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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MOONBEAMSWD 722
Candy,average footballer and poor pundit.
Scrapes onto our radar on the coat-tails of his Talksport pal Adrian Durham.
Nuff said,really.
Ok,a bit more. He’s nearly appropriately named,the hairy front bottom.
And I f…..g hate autocorrect!
Cundy not Candy,Ffs….
ERNIELYNCH
Generally a true comment. But I recently cancelled my long-term subscription to FourFourTwo after one too many snide comments.
I complained about them previously,and advised them of my likely sanction if they continued.
So thur oan ma banned list,hell mend them.
I am still having to get used to the idea that the Lions are real human beings. I have had books signed by John Fallon and Willie Wallace but it is all I can do to scale down my admiration of them to call the Mr. Fallon and Mr. Wallace, rather than Sir or fall silent altogether.
I spotted John Clark in Sainsbury’s in Hamilton but I could not even muster the audacity to say hello and thanks as I wanted to.
And there we go this morning with a post from Willie Wallace on here, proving what I should know but have not learned yet. That these guys are bigger than any form of deferential address can mark. Their quality and stature is already assured and I hope that, if I am fortunate enough to meet them again, I can address them with their given name- no bigger honour is needed.
I hope Tommy has a funeral send off befitting his stature. Estadio did a wonderful description of Jinky’s funeral route as a jinking meandering odyssey. If he had writtten one for Bobby M he would have described a smooth effortless passage. I just hope Tommy’s is not too quick and explosive that there would be no time for tears. It will be some journey if it encompasses visits to Craigneuk, Parkhead and Dunblane. I am sure may will commemorate him in late May in Lisbon and elsewhere.
I am looking forward to Sunday’s match and our next chance to let Tommy know what we thought of him.
Cundy, below average player, that good at punditry he has to take his twitter page North to up here, no one gives a flying duck about him down there, and as you say like Durham plays the shock jock card every now and then for attention, a couple of non entities who swing on the coatails of recognition of a new club up here in Scotland, Celtic supporters to clever for them, and they know it.
Catching up slowly,lovely stuff from
WILLIE WALLACE.
HH
Ffs Jason cundy.
Did he play for Chelsea at the same time as rat face nevin, I think their fans refer to that time as the club’s wilderness years!!.
Of course that was before the Russian gangster, money launderer and human trafficker started investing his blood money into the world famous EPL.
TOMMY GEMMILL FOOTBALL LEGEND RIP.
Sean.
Talksport: Less said th..,…………
Beginning to regret posting Cundy`s meaningful contribution.
:-)
Good Morning Bhoys from a sunny Central Scotland well time and tide wait for no man and as the Lisbon Lions get older and as we get older we are called to another life.Though it is sad for those left behind if we read our bible that is what is meant to be. We should make each day on Gods earth as big an event as possible tell your family and friends you love them enjoy the good times with Celtic and enjoy the remaining lions now and again we understand this day may be our last and one day we will be right.H.H.
SEANTHORNTON
The Chelse and Spurs legend that is Jason Cundy.
According to Wikipedia,he played less than 150 league games in his 14-year career. Including in Australia.
Less than 70 with Spurs/Chelsea.
Ffs,I thought he’d been as widely-regarded by both clubs as Jimmy Greaves!
Still,I’m not alone in making that wee mistake. Jason Cundy does the same(!)
MACJAY
Not at all. Glad you posted it.
So Cundy has been trashed? He deserves it and more.
It’s because of what he said,not because you posted it.
That LG washing machine Add is becoming one right pain in the arse.
MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON on 3RD MARCH 2017 9:53 AM
It’s a silly argument. If Celtic were playing in the EPL they would be doing so with the financial resources that are available to EPL clubs.
A more interesting argument is how the top EPL clubs would fare in the SPFL with the financial resources available here. I reckon Liverpool and Man U would probably do OK, but the rest of them would struggle, without sugar daddy benefactors and mega buck TV deals, and reliant on their fan base for income.
Phyllis Dietrichson 9.24am
It’s just the way it’s written 1-11
If you go through the lions team
#4 Murdoch.
IANBHOY929 9.25am
Thanks
Hail Hail.
TONYDONNELLY
I posted last night how to get rid of it,just after 11pm.
If you’re on an iPad,iPhone,that is.
