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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Turkeybhoy, the headline might scream negativity to you but I actually like the fact that our greatest ever manager held on to our best players!
The latter part your post only adds to the smear campaign.
Hi Tommy,
It’s a real pleasure to have this chance to ask a question.
Who is your favorite player in the current Celtic squad and why?
Thanks
Mick
Hello Tommy, and Welcome!
Q. Excluding the Lions, who has been your favourite player to watch in the Hoops?
Hi again, Vinny. Your second question asks: “Was the greatest feeling fear of the Big Man or was it awe of the Big Man?”
Probably a bit of both. Big Jock earned our respect, that’s for sure.
His was the only voice that mattered in the dressing room.
We didn’t always see eye to eye, but he never set out to win any popularity contests.
His main objective was to do his best for Celtic and you can’t argue with there facts.
Tommy
Coming back from the airport with the BigCup,is it true the bus stopped at ibrox for a picture
;))
HH
Bournesouprecipe
Aye, I can laugh at it now, but I wasn’t a big fan of waking up most mornings to my parentage being questioned.
It was just a kid having a wee bit of fun.
Hi Tommy,
Who was your best mate in the side? Do you ever get together with any of them on the QT?
Tommy Gemmell
Thanks for taking the time to speak to the fans.
Do you like the current Champions League format?
Would you have liked to have played in it?
Would you prefer it reverted back to the auld European Cup format?
Sort of 3 related questions there but you get the idea.
By the way my auld man went to a CSC do in Newcastle you were at and said he had the best banter with a former player ever and the fact you said he had a big mooth will live with him forever. He always tells that story if your name crops up.
LB
Tommy
No need for a question from me……. Just thanks for being on CQN.
All the very best.
Paul,Alyson….Adam,Luke,Milly and Chloe
HH Uncle Tommy
good afternoon, Mr Gemmell
my question is’ modern players earn fantastic sims of money; do you think they still get the same enjoyment and camarederie out of the game that your generation did?
Hi Tommy,
Thanks for all the overlaps…simply exhilarating!
Question 1…your best goal (out with THAT one)? Thinking maybe home against Benfica? Only a fantastic save by their goalie stopped you getting two.
Question2…your impressions when you went to England. Even then the game there was promoted as so much better, more professional and players better looked after…is that what you experienced?
Hi Tommy
thanks for coming onto the blog.
In your experience, how have the key attributes of a top footballer changed over the decades?
What would the Lions have needed to add to their game to win the Big One today?
TBB
leftclicktic
Yes, I like to smile a lot. Why not? I’m told I look like Danny Kaye and he did a fair bit of smiling, didn’t he?
I’m more likely to grin than groan.
They haven’t slapped a tax on laughing so far, so make the most of it!
Tommy, I was privileged to see you and the Lions play many times, thanks for the memories Big Guy.
My question is – Who was responsible for the team selection for the Quiz Ball TV Show and why were you not in the team? :)
Tommy……I don’t know how much you would be worth today maybe you can give some of our current young players some lessons in how to strike a ball.
Now then Milan 1970, I’ve read various reasons for our defeat to Feyenoord, including that we under-estimated them. I can’t believe that given they had beaten the reigning Euro Champs AC Milan over 2 legs..was it over confidence you think, a bad day or just that they were a dam good side who played better on the day.
Still a cracking goal from you on the night though…not many defenders can say they have 2 goals in European Cup Finals….thanks for the memories Tam
ernie lynch 12:03 & LiviBhoy – God bless wee Oscar 12:27,
I definitely agree.
Tommy Gemmell
Welcome to the mad hoose great one.Milan, what went
wrong?
Tommy,
My uncle was with Celtic as a young full back and trained with the lions prior to 67. He maintains that he was afraid of big jock and this stopped him from performing to the best of his ability. He was farmed out to St ants and didn’t make it due to injury.
Do you think Jocks presence had a negative impact on some players and are there any former team mates you think flourishes under other managers?
Tommy
Firstly, thanks for the fantastic memories. As a young bhoy in the 60’s , I have so many happy memories of the Tic team you played in.
My question is;
Much talk about Neil making a move south at some point. If he were to go in the next season or two, who would you want to see replacing him?
Thanks
Twists.
minx1888
Big Jock absolutely abhorred players showing the opposition they were struggling during a game.
Big Jock would expect you to disguise any injury, so it was just a case of getting on with it.
