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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Aff oot to get the shopping in.
Least we forget, it would be great to get this up to the £40,000 mark. God Bless you wee Mhan.
http://www.justgiving.com/oscarknox
BT, thanks I didn’t think of that – must be auld age.
Bt… Thanks.
MWD
you should be well hung ;-)
BT
Hurry up their toilets to be cleaned
LOve
BT, before I go. Does that mean we’ll now get ‘The Bladnoch’ after it comes out of yon incubator?
Morning to all CQNr’s from a slightly rainy Cambuslang.Down getting my haircut this morning and bumped into a whole lot of Sevconians dressed in Napoleonic attire,hope the rain gets heavier.Fantastic reading Tommy yesterday and hope to ask him a question today,in between a day of painting.Ah good,it’s bucketing doon.
Stringer bell@ 9.26
Excellent post. I feel it is every fans dream to pull on the shirt but once you are paid to do so you no longer are a fan in the same sense.
Few notable exceptions would be people like Tommy Burns, Jimmy Mc Grory.
Exceptions to the rule now.
Celtic first,last and forever.
Soal
aye, they will be cleaned but as you know manual labour and I don’t go, bit like you and directions, love returned…
desertbhoy,
no prob.
pog,
the the
Ernie
I remember the dogs abuse Lenny got on here about serialising his book in the DR.
So in asking those who are critical of Big Tams dealings with the DR were they also critical of Lenny. The opposite can also be made.
Are those critics of Lenny now going to give Tommy the same treatment.
Or am I missing the point
BT
I must have passed that club at some stage on Wednesday
LOL
Stringer Bell
09:26 on 17 May, 2014
——-
Very good post
Question to all CQNr’s regarding the serialising of a book by a football player.If you were a retired player, which Scottish paper would you use to serialise your book?
Some depressing posts on here this morning. Will pass on answering and take a wee break from the site.
Tommy thought that the Record was going to
A) Publish the extracts next week and
B) Feature the European Cup final from 1967
Yesterday’s headline is entirely out of context. Anyone want to guess how much Tommy got? BRTH has spent more on a pair of boots.
On commercialism – we have outlined this already. Yogi was about to be fleeced – we assisted him (as did Celtic) and we asked for a cut of zero percent. The Dragons would all be out at that stage.
We did do a great deal of commercial activity earlier on the year to stage an event. It made money alright – and it could have been more had we not sought out posters on here who we knew couldn’t afford the ticket and we made sure they were there. Then we lost the remaining money on an African kitchen project that Paul got us in to! Oh well you live and learn.
On Willie we published his book – or half a book if you think about it. BRTH wrote half of it for him. I think we made around £600 each from that – lock us up and throw away the keys!
Tommy – we paid him in February the sum he sought and that no one else would pay. We paid for the print, design and so on.
Tommy also sold us his personal photographs. Tony (Celtfish) bought a scanner, scanned all the images and has given me the photos back to give back to Tommy. We were offered these for a couple of hundred pounds.
Doc was here when Yogi was on. The big man was very low as he had had bad news re his brother’s health. Cqn raised his spirits and he loved being a CQNer for the day. Ask Doc.
If anyone has a minute go look at your collection of Celtic books. Look at who the publishers are. Bet Daily Record is featured.
Do you buy the Celtic View? Look at page 3 down the bottom – you will see who is involved.
If anyone wants Tommy Gemmell to sign a book and add a personal message please email me today or tomorrow. I am dropping the books off today and will send him the messages on Sunday night – he will write them out on Monday for us.
Email is david@cqnmagazine.com
Tommy is coming on at 12 noon today – he loved it too!
SFTBs who is the only other person on here to have read the book has written a detailed review – Paul will post this tomorrow.
That’s it for me for now.
Clink\o/
10:05 on 17 May, 2014
I think Tommy Gemmell shouldn’t be judged as harshly as Neil Lennon for that decision for the reasons I referred to.
I was aware that he had been unwell. I was not aware that he’d fallen on hard times financially. That must be hard for him as my impression, having been in his company a few times, is that he’s a proud man, possibly even a wee bit arrogant. He does not need nor deserve the criticism he’s been getting from some on here, who I don’t doubt would have done the same if they were in his position.
Good morning all
Hope this works, sorry if posted before…………….
