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Now Tam’s in the 67 club

(The Sun Oct 2010)
By JOHN SHIELDS

LISBON LION Tommy Gemmell celebrates his 67th birthday today with one regret in a glorious football career – leaving Celtic in 1971.

The man described by Jock Stein as ‘the greatest left-back in the world’ reminisced last night about his 33 colourful years in the game.

It started in 1961 when he joined Celtic from Junior club Coltness United and continued as a player at Nottingham Forest, as player/boss at Dundee and ended as Albion Rovers boss in 1994.

He grinned: “My greatest memories? Lisbon in 1967. What could surpass that?

“Winning the European Cup was something that happened to the likes of Real Madrid, Benfica and Inter Milan.

“Then along came some upstarts from Glasgow and we were crowned the best in Europe. The warm tingle at the memory of that day will never leave me.

“Coming back from a goal down to Inter Milan, who had won the trophy two out of the previous three years, and to triumph 2-1 was just so special.

“Getting the equaliser was breath-taking and being part of the build-up for Stevie Chalmers’ winner was just superb. I played and scored against Feyenoord three years later in another European Cup Final, but this time we lost 2-1.

“I don’t want to be a bad sport, but we were three minutes away from a replay when Ove Kindvall scored the winner in extra-time and we’d have beaten them in a second game. They took us by surprise in the San Siro, we weren’t prepared for them. It would not have been the case in a replay.

“It’s strange to think I would leave Celtic a year later. I didn’t see that one on the cards.

“Jock Stein was beginning to change things and the likes of John Clark, Chalmers, Bertie Auld, Willie Wallace and John Hughes were all on the way out.

“Eventually, I caught up with them. To be honest, I didn’t want to go.

“I fell out with Big Jock when he dropped me from the team that won the 1969 League Cup. I was sent off playing for Scotland against West Germany in the midweek and believe this was some sort of punishment from Celtic. I still don’t know whether the decision was made by the manager or the board. I sat out the win over St Johnstone and then saw Big Jock on the Sunday and slapped in a transfer request.

“I was on the list for two years! These were the days before Bosman deals and the clubs held your registration.

“If they didn’t want you to leave there was nothing you could do about it.

“I knew there was interest in me as six different clubs, including Barcelona, who were managed by an Englishman called Vic Buckingham, got in touch with me.

“However, when I asked Big Jock almost on a daily basis if there was a club in for me he would say ‘Naw, I’ll keep you informed, Tommy’.

“That was that. I was never in a rush to leave and I suspect Big Jock knew that. It certainly wasn’t about money.

“In 1967 when we won the European Cup I was on a basic wage of £40 per week plus £10 per point.

“Before I left for Nottingham Forest I was picking up £60 per week. Forest TREBLED my basic wage to £180 and there were all sorts of other perks, including £40 per point. I was better off financially, but I really missed being a Celtic player. That meant more than money.”

Gemmell, who scored 64 goals in 418 appearances for the Parkhead outfit, believes football isn’t half as exciting as it was in his day.

He adds: “Back in the 60s every team in Scotland had fabulous individuals, the type of players who’d get fans going to games.

“I just don’t see them around these days. For whatever reason, these crowd pleasers seem to have fallen off the Scottish radar and that’s a real pity.”

Gemmell, who won six titles, three Scottish Cups, four League Cups and, of course, a European Cup in the Hoops, was rarely turned over as a player.

He does recall one opponent who ran him ragged.

He added: “It was back in 1964 and we were 3-0 up on MTK Budapest in the first leg of the European Cup Winners’ Cup semi-final. In the return we were told to attack, as is the Celtic way, and were hammered 4-0. They had a little outside-right called Sandor who made life hell for me that night. Thank goodness there weren’t too many like him.” Tommy still watches his beloved Celtic and said: “It might not be vintage stuff, but, hopefully, they will get there under Neil Lennon.”

IF YOU WANT TO KNOW YOUR HISTORY – THE CELTIC LEGEND OF TOMMY GEMMELL

By David Potter (from KeepTheFaith Website)

Tommy Gemmell in many ways typified the Lisbon Lions. He was brash, swaggering, confident and full of desire to do well. He was a character of the late 1960s and early 1970s, seldom off the pages of the newspaper or off the TV screen, and he remained with the fans a very popular character. And with cause. He is one of very few players to have scored in two European Cup Finals.

