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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Tom, “that could be me”, aye, what a thought……
What’s wi this L G pop up awe the time?
TD67 great isn’t it. Watched replay of last night’s game HD quality. Then stuck on some choons. My Mrs knows to leave me alone at times like this.
MIKE IN TORONTO
CQN has been a lifesaver for me in more ways than one:))
I’m not a fan of Switzerland where I live and the idea of it without Celtic is a nightmare so yeah not something I would consider lightly. I’ve watched every game this season as BR was my choice when we were looking for a manager and lo and behold we got him and I think what he is here to do is the most exciting thing to happen to the club since Martin arrived.
But there’s that stink and when they took the field against Brechin I just knew we’d be sharing the field with them at some point and hilarious as it’s been watching them and ripping it right out of them it’s starting to gnaw at me again how everything in Scotland is geared towards letting them away with murder.
My paranoid mind is working overtime since they lost to Inverness that none of their rivals for Europe has won a game and The Sheep even contrived to throw them a lifejacket. I just can’t trust the game no matter how well we are playing and how much man love I have for Brendan : We need a cleaned up game.
I’m still enough of a daft Happy Clapper to hope our club will produce the goods at the right time:))
What a emotional day on CQN today and on the back of Big Billy’s terribly sad news but there you have it CQN at it’s very best.
Where would I be personally without this place and the good folks I’ve met through it, quite possibly in a much darker place than now…
A mighty Hail Hail from the Green Valley!
There’s a Leigh Griffiths pop up.? Where’s mine?
MARGARET MCGILL on 2ND MARCH 2017 4:00 PM
Starry and TD I agree.
How far does the complicity go?
Tough question, I don’t live in Scotland so I’m not spending money to go every week to see the team.
I would never question any other Tims decision to watch Celtic, not my place. I know I go every time I’m home and I’m sure if I was home I’d be there as often as finance and time allowed.
I’m complicit there’s no doubt about that I love watching the huns get cuffed and I love watching us cuffing them, old or new they’re still the huns as my nephew would say:)
Toughest questions CSC
Just shed a tear – sad day – a part of my childhood just died – still remember dying to get home after having just bought ‘The Big Shot’. from a stall in Smithfield Market in Belfast.
Since posting earlier – I’ve been looking at some of the clips and articles highlighting Tommy’s career (including many games that I attended). Some really fantastic stats – I wonder what kind of price bracket he’d be in today?
A left-back that scored 64 goals in just over 400 competitive games!
Converted 34 from 37 penalties!
Scored 12 goals in 54 European games!
Along with seeing the Inter goal and the Benfica one – I’m racking my brains trying to remember a famous miss. I was in the Jungle and I’m sure it was at the Celtic End – possibly midweek and probably a free-kick.
TG struck the dead ball with such power that it cannoned off the bar and flew backwards over the opposition wall and the taker – first bounce was somewhere around the edge of the centre-circle. I remember the roar of the crowd when TG struck it and the roar being choked by the almost immediate gasp of the crowd as the ball hurtled like a missile in the opposite direction – the damn thing is these days I can’t remember who the opposition was!
Grey Brigade Memoirs CSC.
BARNEY67 on 2ND MARCH 2017 5:13 PM
There’s a Leigh Griffiths pop up.? Where’s mine?
Paddy power wouldent give me odds that someone would post that :))
Paul67 et al
It is not often you will find me inside a Church these days, (not often enough at any rate), and most of those visits sadly are due to the loss of friends and family. That said I did make the effort today to attend a special one in the heart of London. ‘Chiesa Italiana di San Pietro’. I lit two candles….
One for Tommy Gemmell……
And the other, (appropriately I hope)….for Inter Milan
Starry …. I get where you are coming from …. funny, in some ways, I would miss the craic on CQN more than I have missed some of the football (although, that was more the case last season).
This, 3 minutes in is big Tommy
bootingputting the world to rights!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95jKohSPSDo
KTF
Anyone else pestered by LG adverts?
Turns my screen black. Makes CQN unreadable.
Eurochamps67
ProbablywontbeabletoreadanyrepliesbecausethescreensblackCSC
VFR800 IS NOW A MONSTER 821 on 2ND MARCH 2017 5:30 PM
The Lions were on £30 a week. Then fined £250 each by Celtic. Shocking stuff. No wonder they have agents today.
EUROCHAMPS67 EUROCHAMPS67 EUROCHAMPS67
Is that you it’s pitch black in here:))
I’m sure Big Tam’s great pal, Willie Henderson will be hurting today.
!!Bada Bing!!
He was hurting a long long time before today!
Lovely tribute Paul.
RIP Tommy, a Celtic great and nice guy.
HH Dan
https://t.co/MJooBRI1FT
MWD
Very sad news about Tommy, the word legend in a footballing sense was made for him and his peers.