@iloveceltic67: Wow just brilliant!!! This made me greet, RIP wee man x http://t.co/Wb8i9nYxzd
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
Reading back to yesterdays TG q and a cant say I was surprised by the usual suspects attepting to outceltic each other.Personaly I haven’t bought the sum since wappijng od the DR since tramps and thieves but why that gives the ignorant CQN ultras an excuse to slag WC, Paul and Tommy Gemmel is for them to explain. Too many on here like to boast of what clever jobs they have but for me the blog isnt about stating that you are a teacher, doctor as if that makes you better than the rest.Any other lionthinking of coming on here wont bother as unless the cqn intellectual ultras preapprove your work and the paper its written in then you will be subject to snidey hunlike postings
Rarely post at weekends but I wanted to because I know TG is on again today. Another question from LB.
Tommy: If you were in Lenny’s job at Paradise and could sign 3 players in Scotland this summer who would they be? One defender, one midfielder and one striker.
Also who do you fancy in the final today? Correct score and FGS. Might have a wee punt on it.
God bless
LB
BT – enjoy your day and hope the knee is getting better- I know a few company s that are in for bladnoch – it is highly sought after , one being Arran brewery who are also planning to make sake in girvan !! ( true)
Hh
Time for the offensive and the offended to
lighten up…..it’s only a blog ffs!!!!
Tbj enjoy your Arab day – good post re ex Celt who is a great fan too hh
Well said smoke and mirrors !! Hh
Couldn’t believe the animosity yesterday before TG arrived -hh
Dundee Utd, Arsenal and Barcelona.
All 3 to win but with their opponents also to score (90 minutes play) – just over 60/1. Worth 50p surely…
Morning all.
Can I just clarify something for everyone and anyone who is interested in the truth seeing as it is the topic of conversation.
TBJ’s post suggests that CQN has become a money making commercial enterprise, and personally I don’t think it is an unreasonable question to ask or even opinion to hold — if you have any facts to back it up!
I have never met TBJ to my knowledge, and he has certainly never asked me for any financial details etc etc .
I have now met a whole host of CQN’ers. I know a little of the financial circumstances of some, and nothing of others. Unless asked to give some advice about something it is none of my business. I have been in the work places of some CQN’ers and the houses of others- and maybe that gives an impression of how they are doing or not.
Again,however, it is none of my business.
Last week, at the Hootenany, I was asked a straight question by someone from CQN “where does all the money from the books go?”
I answered as honestly as I could.
“What money?”
The truth is that you will never get rich from publishing books unless you do it weekly. Mainstream have stopped publishing sports books in Scotland as there is no return.
When you buy a book in a shop at least 50% of the money goes to the shop not the publisher.
If the balance is say £10 ( and more often than not the book is discounted so it is less than that ) then from that the publisher has to pay for the writing of the book, the design of jacket, the editing of the book, the printing of the book, the commission for the agent who sells the book into the shops ( chains like Waterstones don’t speak to the likes of you or me if you turn up with a book so you have to go through an agent ) and of course the storage and distribution of the books.
A novelist of my acquaintance told me years ago that to make a decent profit out of a book you had to sell at least 10,000 copies of that one book.
CQN have never even printed 10,000 copies of any book because they just would not sell.
Further, without giving any secrets away, but being really blunt, Paul Brennan has a business which is his and which supports his wife and family. I see the hours he puts into it, I see the e-mails at midnight and after, I know when he takes his holidays etc — how he does what he does with CQN I will never know.
Same with WC whose main line of work relates to the Music Industry — he does far too much and ignores his own business– it is CRAZY!!!!
I e-mailed another CQN’er in the course of yesterday and explained in part why we did the TG book, but added that I hope it is the last one for a long time as the financial and time commitment is bonkers– totally nuts!
AND if you recall, from time to time you will see a post that says x per cent of the price of a book is going to Mary’s Meals or whoever!
So if anyone is under the impression that someone is making a killing out of selling books or anything on here and wants a slice of the action then by all means send me an e-mail and I will set out some figures, time commitments etc and by all means have a go.
Sorry to rant but TBJ has gotten hold of the wrong end of the stick totally.
By the TBJ I am not in any way annoyed by your post it is just not factually accurate and I am more than happy to meet with you and prove it to be so if you want. You can then fully disclose to the blog what we discuss if you are so minded.
Cheers
BRTH
Ernie
I dont think there were too many on here critical of Tommy himself.
The connection with the DR given all that we know about them is what is concerning people.
I fully understand the reasons behind all this and can see both sides concerns which is why I am not criticising anyone.
