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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WITS
Im trying to figure out if the adjective agricultural is referring to the delicate process of cultivation or the more rudimentary one of harvesting or is it more mechanical like butchery? inquisitive minds need answers!
DD- i hope Oldtim gets his wish.
Tontine
I caught your measured and sensible post about dictating the song book to those who travelled to Inverness last night.
It was heard on TV because of the numbers who joined in.
Fair play to you for appreciating that.
Night all. God Bless Tommy.
WHAT IS THE STARS on 2ND MARCH 2017 11:50 PM
Macjay
Despite all our tete a tetes on here I regard you as one of the good guys
Jaysus ….did I really say that !!!
=====================================================
Tete a tete ?
Face to face would be marvellous .
I have a great mate from Dublin .
Used to take a lot of stick for his surname………… Blake.
We argue the toss over all and sundry …………and we learn from each other.
And then the guitar comes out.
And the whisky.
Mush a ring dum a doo dum a da .
:-)
Maggie
I am a city boy
I was educated by Christian Brothers with hands like shovels,they werent city boys,they came from agricultural backgrounds,when they hit you ..you stayed hit
I managed to dodge their blows by a variety of chicanery when chicanery was called for and various other means ( including complete obedience ) when necessary
Agriculture and violence are always associated in my memory
Cue howls of protest from the Farmers Brigade CSC
And the Inverness manager maybe
MARGARET MCGILL on 3RD MARCH 2017 12:00 AM
What is the Stars on 2nd March 2017 11:50 pm
WITS and macjay
love you guys!
=================================================
Feeling`s mutual.
Absent friends.
Kitalba and Aw Naw.
Should be here.
Goodnight Big Tam
We’ve got Tommy Gemmell, number 3
We’ve got Tommy Gemmell, number 3
We’ve got Tommy Gemmel , number 3
We’ve got the best team in the land.
Macjay
I went to school with a Blake
No one gave him stick..He was the toughest guy in the class
Macjay
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XWJrT_KIcE
DELANEYS DUNKY on 3RD MARCH 2017 12:04 AM
So happy to hear that.
A wee Scottish representation amongst the flags would be great.
Stuart Armstrong is totally transformed.
I would love to see his mate GMS reaching the same standard.
A wee goal could make all the difference.
WHAT IS THE STARS on 3RD MARCH 2017 12:15 AM
Macjay
I went to school with a Blake
No one gave him stick..He was the toughest guy in the class.
==================================================
Frank had two brothers.
You don`t mess about with Frank either.
:-)
“He loved Celtic Football Club. And, please believe me, he loved the Celtic fans. He would do anything for them.”
Tommys wife
AoW
OldTim and I wish to be at the CL final together in Kiev next year to watch Celtic win. :))
WHAT IS THE STARS on 3RD MARCH 2017 12:18 AM
Macjay
That`s the very fellow.
Macjay
Agree with you on both points there
Celtic can now win the hearts of young scottish fans from outwith the Irish Diaspora
AND
GMS probably trying too hard,a goal might just relax him,there is a talented player in there.Brendan knows
WHAT IS THE STARS on 3RD MARCH 2017 12:24 AM
Brendan.
What a transformation.
For two years you , I and PF Ayr and sundry others all whingeing away about one thing or another.
Purgatory before paradise.
Like the seven years pre-Jock.
MacJay
Stuart Armstrong is the best Scottish fitba player, playying the game today. GMS will no make it with Celtic I fear. Said the same when they both signed fae DUFC.
Paul- that was a very moving tribute.
I’m not sure whether the reference to Tommy not having subscription TV was indicative of financial difficulties or technical issues.
It seems to me that if, in fact, Tommy was having financial difficulty to the extent that he was unable to follow the club’s fortunes on Celtic TV or via any other sports platform, this would be a sad indictment on our club.
With that in mind and, whether, in fact, my concerns about Tommy are justified, I would like to think that the rest of the Lions would not be in a similar position as a result of any financial challenges.
The club, and/or we as supporters should attempt to confirm if any of the rest of the Lions require any assistance to keep in touch with the club etc. In fact, the Lions all deserve comfort beyond mere subscription TV.
Those guys gave us and continue to give us so much joy and pride in the club. At the very least, the club and supporters should ensure, as far as possible, that all of the Lions enjoy as comfortable a retirement as befits these heroes- whether that is subscription TV or a comfortable home.
Gorra hit the road , lads.
Loved the chat.
I’ve been browsing through Tommy’s first book, The Big Shot, with a tear in my eye, a lump in my throat and a big grin on my face. Not a pretty sight.
Here’s this.
“Celtic, of course, have great traditions. They have always treated their players well and I was aware of this long before we won the European Cup. but in the close season after our victory in Lisbon something happened which made me realise why Celtic are a great club……
I should explain in the first place that the Boss does not believe in the ‘start system’ in football. He recognises that every team will have an outstanding player or maybe even two or three, but he maintains they are only valuable as long as they contribute to the team effort…..