Met him once in a local pub one Sunday, I had not noticed him when I walked in.I played amateur football at the time and the owner asked how we had done on the Saturday and I told him we had won.Tommy overheard this and started asking how the season had been going and seemed genuinely interested.It was then that I realised who he was, struck me as a very genuine down to earth guy who with a modesty which belied the incredible things that he had achieved in his career.
A gentleman and a legend in the true sense of the word.
RIP Tommy.
Oops
@STVSport: When Tommy Gemmell and his team of legends returned to Lisbon a decade ago they started this song… https://t.co/MJooBRI1FT
RIP tommy
my thoughts and prayers are with his family
cqn more than just a blog
RIP Tommy Gemmill.
Gone but never forgotten. May your Legend remain in our hearts forever.
You’ll Never Walk Alone!
Now its 17 league goals for Moussa according to STV, minimising in progress, the hurt grows.
Big Jock is slowly assembling his beloved Lions in eternal Paradise…Bobby, Ronnie, Jinky and now Tommy. Thank you Jock and thank you Bhoys…another sad day in Paradise buoyed with so many happy memories…25th May 1967, 9IAR…thank you Tommy Bhoy for your efforts and service to Celtic…YNWA…God Bless your Soul…
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
To be fair to Clyde, they are doing a decent job in eulogising Tommy Gemmell. Keevins even reasonable. Sunday will be another special Paradise day, in tribute to a magnificent Celtic true legend.
Eurochamps67
Tommy Gemmell nearly killed my sister luckily now our family can laugh at it now it was also when I first heard of TG yes it was that game & that incredible goal I was 7 years old & my father was babysitting duties. When big Tams rocket flew in my auld man let out such a ROAR that my young sister who was about 3 years old nearly flew out the window she was looking out off , Such was the fright she got from my fathers celebration I can still see it now as if it was only yesterday.
Thanks Tommy you left us with great memories & your goal changed how we viewed Celtic forever
Watched Tommy’s tribute on STV Glasgow were Peter Martin spoke very well of Tommy. It was a nice tribute.
PM also noted Billy’s fight with dimentia but also noted that Stevie Chalmers is also very ill at this time. I hadn’t heard about Stevie. I knew he had health probs around 2012 but we haven’t really heard much since then. I believe he turned 80 towards the end of 2015.
MWD
Very nice and just typical of the Celtic fans to pay tribute on CQN to Tommy Gemmell the Celtic legend who became a special friend of the Blog.
Boyhood hero and fortunate to have met him at a CQN night, he was frail even then, but his mind was sharp and he remembered with crystal clarity what he’d written in his books when we chatted.
I suspect he was unique not just as a footballer.
R.I.P The Big Shot
EUROCHAMPS67 on 2ND MARCH 2017 6:27 PM
Clyde are doing very well; Hugh Keevins has came across very well. His obvious admiration for big Tommy (and Jim Craig who was on) comes across genuinely.
He did in fact say he will be going to Celtic Park on Sunday because he fully expects the support to put on a very special atmosphere in the week where we have the sad news about Caesars illness and big The Big Shot’s sad death. When asked how Tommy Gemmell will be remembered, he summed it up by saying “they never die who live on in our hearts”.
I also looked at the Follow Follow board earlier and apart from 2 posts in about 6 pages they are all very complimentary about the big man!
KTF
Rest in Peace, Tommy.
Very nice tribute to Tommy on RTÉ news just now.
Bertie said Willie Haughey helped Tommy out in his last couple of years, a True Celt is Willie.
Tribute to Tommy on Sky 117 now with Peter Martin STV Glasgow
We have had many, many great players.
We have Celtic Legends, a fair few of those.
But the Lisbon Lions stand alone.
RIP Tommy Gemmell
Rest in Peace Tommy
Terribly sad news following on from news of Billy’s illness as mortality briefly touches our Immortals. They will live forever in our memories.
I was lucky to share some social occasions with ‘BIg Shot’ due to Lymmbhoy’s connection to him through marriage, a wonderful man and a wonderful character. He gave us a personal tour of Paradise prior to a match once – and he strode like a lion through his personal Savannah. Great memories.
Well done to WC and Paul67 and all CQN’rs who have shown him great kindness over the past few years.
YNWA Tommy
I can’t actually remember tommy playing at all.
But I do remember cherishing the football card of him in a Dundee strip with his stats on the back showing Celtic goals and games.
The card is somewhere in the cases of momento s.
Paul67,
A great tribute to a Celtic Great.
The best Tribute is this current Celtic team. I wasn’t around back then to witness Tam.
With Celtic, Sadness, and this week has been hard, is always followed with Great Joy.
The phrase that is Essential.
Keep the Faith.
Celtic