Born in 1943, he was 18 when he joined Celtic from Coltness United in 1961. He made his debut for the team in an evil hour. It was January 5th 1963 at Aberdeen , 4 days after a dreadful 0-4 beating at Ibrox. As a result of this, wholesale changes had to be made, and Celtic had a new full back pairing of Ian Young and Tommy Gemmell. The memory remains of these two strapping youngsters that cold miserable day at Pittodrie, their hair brushed back, tackling ferociously everything that came over the halfway line (“that East Wind fae the North Sea didna even get by them”) as Celtic showed everyone how well they could play by beating the home side 5-1.

But we would see little more of Tommy that season, for the big freeze came and Tom was relegated to the reserves as the team struggled, struggled and finally collapsed on that awful night at Hampden when the Celtic End went home half an hour early.

1963-4 saw Tom given his chance, and he took it. He made his mistakes, as everyone else did that year, but the form of the side improved and given a little more luck, success in Scotland and Europe did not seem all that far away.

But it was, and New Year 1965 saw Celtic on their knees, until Chairman Kelly admitted that he had been wrong and sent out the begging bowl for Jock Stein. The arrival of the Big Man galvanised everyone into action, even though Tommy was given a row the very first night for showing off too much as an attacking full back.

It was however an attacking full back that Tommy was destined to be, and for the next five glorious years, Tommy was part of the Celtic team that re-wrote history. Tommy shot from a distance, took penalties, scored goals, mopped up everything down the left wing (putting Willie Henderson of Rangers out of business) and even showed his versatility by playing on the right on occasion, notably in the first half of the 1966-7 season when Gemmell and O’Neill was the full back partnership.

He even played in goal one time when Ronnie Simpson was injured!

Tommy won 18 caps for Scotland , famously in the 1967, 3-2 Wembley victory – something that Gemmell took in his stride between Semi Finals of the European Cup!

Lisbon saw his great goal and his part in the great triumph, and for the next year or so, Gemmell could do no wrong. But, as with all great Scottish geniuses, self-destruction is never far away. He meted out his private piece of revenge to an Argentinian thug in 1967 and escaped the notice of the referee, if not the BBC. But he was less lucky when playing for Scotland in October 1969. His “red mist” tackle on Haller saw him sent off to destroy what little chance Scotland had, and when he returned to Scotland to play in the League Cup Final against St. Johnstone, Jock Stein dropped him. Relationships between the two men would never be the same again.

Tommy took his goal well in the European Cup Final in Milan in 1970, but cannot entirely escape censure for his part in the disgraceful defeat. The attitude was simply not right – and this was something that could not have been said of Tommy Gemmell in the past. He had been a show-off, yes, but totally professional. This could not have been said of the Milan preparations in 1970, and swollen heads were fairly obviously a factor in that heart-rending defeat.

That summer of 1970 got worse when Tommy Gemmell and Bertie Auld were sent home from a tour of North America by Sean Fallon for disciplinary reasons.

Tommy would have one more season with Celtic, but by the end of it, Jock Stein, who had given every sign of wishing to get rid of Gemmell, found a place for Jim Brogan at left back, and early in the following season, Tommy was off to Notts Forest.

He would soon return to Scotland to play for and manage Dundee, and on at least two occasions he would get the better of Celtic. One was in that dreadful League Cup Final of 1973 when Celtic fans, huddled together in the enclosure were reduced to the old Rangers chant of “Gemmell’s a B……”, and the other was on a windy day at Dens Park when a 5-1 victory for Dundee effectively deprived Celtic of the 1980 League Championship.

Tommy does play to the gallery on occasion, nowhere more so than in a recent book where he claimed that someone on the playing staff at Parkhead (significantly, he does not name names) called him an “Orange B…….”, because of his religion. At least two of Tommy’s colleagues are convinced that this was a figment of Tommy’s imagination, and in any case, Tommy was not the sort of a chap that one would take liberties with, whether about religion or anything else. He was more than capable of looking after himself.

But the down side of Tommy is almost overwhelmed by his good side. He is a decent person, a good laugh, and rightly proud of his great playing record which stands comparison with any Celtic full back in the past, even Joe Dodds, Danny McGrain, Jock Morrison, Dan Doyle or Barney Battles.