At the end of last season (66/67) therefore, when it came to the time for re-signing, most members of the first team pool had some sort of grouse. Although we had won everything as a team…we knew one player was being paid quite a bit more than the rest of us. That didn’t seem right……(and the chat among the team was on the same lines)…..
Shortly before I was due to go on holiday the Boss called me into his office and told me I was the only player who had not re-signed….(comments from Tommy about people moaning but not speaking up)….
I wasn’t too surprised…. Anyway I told Mr Stein that I would not re-sign as long as one player was getting more than the rest of us…..if we were all equal then we should be paid accordingly….
He seemed sympathetic and assured me that the contract which gave the other player a bigger wage had been signed before he {the Boss} had come to Parkhead as manager. He asked me what my terms were for re-signing and I said I wanted £10 a week more…….
…the board could not agree to my request….
…I didn’t want it to become a big issue and it was a temptation to re-sign and forget about the £10. Yet I felt strongly that my principle was right……
…the Boss told me to report at Parkhead…(the Sunday morning after the 3-3 draw with Spurs)….my appointment was not with the Boss, but with the Chairman of Celtic, Bob Kelly……I told him I thought it was reasonable to ask for a rise if another player was getting more than I…..and if the club wanted to make some private arrangement to pay me the money I would not go around telling other players.
Mr Kelly made it clear that he tried to have players of character at his club and if I was a troublemaker who was likely to go on making demands then he would not want me at Parkhead……..he did not want to break up the team which had won the European Cup. At the same time he did not think it would be fair to give me a rise and hide it from the others.
As we talked on I realised why the man who had often been called ‘Mr. Celtic’ had such a good reputation among former players. His chief concern was to have all his players happy and to treat them fairly. The time flew. We talked for about two hours and then he made the proposition which staggered me.
He said the Board had agreed to give me the rise but there would be nothing underhand about it. All the other players in the pool, except the one who was being paid more, would get the same as myself…..I was delighted, naturally. I had been given exactly what I asked for……
It was as I drove home that day, however, that I fully realised what a tremendous gesture this was by the club. They could have…put me on the transfer list (and banked some cash)….given me the rise and told me to keep quiet about it and the cost would only have been about £500 in the year. Instead, in order to keep faith with their players, they chose the costliest way out….Mr Kelly committed himself…to an extra wage bill of £7,500 in the year.
Most clubs would have found an easier way out. But this is undoubtedly where part of Celtic’s greatness lies. Their treatment of players is second to none and in recent seasons i’m sure our wages at Parkhead have compared well with the top teams in England’s First Division.”
Some naivety there for a twenty something youth and I’m sure Sir Bob had a warm glow of satisfaction at the good PR. When I read it at the age of 16 I lapped it up. What biscuit tin?
A window into a different world.
WITS
I see kids in Loyalist families in Glasgow wearing the Hoops and going to Paradise. Never thought I would see it in my life. Happy Days
HH
‘star system’ not ‘start system’
A wee song …
file:///storage/emulated/0/Download/C55dLIhXMAE3a8q.jpg
Braw.
Ooops
DD
Our revenge will be the laughter of their children…..to paraphrase the great man
WITS
God bless Bobby Sands.
Sad anniversary today.
DD
Was at his funeral,most amazing occasion i ever attended
100,000 people from all over Ireland,accents from every county,many like me would not have been “supporters” BUT most were .However all would have been there to disprove the notion that these men were just “criminals”
WITS
I was 16. I was ostracised fae my wkend workmates for supporting the bravest ten men ever. Read the Roll of Honour.
HAMILTONTIM on 2ND MARCH 2017 11:10 PM
WC
I was in Inverness last night. Front row, behind the goal. What a buzz :-)
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A safe way to watch the game without the ball skelping you on the dish. :)
Spot on with your post HT.
I also liked the way so many others that have expressed their stories and sympathies to a Celtic legend. HH
DD
It was almost a spur of the moment decision,though organised the night before,my mother thought I was going to work that morning
Friend of mine,an ex stickie ( as in official ira/sinn fein) decided we had to go to this,that despite all his political differences with the provies he had to respect the bravery of the man and see the bigger picture,picked me up at 9.00 am and headed to Belfast,by 10 am we had picked two hitchers whom we knew,both lefties,one of whom ended up in jail in england 8 years later for “fenian” activities.
What a mad day it was
WITS
Good man
WITS
I was in Duncairn gardens belfast when hurson died. What a mad day that was.
Maggie/DD
It was all mad
Thank god its “over”
Its funny how my daughters ( 18 and 21) learned about in History class..
you feel like screaming,its not history its only 1981 !!!
But it is history
Actually funny thing is one of the kids in my daughters class had a grand uncle who was hanged as an Invicible back in 1882
Now thats HISTORY
WITS
apparently Im related to this guy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_John_Macquorn_Rankine
Agreed. It was a long time ago.
Maggie
Thats exactly how I imagined you would look……except without the beard
WITS
yes
such a handsome devil
Maggie
Leave out the Handsome and you got it