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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Thanks Tommy,we had a few beers at Harry & Pauline’s wedding many moons ago.HH
thindimebhoy
I’m glad I managed to make you smile back in the day.
Yes, it was a wonderful experience being in that Celtic team.
Remember, I had been there in the bad and sad old days when we struggled to beat anyone!
So, to win the European Cup and so many championships was unforgettable.
I’m delighted you seem to have enjoyed it almost as much as me!
IGC
15:23 on
16 May, 2014
Think Irish, thinks Celtic
==
As long as it is the PLC sanctioned interpretation of ‘Irish’ ;-)
Glad to hear you say that about Mr Stein, Tommy.
You might want to do a “Haller” on the Sports Editor at The Record.
Tommy, thanks for your reply.
We will need tae get The Green Brigade on the case.
lymmbhoy, I’m scared to ask about “the German song” :O).
traditionalist88
Totally agree with the matchday experience. Altough, to the club’s credit, they are looking into a terraced area, a ‘beer tent’ outside the stadium and several other options based on fan feedback.
I also agree about the EPL marketing platform. However, our name is already out there. We are not Hull et al.
Surely, we can capitalise on that on a global scale or at least in the states.
mighty tim
Well, I’ve spoken about Charlie Gallagher of the Lisbon squad. Yogi was some player, too. When he was in the mood, he was a world-beater.
There were a lot of good players outside Celtic.
Wee Willie Henderson was a bit special. Yes, I know Celtic players should not have Rangers players as pals, but Wee Willie was different.
He’s still a very good mate to this day.
Unfortunately, for him, he was overshadowed by Jinky, but, remember, our Wee Man was world class. Wee Willie was just behind him.
Hail, hail to you, too!
albert kiddcsc
George Best was brilliant. Jinky was a nightmare in training, but Georgie Boy was magnificent during a game.
I recall a day when he decimated Scotland – me included! – in the mud at Windsor Park one afternoon in an old Home International game.
He was unstoppable. The Irish won 1-0, but if it hadn’t been for Ronnie Simpson we would have been well and truly hammered.
Georgie was different class that afternoon. I’ve devoted a few tales to him in the book as he was a pal, too, off the pitch.
Tommy, thanks for replying.
Your were always a hero and you said ‘toasted’, so now you’re a super hero!!!
Going to be greedy and am another question…
I was at three of Jimmy’s 4 greatest games (mum said I couldn’t go to Di Stefano’s in Madrid… mind you I was only 11). You must remember the games against Red Star, Leeds and one against Dundee United…what was it like for you as a player and team mate when the wee man just naturally did the impossible?
awe naw no annoni own anaw noo
Why am I so good? What a lovely question!
I was lucky to play in a great Celtic team, with great team-mates and a great manager in Jock Stein.
It all just gelled. How fortunate was I?
the johnatron
I believe what the people are doing at Albion Rovers is ground breaking and should be applauded.
I had some great experiences at Cliftonhill as you will discover in the book.
Should they put Coatbridge into the title? Why not? They are proud people around that area and it wouldn’t do any harm to have the club called Coatbridge Albion Rovers. Yes, I like that idea.
Afternoon Tommy,
Great to see you on here today, makes great reading. Big Jock’s impact on Celtic – how do you think Celtic would look today if big Jock had never been the manager?
HH Dan
petec
The full-backs at Celtic these days are fairly consistent. Maybe they don’t hit the headlines because there are no goalscorers in there, but they all play their part.
Jim Craig didn’t get a lot of goals, but he certainly set up a few.
Just look at the ball he played to me in Lisbon, for a start.
Adam, Mikel and Emilio are three very steady performers.
IGC
15:35 on
16 May, 2014
traditionalist88
Totally agree with the matchday experience. Altough, to the club’s credit, they are looking into a terraced area, a ‘beer tent’ outside the stadium and several other options based on fan feedback.
I also agree about the EPL marketing platform. However, our name is already out there. We are not Hull et al.
Surely, we can capitalise on that on a global scale or at least in the states.
=====================================
True, I just hope red tape from the authorities does not put a spanner in the works.
Yes, we have a platform from which to work, of course, and a unique history. It is also heartening that fans are turning out in big numbers for the traditionallly bigger clubs in Scotland -for a couple of the other clubs it is occasionally embarrassing to see the turnout(eg.Kilmarnock) but, like Celtic, Scottish football has something there to work with.
HH
blantyre tim
I’m no good as a tipster, so I don’t want to lead you astray.
I’ve yet to meet a poor bookie!
Tommy I enjoyed it immensely and it was the first and only time I seen my da having a few too many just wish I could have had a pint myself at the time !
Celtic won their first league for over a decade in 66 and this was done without a major clear out of players.
Quite an achievement considering the transformation a year later
I doubt from such a low like the Falkirk thrashing no one could have foreseen what was to come next
HH
Mr. Gemmell thanks for the reply. No problem with wee Willie I know how pally you all were. I have met him in baxters a few times when I was a bhoy and he was always a gentleman.
Tommy Gemmell
If you were asked would you take part in radio shows such as Clyde or Radio Scotland?
Why do you think the legends from Lisbon are very seldom asked on these types of shows?
LB
A Tommy ditty.
Ever since he was a young boy, Tam struck the perfect ball,
In Scotland and in Europe, the fans were all enthralled,
They’d never seen anything like him in the Estadio Nacional,
Big Tommy Gemmell – scored against them all.
(with apologies to Pete Townsend)
gordon
Why did I get pelters from the Rangers fans? It was probably because I was so good!