Tommy Gemmell was and is a great Celt, as his record of one European Cup medal, six Scottish League medals, three Scottish Cup medals and four Scottish League Cup medals (as well as one with Dundee) proves.

A few months ago, Tommy was to be seen in the Celtic Pub of Dunblane (the town in which he lives) watching the Old Firm game and cheering as the Celts beat the Rangers. He is, as they used to say about Jimmy Quinn, “just like an ordinary man”.

Now Tam’s in the 67 club

PRIDE OF LIONS … birthday Bhoy Gemmell still gets a special feeling at being part of Celtic’s European Cup winning side
By JOHN SHIELDS, The Sun
Published: 15th October 2010

LISBON LION Tommy Gemmell celebrates his 67th birthday today with one regret in a glorious football career — leaving Celtic in 1971.

The man described by Jock Stein as ‘the greatest left-back in the world’ reminisced last night about his 33 colourful years in the game.

It started in 1961 when he joined Celtic from Junior club Coltness United and continued as a player at Nottingham Forest, as player/boss at Dundee and ended as Albion Rovers boss in 1994.

He grinned: “My greatest memories? Lisbon in 1967. What could surpass that?

“Winning the European Cup was something that happened to the likes of Real Madrid, Benfica and Inter Milan.

“Then along came some upstarts from Glasgow and we were crowned the best in Europe. The warm tingle at the memory of that day will never leave me.

“Coming back from a goal down to Inter Milan, who had won the trophy two out of the previous three years, and to triumph 2-1 was just so special.

“Getting the equaliser was breath-taking and being part of the build-up for Stevie Chalmers’ winner was just superb. I played and scored against Feyenoord three years later in another European Cup Final, but this time we lost 2-1.

“I don’t want to be a bad sport, but we were three minutes away from a replay when Ove Kindvall scored the winner in extra-time and we’d have beaten them in a second game. They took us by surprise in the San Siro, we weren’t prepared for them. It would not have been the case in a replay.

“It’s strange to think I would leave Celtic a year later. I didn’t see that one on the cards.

“Jock Stein was beginning to change things and the likes of John Clark, Chalmers, Bertie Auld, Willie Wallace and John Hughes were all on the way out.

“Eventually, I caught up with them. To be honest, I didn’t want to go.

“I fell out with Big Jock when he dropped me from the team that won the 1969 League Cup. I was sent off playing for Scotland against West Germany in the midweek and believe this was some sort of punishment from Celtic. I still don’t know whether the decision was made by the manager or the board. I sat out the win over St Johnstone and then saw Big Jock on the Sunday and slapped in a transfer request.

“I was on the list for two years! These were the days before Bosman deals and the clubs held your registration.

“If they didn’t want you to leave there was nothing you could do about it.

“I knew there was interest in me as six different clubs, including Barcelona, who were managed by an Englishman called Vic Buckingham, got in touch with me.

“However, when I asked Big Jock almost on a daily basis if there was a club in for me he would say ‘Naw, I’ll keep you informed, Tommy’.

“That was that. I was never in a rush to leave and I suspect Big Jock knew that. It certainly wasn’t about money.

mpu

“In 1967 when we won the European Cup I was on a basic wage of £40 per week plus £10 per point.

“Before I left for Nottingham Forest I was picking up £60 per week. Forest TREBLED my basic wage to £180 and there were all sorts of other perks, including £40 per point. I was better off financially, but I really missed being a Celtic player. That meant more than money.”

Gemmell, who scored 64 goals in 418 appearances for the Parkhead outfit, believes football isn’t half as exciting as it was in his day.

He adds: “Back in the 60s every team in Scotland had fabulous individuals, the type of players who’d get fans going to games.

“I just don’t see them around these days. For whatever reason, these crowd pleasers seem to have fallen off the Scottish radar and that’s a real pity.”

Gemmell, who won six titles, three Scottish Cups, four League Cups and, of course, a European Cup in the Hoops, was rarely turned over as a player.

He does recall one opponent who ran him ragged.

He added: “It was back in 1964 and we were 3-0 up on MTK Budapest in the first leg of the European Cup Winners’ Cup semi-final. In the return we were told to attack, as is the Celtic way, and were hammered 4-0. They had a little outside-right called Sandor who made life hell for me that night. Thank goodness there weren’t too many like him.” Tommy still watches his beloved Celtic and said: “It might not be vintage stuff, but, hopefully, they will get there under Neil Lennon.”

