The most striking element of the Lisbon Lions was their common cause, no one man above another, no one left to fight their own battles. Even now, when you see them together, this camaraderie is in evidence, but on their defining day, one stood out.
On 26th May 1967, the day after Celtic’s European Cup win against Inter Milan, the Italian press raved about Tommy Gemmell. They had never seen a player like him. This was the era before Man of the Match awards, but the Italians were clear, Tommy was the stand-out performer on the day.
Defenders of his physical stature were invariably centre halves, not full backs. Full backs were defenders, not auxiliary wingers, but this was Tommy. You will read about the ascent of overlapping full back affecting the game in subsequent years, they were following Tommy Gemmell.
He was fast, could climb, had levels of stamina to allow him to get up and down the wing all game, and he was hard. Rock hard. Originally a right back, he blossomed when moved to the left back position. This allowed him to cut inside onto his strongest foot, and shoot. And he could shoot like no one else.
He scored the 60th minute equaliser in Lisbon from the inside left position, which he had taken up against team orders. Only one full back was supposed to be up field at a time, so when right back Jim Craig looked up to play a pass, the only player he should not have been able to see was Tommy Gemmell.
What Tommy did that day was overload Inter all down their right hand side. He could do this but still had the speed and engine to get back into position. This gifted Celtic a spare man in attack which Inter was unable to combat throughout the game.
And as if that wasn’t enough, he scored in his next European Cup final, against Feyenoord in 1970. A full back, scoring in two European Cup finals. In his era, he was peerless, at home or in Europe. The Continent’s very best knew this. Later decades would see the tall, fast, full back, but how many were as physically intimidating? How many possessed a fearsome ability to score from outside the box?
I got to know the great man personally in recent years. I spent time with him, he got to know my kids and they got to know him. People will tell you that the Lisbon Lions are the most ordinary people you will ever meet when you get them one to one. It’s true. Tommy, like his former team-mates, would remember details about the boys and ask about them with sincere interest.
The news of his passing today comes years after we were first prepared for this moment. He was hospitalised after a fall and given little hope of returning to his sheltered accommodation in Dunblane, but his fortitude saw him through and he was back on his feet before anyone expected.
His Dunblane flat was modest, but there was a wall of photographs, memories of when Tommy was a sporting great on the world stage. The wall prompted stories, the away tie against Dukla, what a moment they celebrated, 11 Scots on a field in the Czech capital, the first British team to qualify for a European Cup final.
Eusebio was his physical match, so Tommy enjoyed their numerous encounters. Cruyff, not so much. The Ajax player was so fast, so strong, “You didn’t know whether to get close to him, leaving space for him to exploit, or stand back and let him collect the ball before turning on you”.
I listened to as many stories as Tommy would tell and couldn’t believe that someone from the Lanarkshire streets of Craigneuk, a few miles from where I lived, had gone toe-to-toe with the game’s timeless heroes.
When he returned to his Dunblane flat from hospital a few years ago, we heard he was listening to Celtic games on the radio as he didn’t have subscription TV. CQN’ers answered the call and WinningCaptains sorted this out for him. He was incredibly touched by this gesture and remained a great friend to the blog.
His later years in particular were lit by a close friendship to CQN correspondent Alex Gordon, who with his wife, Gerda, visited Tommy more than anyone. They were there for the great man when he needed them.
His health slowly deteriorated over the last month. I knew this day was coming but feel upset nonetheless. There is no measuring what the man we lost today contributed to what we are able to enjoy in the current Celtic team. Without Tommy and his pals, none of what we have would be here.
Rest in peace, Tommy.
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HT: I should have texted you earlier. I am sorted for the Soft Loans Co. game, thanks to the generosity and comraderie on this bhlog. However, Melbourne Mick (never met him before but looked after me and my son in the same manner that you do for all Tims) requested a couple of tickets. So I’d be more than ecstatic if you could do something for the Belfast couple he is trying to help.
Tiocfaidh ár gCafé:-)
7000 Celtic fans paid £49 a pop in December to the Huns. That’s £343k directly towards keeping them in existence.
Not for me!