Btw,LG are on my banned list now anaw!
LG will never be on my banned list.
40 goals last season!!.
Get ma jaikit!
SEANT
Touché
I stand corrected!
I thought the tears were finished yesterday, until i read Willie Wallace’s post.The true friendship between these men is unique.Thanks Willie, keep well.
Wee tv clip of Max Allegri ( Manager of Rubentus ) leaving an English language school in Torino-featuring a large man in the background wearing a Torino FC hat shouting — ” What’s the English for Gobbo ? “.
Italian media have Allegri a stone cert for the Arsenal job.
Talkpi$# nomark,Max Rushden to BR “are you not concerned it’s not a competitive league” BR “i didn’t join the league I joined Celtic my team it might have been my only chance”
!BADABING!
Max Rushden? Another diamond
I stopped listening to that station about 2009 but it still had some decent presenters.
Max Rushden…
(Shakes head)
SOUTHOFTUNIS
UK media have the Barca manager earmarked.
Thanks for the updates from Italy on TOMMY.
Bada.
Aye lovely piece from our sir william.
We truly are a support who will always have these men engraved in our hearts.
THE LIONS FOOTBALL LEGENDS.
Sean.
From JohnJamesSite re TOMMY GEMMELL
https://johnjamessite.com
BMCUW .
Mmmm-
Italian media claiming that Enrique is exhausted and looking for a rest / Sampaoli or Pochettino for Barca , Allegri for Arsenal and Spalletti for Spurs . Hope the latter is true , I can’t wait to hear him speaking English .
A tense morning -way down south . The woman from Padova has instructed me to find ” my Kathleen Emery -Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child 7 ” . I am now guilty on 2 counts – telling her -actually it’s mine and confessing- mmm – not sure where that is. Hissy fit from the red haired ,green eyed italian woman ensued.. I might have to make my own lunch !!!
It’s been a sad week – another great legend passes away.
Raymond Kopa 3 times European Cup Winner and first player to win the Ballon d’Orr has passed away aged 85. R.I.P.
BadaBing 10.32
http://talksport.com/football/celtic-boss-brendan-rodgers-pays-tribute-lisbon-lion-tommy-gemmell-talksport-170303230034
Its on this same interview.a very shrewd and media savvy reply from our mqnager.
HH
New article bhoys…i should know…:)
Bmcuw…@ 10.05…thank you. Just got rid of that infuriating washing machine…
Word of The Day
legend /ˈlɛdʒənd/
noun
1. a popular story handed down from earlier times whose truth has not been ascertained
2. a group of such stories: the Arthurian legend
3. a person who is the center of such stories:
4. a modern story that has taken on the characteristics of a traditional legendary tale
5. a person whose fame or notoriety makes him a source of exaggerated or romanticized tales or exploits
6. an inscription or title, as on a coin or beneath a coat of arms
7. explanatory matter accompanying a table, map, chart, etc
8. a story of the life of a saint
9. a collection of such stories
Derived Forms
legendry, noun
Word Origin and History for legend
n.
early 14c., “narrative dealing with a happening or an event,” from OldFrench legende (12c., Modern French légende) and directly from MedievalLatin legenda “legend, story,” literally “(things) to be read,” on certaindays in church, etc., from Latin legendus, neuter plural gerundive of legere”to read, gather, select” (see lecture (n.)).
Used originally of saints’ lives; extended sense of “nonhistorical ormythical story” first recorded late 14c. Meaning “writing or inscription”(especially on a coin or medal) is from 1610s; on a map, illustration, etc.,from 1903.
KTF
Thanks all for the help on the washin machine, it was doing ma tits in.
Jason Cundy?
I think somebody has been ‘editing’ his wiki entry.
Apparently his full name is Jason Patrick Sean Aloysius Brendan Cundy!
:-)
HH!!
It’s all Celtics fault
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/sport/scotland-the-worst-title-race-in-europe-since-1932-z68l83g02
MWD
There is a NEW ARTICLE up!
I see Sevco have identified a new source of funding. Pedro Caixinha(nd). So that’s why they want him as manager.
Kelso 2:50
Clan Legend
HH.
3.35 Newbury
Sego Success
Surely the law of averages I will get a winner soon, starting to dread Cheltenham
Best of luck to all
Cheers GFTB