Tommy Gemmell: I reduced Scotland boss Gordon Strachan to tears the night I busted him and Jinky for boozing

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/tommy-gemmell-reduced-scotland-boss-3542138

May 2014

THE decision to pair Gordon Strachan with Jimmy Johnstone as training pals at Dundee was the easiest this manager ever had to make.

Tommy Gemmell: Jock Stein cost me my dream move to Barcelona – but I always loved him

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/tommy-gemmell-jock-stein-cost-3548194

Tommy Gemmell: Jock Stein was the main reason why I didn’t win more caps for Scotland

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/tommy-gemmell-jock-stein-main-3550065
May 16, 2014 12:15
By Dailyrecord.co.uk

THE Lisbon Lion says that his paltry haul of 18 caps was a direct result of the pressure applied by the Celtic manager.

Tommy Gemmell on a rare appearance for Scotland

MY appearances for Scotland over nine years in top-class football stretched to a paltry tally of just 18 caps and that was down to one individual – Jock Stein.

At Celtic, his word was law. When an international was due and I was a cert to get a call-up, he would ask: “You don’t want to be bothered playing against that lot, do you?”

It was, of course, a rhetorical question. If Scotland were playing one of the smaller nations, Jock preferred his players to rest before a vital club game the next Saturday.

He would ‘advise’: “Say you’ve got a hamstring or something. I’ll get someone from the club to put in a call.”

However, if it was a crucial qualifying game in the World Cup or Euros it was different.

Back then, the international fee was £50 so you cleared around £36 after tax, etc.

Big Jock would add a sweetener – a £50 tax-free payment for not representing Scotland. So you got more by not playing for your country than you could for playing!

Money, of course, had nothing to do with it. You can’t buy those sort of memories.

But Jock could be very, very persuasive and he was always quick to tell anyone: “There are other players out there who are just as good as you and who could do your job for Celtic.”

It was a thinly-veiled threat, of course. He couldn’t actually force you to pull out, but you wouldn’t have to be Einstein to work out you might be putting your first-team place in jeopardy if you went against his wishes.

DENIS LAW ON TOMMY GEMMELL 1

SCOTLAND legend Denis Law joined the footballing world in the tributes for Tommy Gemmell.

The iconic Lawman, who celebrated his 77th birthday on Saturday, said: “I have lost a dear friend.

“I switched on the television this morning to be confronted with the sad news and my heart sank.

“Maybe Scotland didn’t get through to World Cup Finals and suchlike in our day, but we had a damn good team.

“And Tommy Gemmell was part of that, you better believe it.

“He was a special big guy. Nothing flustered him, on or off the park.

“Tommy was great company and, in a lot of people’s opinion, including mine, he was the finest left-back of his generation.

“He could have gone to any team in the world, but he decided to remain loyal to Celtic when he was in his prime.

TOMMY GEMMELL, JIMMY JOHNSTONE AND ROD STEWART 0

Celtic Pay Tribute as ‘Lisbon Lion’ Tommy Gemmell Dies at 73

By REUTERSMARCH 2, 2017, 6:33 A.M. E.S.T.
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https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2017/03/02/sports/soccer/02reuters-soccer-scotland-gemmell.html?_r=0
(Reuters) – Former Celtic defender Tommy Gemmell has died the age of 73, a few months shy of the 50th anniversary of the 1967 European Cup final against Inter Milan in which he scored the equaliser, helping the Scottish club to a famous 2-1 victory.

The Lisbon Lions, as the team were known following their victory, were the first British side to be crowned champions of Europe. Gemmell also scored in the 1970 final against Feyenoord in Milan, which Celtic lost.

During his 10 years at Celtic, the left back won six Scottish League titles, three Scottish Cups, four League Cups and the European Cup. He was also capped 18 times for Scotland.

“Everyone at Celtic is deeply saddened by the loss of Tommy, a true Celtic giant and a man who gave the club so many years of his life in an illustrious football career,” Celtic Chief Executive Peter Lawwell said in a statement on Thursday.

“Tommy will forever hold his rightful place as one of the true Celtic legends.

“Our thoughts are with Mary and Tommy’s family and friends at this very difficult time.”

