
My god man have you no shame?
A can of irn bru?
Enjoy your day tbj..
desertbhoy, I don’t really know Braw apart from the fact he is not a million miles away from me geographically. Having said that I can’t recall seeing him post recently. I would, however, like to catch up with him the next time I’m up in his neck of the woods.
My next CQN liaison should be with KolnCelt, I have asked Paul for his e-mail addy – I’m sure I’ll get the reply soon ;-)
Joseph Luke Charleton of Ernst & Young was appointed official liquidator of Co-Ordinated Development Services, the company which operates Bladnoch Distillery, on 10 March 2014. The liquidator is currently assessing the business and its assets with the view to selling the business as a going concern. The liquidator will be in touch with all stakeholders in the coming days. Joseph Luke Charleton is licensed in the United Kingdom to act as an insolvency practitioner by the Institute of Chartered Accounts of Scotland. We may collect, use, transfer, store or otherwise process (collectively, “Process”) information that can be linked to specific individuals (“Personal Data”). We may Process Personal Data in various jurisdictions in accordance with applicable law and professional regulations including (without limitation) the Data Protection Act 1998.
Pog
ask sannabhoy if p67 hasn’t had time to get back to you..
btw cut n paste for u,desertbhoy and bmcuw