MWD
MWD
Ma mammy would disown me if I paid £49 to them. No nae never.
HH
RIP Tommy.
Been a very sad day since i heard the news of his passing.
Then i logged into CQN an hour ago and went through every post and link and it has lifted my spirits.
From Paul’s fine lead article there has followed a multitude of brilliant stories, memories and testaments to a true Celtic legend.
CQN has put on its best suit today. Long may it continue.
Hope something soecial happens in his tribute on Sunday.
God bless all!
MOONBEAMSWD on 2ND MARCH 2017 10:31 PM
I have mailed Petec your moby number…
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Petec: love your posts about Aiden. Enjoy the ski trip, my favourite kind of holiday.
DD: it was a big ask but got there in the end. Cheers for the support last night, you will love the badge I have for you.
Right, definitely up the wooden hill.
HAMILTONTIM on 2ND MARCH 2017 9:46 PM
Nice post.
MWD
I know they’ll always, always claim to be Rangers. If we’re honest we’d all do the same.
Unfortunately, for them that’s simply hopeless, delusional nonsense.
WC
Not always he hasn’t but it’s not the time.
Lennybhoy
Cheers buddy.
MWD
Such sad news today.
RIP Tommy.
YNWA.
Big Tommy Gemmel capped 18 times for scotland……..football fans abroad will be thinking scotland only played once a year…….or did someone actually keep him out of the team.
DD
Indeedy I do mate!
MWD
All about the individual priorities. I won’t be giving any lectures but neither will I be taking them my friend.
TTR
You praised a post of mine! You sill dizzy from 6 behind? :-)
DELANEYS DUNKY.
You fancy a few tomorrow BV around 4.00pm,be nice to see you again.
HT
I’m not lecturing. Just my opinion. A very valid one.
MWD
MWD
Valid but in your opinion :-)
Hamilton Tim
Yes I know, with you in that one, believe me.
HT
Exactly.
Others will judge, especially the Hun boards, who’s opinion is more valid. :@-)))
MWD
Excellent earlier post HamiltonTim, you are an inspirational presence on this blog.
Blog wonderful today, not one poster stepped out of line, God Bless ye all.
Well said HT.
MWD
Meanwhile the support go marching on :-)
Corkcelt
Thank you, too kind. I’ve hardly been on has Ard Macha posted on the last two days?
OldTim
Sorry I cannae make it tomorrow.
We will meet before we spend a few days together in Lisbon. I am in same hotel as you for 3 nights 24th to 26th May. Cannae wait pal :)
Turkey.
Is their a specific reason why you are “Turkey”bhoy or is it just a coincidence? Usual posters. Go on name them rather than co-oot in in generalisations.
Anyway. Back to Tommy,
Hail! hail! To true Celts and keep the turkeys for roasting at Christmas. stuffed obviously.
MWD
HT
Were you up in Inverness last night? If so did you notice the 3 ball boys?
Petec 7.39…..the sun back page about Tommy wouldnt believe that crap was spouted by him…..the thomas guy frae the ardoyne rsc must be chuffed with himself……..love their crest…..the Oneil and the Stuart flag with the ZOMBIE in the middle
WC
Wanted to wait till you wee about. But capped doffed in your direction with your time and effort with Tommy.
MWD
I set off for my golf course this morning. I recently went for early retirement and following the last few weeks of winter had a wee spring in my step at the thought that we are now, at last, heading into spring.
I was quite excited at finally managing to play a round with the sun on my back instead of my waterproof jacket. I was just driving past the Campsies enjoying the stunning scenery when it was announced on Clyde that Tommy Gemmell had passed away.
It was one of those moments in life when you can’t believe how your emotions can suddenly swing from one end of the scale to the other.
I was only 7 in May 67 so have little memory of seeing the Lions in the flesh. However, as many have said already, we grew up with all the stories of these idols. It’s so sad to see them now fading away before our eyes.
I met Tommy a couple of times over the years. What always amazed me was the humility of that generation of footballers. They are so humble among the fans.
I wonder if the current generation of footballers with their obscene wealth will be so accessible to the fans in future years.
