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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A very happy birthday to my favourite ever Celt and her finest Captain, Billy McNeill.
God bless you Billy.
Sad day for the Celtic family,
Rest in Peace Big Tam, a true Celtic legend
HH
gsu
Anyone know if there’s an online book of condolence you can sign?
londo=londom
Rest in peace Tommy, a true legend. Hail Hail
londo=londom=london.
but still remember the goal.
A sad day ….first Celtic book I read was The Big Shot….took a time to work out what tommy meant by “I am the one in the middle”…till I worked out he was between his 12 bore and his wee dug …
He will never walk alone….rest in peace big man…
NB.
……
RIP Tommy Gemmell..
——
So…. Tommy Was Lured Into Appearing In “Phoenix From The Flames”…
On False Pretences…??
Lovely To See Him Give That Mouthy And Talentless Hanger-On,Baddiel…
A RIGHT SORE YIN !
Hope They Did Several Takes….
Just To Get It Right…
[ Too true,DONALD…The joke was certainly on Skinner & Baddiel..Ed ]
Tommy & Wee Jinky…
Will Be Chasin’ Rabbits O’er The Bings O’ Heaven The Nicht.
————
Sad News Today….
Rest in Peace Tee Gee……Beautiful tribute P67…
H.H
What a cluster… this mob are.
https://stv.tv/news/west-central/1382098-rangers-to-pay-charles-green-and-mike-ashley-s-legal-fees/?utm_content=buffer77e2d&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
First the bad news about big Billy, now this. My generation are slowly leaving us. It is like losing a family member or a good friend. No real surprise because I am proud to be part of the Celtic family. RIP Tommy Bhoy. Thanks for the memories. Hail Hail.
Tommy will never walk alone. He, along with the other Lions, will always walk amongst adoring generations of Celtic fans…
Extremely sad news about a true Celtic legend.Never met Tommy but from what i’ve read and heard about him his footballing ability was a close second to his qualities as a human being.The world’s not darker for him passing but brighter for his time spent on it.
Condolences to Tommy’s loved ones.
RIP Tommy,and thank you for the joy you shone on my life.
HH
Happy Birthday to Billy McNeill.
MWD
Rest in Peace Tommy, a Celtic Legend….. thanks for all the wonderful memories….☘️
Tommy scored in 63rd minute in Lisbon.
Perhaps, on Sunday at that time, we should get on our feet and let out a roar like the one that greeted his historic goal.
IKI
That would be a grand send off to Tommy.
Do it the way the GB do, sitting and then jumping as if Tommy just scored his blooter cannonball shot.
MWD
Always so sad when one of your heroes passes away, the legacy they leave will be there forever, and for all to see.It makes our Club stronger.
When I told my Dad of Tommy Gemmell’s passing this morning, his first reaction, after expressing his sadness at the news, was: that man had a rocket of a shot. Didn’t he just.
A great tribute
RIP Tommy Gemmell
It’d be graat for this article to have posts just about the legend that is Tommy Gemmell.
For those that saw him play or met him to tell us all their tales of the man and those Lions he played with.
Forget everything else for a day and just keep it Celtic, Tommy, Billy and the rest of the lions.
MWD
Wonderful and Fitting Tribute Paul67 To A True Celtic Legend.
Met Tommy with Bobby Murdoch once… Nuff said:(
Tommy Gemmell R.I.P.
Hail Hail
When Paul posted yesterday about the importance of not leaking information via social media about a death until it was publicly announced, I had a fear that he may have been referring to imminent news about Tommy Gemmell.
He will be mostly remembered for his Lisbon and Milan (and many other) goals and, as has been said on here today, the way he (And Jock) redefined the role of a full back to become an auxiliary attacker. So much so that L’Equipe magazine had him in their World team of the year, and that was a testimony to all parts of his game. Despite all of our great players over the years and how much we adore them, not many get international recognition to be included in a world team.
RiP Tommy – You enjoyed a full life and you enhanced our lives. Never to be forgotten.
IKI
That’s a great idea mate:)
No surprise here then eh?
http://videocelts.com/2017/03/blogs/latest-news/sevco-appeal-kiernan-red-card/
Unless my memory is playing tricks,(quite possible), I think Tommy did an almost repeat of his Benfica goal, around this time of year v Fiorentina.
That may be the one from the free kick lay off……..or the other way round!
Fitting to the man.
http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/football/15129376.In_pictures__Tributes_paid_outside_Celtic_Park_for_Lisbon_Lion_Tommy_Gemmell/?ref=rss
R.I.P. TG.
When our heroes go, they take a bit of us with them. On the other hand, they leave a bit of themselves with every one of us. I think we get the better deal.
Glad you got your tickets Almore.
If Rob Kiernan wins that appeal it would be a mockery and a disgrace……..on the other hand he is not exactly a top defender!!!
TONYDONNELLY67
I hope he plays, he’s worth a goal of a start:))
Failing that they can always rely on Senderos to give us a goal of a start.
And I tell you what Wilson isnae bullet proof either:))
Hohoho The Ibrox Colander:))
Well it’s what they Do init.?
http://thecelticblog.com/2017/03/blogs/the-daily-record-excels-itself-with-todays-utter-bull/
STARRY PLOUGH
I agree with you, but it’s just the way thems go about they’r everyday cheating, they just can’t help it.
RIP Tommy Gemmell
I spent a most memorable evening once with Tommy in the Lady of the Lake pub in Bridge of Allan.
TONYDONNELLY67
What’s worse is not one person in football says a word mate not one..
If March doesn’t work out like it should it could be the end for me with fitbaw:((
It they skite on the cheating’ I can’t see how to go on, it’s bad enough the noo wi’ them clowns..
Sad news in the Celtic family and a great tribute Paul67.
I feel honoured to have seen big Tam play with the lions of Lisbon.
Rip Tommy
STARRY PLOUGH
Iv never saw the new club play against us, and I never will untill they are treated as a new club, or the old club gets titles and trophies taken from them , untill then I do not recognise them, but that’s only my opinion, I give my tickets away when they play at Celtic park, I want no part of it.
IKI
Fantastic idea. Can I suggest we aim a bit higher and get Celtic to play a clip of the big mans goal on the screens at the 63rd minute, which would guarantee everyone is cheering and celebrating for Tommy at the same time?
TJ
HOMTHETHIM FOR OSCAR OK on 2ND MARCH 2017 3:17 PM
Think you may be talking of Tommy’s free kick against Benfica in the quarters en route to the final V Feyenoord.
V