But this issue has raised a problem that is not a one off.
So the easily offended have found a reason to get offended. The clique have called for heads and WC is staring through the bottom of a glass contemplating life.
Thankfully I’ve never managed to take this blog as seriously as it takes itself. My clear line of enquiry yesterday was to spot a certain flaw in needing to use the record to boost readership. No attacks on Celtic legends from me but a realisation that the more mature this site becomes the more it becomes less dogmatic and more pragmatic when it comes to selling books. Having WC come on and berate this channel daily and then switch for book sales perspectives seemed at odds with the purpose of the blog.
I ll continue to read, contribute and call things out within the house rules. If that offends the clique or goes against the groupthink here so be it.
Sure it’s just a bunch of bloody middle aged men with made up monickers.
Lastly, whilst we all have different levels of resilience I do apologise if I offended WC. I sought to be brutally honest but dialled up the brutal too much out of frustration…
Thought TGs session was marvellous…
Jobo
Not a bad spot mate. Have tried a wee fiver on that. £303. Good luck.
johann murdoch
I was lurking yesterday lunchtime and did not think that the bad feeling was so much directed at Mr Gemmell, but more towards those who some evidently perceived had led him into the arms of the rag in question, and the self same rag itself.
Whether that bad feeling was justified is for each to judge. The debate has raged on here ever since, and I can see both sides of the argument.
What I do not accept is posters coming on here criticising our tendency to celebrate the Lions and their position in our history.
I will be lurking throughout the afternoon and no doubt enjoying TGs memories and thoughts as I did reading his comments from yesterday.
He’s only on because he’s got a book to sell?? SO WHAT. Let’s enjoy these men while we still have them.
BRTH
A question that I fielded many times at CSC AGMs.
Where does all the money go?
Only when you are in the committee do you fully realise the work and time that goes into it and the money it costs to run a CSC.
I have to idea what it costs to run a website or publish a book but you have given me some thought on the book side of things. I have an idea for two books myself. I fully intend to write them. It’s sort of a new year resolution to get one completed this year. I don’t care if they are never published. It would be nice if they were but if not then that is ok with me. You have given me an insight tho. I may go down the digital route.
What this site does for me is educate me, make me laugh, healthy debate and sometimes it even makes me cry.
I love to reminisce about my team.
Getting to ask questions to legends of the club is a recent welcome bonus.
Keep up the good work all involved!
LB
Just woke up and thought I had been dreaming.
But it’s true – I got to “speak” to CELTIC LEGEND Tommy Gemmell. And Tommy spoke back.
Feeling blessed. :-)
Just heading out before I go, who are Bayern playing today?
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
lennybhoy
Dortmund
jobo baldie
10:37 on 17 May, 2014
–
Have the same treble. Dont need both teams to score thou so odds bit shorter.
Hope were both lucky buddy
tbj says wee oscar knox is in heaven with the angels
19:12 on 16 May, 2014
Cheers, until we meet again…
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Blog has been up and down this past 24hrs
Enough has been said and can see most angles.
The bhoys who organise the blog , charity donations, books etc etc do a great job. I wouldnt mind if they made small bob out of it because i know i couldnt do what they do.
As pointed out by BRTH they dont make money.. Thats what i expected.
I dont agree with working with the daily record but sadly as in life some things cant be helped.
I hated paying tax to england when i lived back home.. Im an irishman ffs but sadly i cant change that.
God bless the celtic.. Our club, our players and most of all our fans are not perfect. But we are one hell of a movement .
Familys have diagreements and differences of opinion all the time, it’s the ones that keep it going that I feel for.
new day fresh startcsc
ciftci to score 2 or more for my wee interest today
jobo baldie good shout mate, but dont put it on in Ladbrokes in EK I cleaned them out with tnt’s tip last night
HH
winning captains
well done to all those involved in the Q and A with tommy gemmell
keep up the good work
—————————————-
have u good any plans when fergus comes back to visit ?
( Q and A. )
my wee wish
when fergus arrives back at celtic park
i hope he is allowed to be dropped off at the beginning ot the celtic way
and applaued and cheered right up to the front door of paradise
would be a right grifuy to the smsm and the sfa
there are so many positive things happening at celtic now
meanwhile other prefer to dwell on the negatives
love cup final day:-((((
no celtic in the scottish cup final…damm
no sun(or record)
wash car then cheer on the barca
jam67