They weren’t ignoring me, anyway.
I always worked on the thought if they were yelling at me, they were leaving someone else alone. It didn’t bother me one bit.
I wasn’t a frustrated goalkeeper, but in the days before substitutes, you needed a back-up keeper. Thankfully, I wasn’t asked to perform between then posts too often, but I’ll never let anyone forget that I am a goalkeeper who never lost a goal!
Tommy Gemmell
15:39 on 16 May, 2014
mighty tim
Well, I’ve spoken about Charlie Gallagher of the Lisbon squad. Yogi was some player, too. When he was in the mood, he was a world-beater.
There were a lot of good players outside Celtic.
Wee Willie Henderson was a bit special. Yes, I know Celtic players should not have Rangers players as pals, but Wee Willie was different.
He’s still a very good mate to this day.
Unfortunately, for him, he was overshadowed by Jinky, but, remember, our Wee Man was world class. Wee Willie was just behind him.
Hail, hail to you, too!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Wee Willie Henderson was a bit special. Yes, I know Celtic players should not have Rangers players as pals, but Wee Willie was different.”
Take everyone how you find them. Thanks for just being one of us, A fan first and foremost, that shines through.
Group thinking does a lot of harm to people, it stops them being Free as they would like to be. That is the progressive society we have today, unfortunately.
I am kind of guessing that Jock gave all the Lions, the Freedom to be what they wanted to be as Fitba players.
The Modren game desperately needs a new Lions team, IMO.
Tommy,
thank you very much for the reply!
I’ll be buying your book and look forward to reading about those tales!
Hail, Hail!
Hi Tommy,
I’ve just signed on, so hopefully not repeating anything.
What do you think was the hardest you ever hit the ball and scored? I remember one against Denis Connachan in November 1966, when it was so hard it took Denis into the goal as well. I think it was the only way we were going to score that day since Denis was having the game of his life.
Thanks.
mwd
I’ve got some smashing memories of games against Rangers.
I’ll always remember winning the league title at their place in 1967 just before we won the European Cup.
Wee Jinky scored two goals that day and his second was something special. I would have been proud to claim it.
He simply cut inside Davie Provan on the right and lashed un unstoppable left-foot drive away from Norrie Martin into the roof of the net.
We drew 2-2 that afternoon and it was something special winning a championship at Ibrox. Happy days!
Tommy, what do you think of fitba agents, would you have liked one?
igc
Danny Kaye? Compliment or insult?
He wasn’t too bad looking, was he?
He certainly got off with some lovely females in his movies!
Hi Tommy,
Just wanted to recount a brief meeting I with you a long time ago. I was but just a lad, when my uncle took me along to the Lankarkshire Cup Semi-final Albion Rovers v Hamilton Accies. My uncle was sponsoring the match ball and so we had director box seats.
If all of this wasn’t exciting enough for an 10 year old, after the match you were talking my uncle and he introduced me dropping in that I was a Celtic fan.
You shook my hand and said ” I put you club on the map son”.
8 little words that made my night, and will be remembered for many a year. Thank you.
coolmore mafia
Words of advice for young people? Well, it would be good if they respected their elders. Good manners don’t cost anything and that’s the way I was brought up.
Tommy, sorry, me again….
Will you be signing your book live anywhere?
celtic mac
Yes, I think Celtic would have beaten Sir Alf’s 1966 England World Cup-winning side.
I’m not being disrespectful in saying that because, in truth, I would have taken that Celtic team to beat ANYONE.
Mind you, that was a memorable afternoon at Wembley and I was especially delighted for Ronnie Simpson. What an occasion for a thirtysomething to make his debut!
crowbhoy
Thanks for the extremely kind words. I’ve got to say I am just a little overwhelmed by the messages I have received this afternoon. Thank you one and all.
quality summary of the state aid from jobbytash :-)))
http://t.co/QiGRY6qc48
made me laugh
Vmhan
Spoke to your mother on the Esplanade. She is in good form. In fact, when she left me she was about to walk to Gourock Pier Head to catch a bus home.
Saw two nuns near you know whose house. Could be a last desperate attempt to save the sinking ship by having recourse to prayer. They might try anything. Well, is that not what they have been indulging up till now?
Missed out in ..’indulging in’
tallybhoy
Paolo Maldini was special and I think he was an even better central defender. Roberto Carlos could hit a free-kick with the best of them, that’s for sure.
I have to say Giacinto Facchetti, of Inter Milan, was a bit special. He was one of the first attacking full-backs and I thought he was a magnificent sportsman.
Mr Gemmell, an honour to talk with a true hero. My mind might be playing tricks but I recall a goal you scored against Clyde at Paradise – it might have been the last time the Lions appeared together. I was just a wee boy, with my da and sisters behind the goal. I remember the tumultuous roar of the crowd died down just as you lashed in a thunderbolt of a goal. Weirdly, it was so quiet inside Paradise at that moment that I could hear the ‘chink’ of the hooks and eyes connecting the net to the frame of the goal. Then the place went crazy again!
thank you for that and a thousand other memories.
althetim
Yes, I played a few games with Billy Price. He was an old-fashioned left-half who was more of a defender than attacker.
He took care of things at the back and rarely ventured beyond the halfway line.
Good, solid player and an excellent team-mate.
Tommy,
Was at the last Lisbon Lions game against Clyde……I remember Evan replaced Ronnie at kick off….I remember BIG Jock charging out the dugout to berate Evan for hoofin the ball up the park instead of passing it out to you or Jim Craig…..I miss those days…