Rest In Peace, Tommy.
WC
I noticed ICT ballboys in Celtic colours. Magic :)
So sad to lose another member of our greatest team.
The Celtic handbook of 1962/1963 welcomed Tommy to the club as follows : –
“Left-back. Signed provisionally at the start of the season and has been doing very well for his junior club Coltness United. Very speedy, looks like he will be challenging for a place in the 2nd XI very soon”
In his prime, Tommy was the best full-back in world football. He scored many goals for Celtic (63 or 64?), a few very important ones too.
Lisbon and Milan apart, he scored the 90th minute goal which gave us a draw and clinched our 4th consecutive League title on a horrible wet evening at Rugby Park when we had been 2 down.
A favourite of mine is his diving header v Rangers (IL) in a League Cup tie at Celtic Park.
However his goal v Benfica after 2 minutes for me was a one of those great Celtic, European moments. A thunderous strike.
I always felt he left us too soon in 1971 but these things happen.
In the foreward to Tommy’s autobiography Jock Stein wrote….
“As I see it, he has brought a new excitement into full-back play because there is nothing more spectacular than the sight of a player charging down the field time and again and letting fly with a full-blooded shot when he gets the chance.
None of us who saw that goal (in Lisbon) are ever likely to forget it.”
I’ll second that !
Thanks for all the wonderful memories Tommy.
Gooood Evening CQN
Have been totally out of touch with events today, until I got back from down south after 9
So
Rest in Peace Tommy Gemmell, and may perpetual light shine upon you
The Legends are gathering a fair old team up there
Had the privilege of attending the Tommy Gemmell Dunblane bus dance last year with WC and BRTH, a wee question and answer session was part of the entertainment, and it was entertaining :-) Tommy still as sharp as a tack didn’t miss the cheats we have come across as Celtic fans, not only a legend on the park, but a true Celt of it
And can I add birthday wishes to the Captain – hope you’ve had a peaceful day Billly McNeill
Hail Hail
Not that many scottish caps for the Lisbon Lions apart from big Billy. I think it may have been Eddie McCready of Chelsea who was first pick for Scotland at left back. There was plenty of top class players around at that time so there was competition for caps but it would be interesting to compare how rangers of that era players fared.
One magical night back in the eighties I spent a few hours with the legend that was Tommy Gemmell in The Lady of the Lake pub in Bridge of Allan. I believe it was his pub then. Cant remember.
There were about 5 or 6 of us and it got off to a slow start.
Once Tommy realized that we both were born in Motherwell and that we both lived in Craigneuk in our formative years he opened up.
Funny man. He called me Herr Brush because of my name and at one point asked me to help him decorate the bar with “rangers players”.
So a whole team of us sellotaped these blue balloons all around the bar. I wanted to tell him that night that he was my childhood hero but it felt stupid at the time so I just kept it semi-formal. I was totally awe struck.
Liked this quote from Hugh McDoald of the Herald…”…….and a goal in the European Cup that came from a shot so thunderous it should have been followed by a shower of rain.”
HamiltonTim on 2nd March 2017 9.46pm
A remarkable post to the blog. The Celtic fire burns hot in you.
Tonight, I offer complete appreciation of your determination to put your view of supporting Celtic to the world. It’s quite something to read.
Celtic forever.
WC
I was in Inverness last night. Front row, behind the goal. What a buzz :-)
MM
Yes Tommy did have the Lady on the Lake in BoA for a spell
Can I ask a question, I switched off java script on the iPad due to LG taking over the blog
Now I can’t find it to put back on :-(
Where is this again to put back on – I need it back on for other reasons
Thanks in advance
One last thing.
You might want to pass your condolences onto Tommy, his family and friends before you get on your atom roan horse about other Tims in future. Just shows the level of your trolling.
I hope to meet you one day over a pint at a CQN Hootenany or the like.
Just to see the true colour of your scarf.
MWD
Celtic are attracting a lot of new young supporters from unlikely places in Scotland and beyond. Their grandchildren will be Celtic supporters!
COWIEBHOY
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