Wee Jinky was something else when we played against each other in training. Honestly, that wee chap had so much skill.
He would stick the ball through my legs and yell: “Nutmeg.”
I would let him do it a couple of times and then I would have a quiet word in his ear! I’ll let you use your imagination about the particular word!
Afternoon Tommy.
The Beatles, The Stones, or Jim Reeves?
Daily Record 25/05/67
Ritchie
“Thugs and thieves”??
Thanks for doing this Q&A today, Tommy.
You were one of my first footballing heroes and you’re still a legend.
Do you remember hitting a penalty against Clyde and,slicing it out for a shy?!!!? At least that’s what it looked like from where I was watching!
Good afternoon Mr Gemmell.
Qu 1) Toasted or roasted cheese?
Qu 2) In your opinion who is the best player in the world currently and who do you think is the best left back?
bourne….
Have that front page framed and on my kitchen wall!!!
Hi Tommy!
Firstly many many thanks for coming on and answering questions from the roasters that frequent CQN!
My question is – is there anything you regret from your Lions days?
I look forward to buying and reading your book and I hope you sell a ton of them!
Hail hail and thanks for all you achieved!
NatKnow.
Hail Hail Tommy, can’t wait to read the book.
Can the Celts win the big one again?
Do you see a revitalised league following the breakup of the ‘Old Firm’ and other clubs such as Aberdeen, Dundee United, Hearts, Hibs maximising their potential and getting to within 15 points of us?! ;)
and
Do you think a top division with min. 14 teams would be beneficial?
HH
kevjungle
Murdo could certainly give the ball a ferocious dunt, but I could name a few Celtic players who possessed dynamite in their boots.
What about Bobby Murdoch, for a start? Bobby had an explosive shot which he put to a good use on many occasions.
I won a hardest shot in Scotland award when it was electronically measured by the Strathclyde University scientists. Can’t remember exactly what it was, but it frightened even me when I realised I could hit the ball so hard.
That was all down to practice, of course.
We spent half-an-hour or so after every training session at Barrowfield just belting the ball at Ronnie Simpson, John Fallon or Evan Williams.
Welcome Tommy,
Which Celtic song/chant inspired you most as a player?
(no wanting a songs debate mind…just wondering) :O).
Hail Hail.
Tommy,
An honour to have you on here.
Q.1 Did the club ultimately underachieve in Europe from 66-74 and should we have had another 2/3 European trophies.
Q.2 What went so wrong in Budapest in 1964 and the Milan Final in 1970
Q.3 You left the club at 28, did you feel you still had your best years ahead of you in the Hoops?
Tommy
First —-Gives us your memories of going in goal when Ronnie Simpson was injured — or if I remember correctly– sent off once against Clyde?
How did you feel between the sticks?
Secondly — have you EVER known Willie Wallace to carry ANY cash?
Hi Tommy
I have had the privilege of reading an advance copy of your book (don’t worry I am still going to buy it).
My question is:- “The book is laugh out loud funny at many bits, especially your depiction of big McNamee and with your description of transfer discussions with a Rangers director from your time at Dundee. Is it all your own patter or is Alex Gordon the funny guy?” :-)
P.S. Having read the whole book it is very far from a Stein-bashing exercise. You give a very rounded picture of Jock’s strengths and failings.
Hail Hail Tommy,thanks for all you done for our Club.Who were the best players you played with and against,and who were the most underrated in your opinion?
fred c dobbs,
Ask TG about “the German song”
HH
Hi Tommy. Loved “the Pheonix from the flames” on fantasy football
Did you really kick David badiell hard? And was it a good day for you ?
Tommy thanks for those memories of Lisbon 1967 I was kid of about 9 at the time growing up in Partick and the buzz around my house the evening of the final was just amazing.
What you and your team achieved for us youngsters at the time was akin to landing a man on the moon for us.
Always in you and your teams debt for giving us something we can be proud of forever
We walked tall kicking a ball in the old St Peters schoolyard in Stewartville Street for ages after the result
HH
Henry clarson
Hi, Henry. I hope you have as much enjoyment reading the book as I had putting it into print.
Genuinely, I had forgotten the amount of genuine characters I had come across in my career.
Let’s face it, I could filled the entire book just with Wee Jinky stories!
By the way, if you want a personalised signed message all you have to do is email Winning Captains – david@CQNmagazine.com.
I’ll be happy to comply with your wishes.