(Writing by Simon Jennings in Bengaluru, editing by Larry King)

Obituary – Tommy Gemmell, footballer and Lisbon Lion
http://files.heraldscotland.com/opinion/15129544.Obituary___Tommy_Gemmell__footballer_and_Lisbon_Lion/#
Tommy Gemmell

Lisbon Lion

Born: 18 October, 1943

Died: 01 March, 2017

TOMMY Gemmell, who has died aged 73, was arguably the best full-back in the world at his peak. He played football not so-much with a smile on his face, more with a huge grin. He loved the game, he loved playing it and his attacking, cavalier style was an integral part of the Lisbon Lions legend.

His goal got Celtic back on terms with Inter Milan in that unforgettable night in Lisbon in May, 1967 when they won the European Cup.

Not content with one European Cup Final goal, he would score another, Celtic’s counter in their losing final against Feyenoord in 1970.

Gemmell was not the first attacking full-back, but, he took the concept of the full-back as an auxiliary winger to new heights during his years with Celtic.

He was born in Motherwell and the Steelmen were his team as he grew up in Craigneuk. He tasted early success – in the classroom as Dux of Craigneuk Primary – and on the football field as Craigneuk won the local Primary league. At Wishaw High School, football began to surpass learning for Tommy and, aged 16, he left to become an apprentice electrician at Ravenscraig Steelworks.

He was also playing youth football with Meadow Thistle and, after impressing in a representative game at Fir Park, he was offered the chance to train two nights per week with the Celtic part-timers. He also signed for junior side Coltness United, before signing a provisional form with Celtic the following evening, 21 October, 1961, along with a certain Jimmy Johnstone.

Gemmell was still a part-time footballer, continuing his electrician’s apprenticeship, when he made his first-team debut, against Aberdeen, at Pittodrie, on 5 January, 1963. This was the first of what would be 434 games for Celtic, in which he scored 69 goals, including 34 penalties.

The following season, he made the left-back spot his own, although, naturally right-footed, he could play on that side if required. That season was his last as a part-timer, Gemmell completed his electrician’s apprenticeship and immediately signed full-time forms with Celtic.

The return of Jock Stein to Celtic totally changed the landscape of Scottish football. Gemmell and Stein had a sometimes prickly relationship off the park, but, on it, it worked and on 2 April, 1966, Gemmell won the first of an eventual 18 Scotland caps in the 4-3 loss to England, at Hampden.

The following season was unforgettable, as Celtic won every competition they entered, capping this with that immortal 2-1 win over Inter Milan in Lisbon. Gemmell’s opener in the final was not the only landmark goal he scored in Europe that season, his strike against FC Zurich, back in September 1966, was Celtic’s first European Cup goal. He was an ever-present for his club that season, and for Scotland, as he was one of the 11 Wembley Wizards who thrashed world champions England, on 15 April, 1967.

The following season he scored against Racing Club of Buenos Aires during the bad-tempered World Club Championship match, however, his behind the referee’s back kick at one of the Argentinian thugs, caught by the tv cameras, is more often remembered.

This was one of two high-profile moments when Gemmell reacted strongly to unpunished violence against him. In a World Cup qualifier, against West Germany, in Hamburg in 1969, he memorably “booted up the bahookie”, Helmut Haller after the German had tapped his ankles and escaped censure from the referee.

The red card he received saw him dropped from the Celtic team to face St Johnstone in the League Cup final and this incident fatally weakened the always testy relationship between him and Stein. He was placed on the transfer list, but, it would be over two years, during which he scored his second European Cup Final goal, then, almost immediately the rift between player and club widened when Gemmell and Bertie were sent home for misbehaviour on an end of season tour to the USA.

Gemmell left Celtic, signing for Nottingham Forest in December, 1971, trebling his wages by doing so. He played at the City Ground for two seasons before going to the USA to play for Miami Toros, before returning to Scotland to play out his career with Dundee. Here, there was a final playing hurrah as, in December, 1973, he captained the ‘Dee to a 1-0 League Cup final victory, over Celtic; laughing in the face of some disgraceful barracking from the Hoops fans who used to worship him.
Article continues after…

During the close season of 1977 he became manager at Dundee, succeeding Davie White. He brought Jimmy Johnstone to Dens Park, and helped develop the young Gordon Strachan, but, with the club heading for relegation in April 1980, he resigned. Apart from nearly two years as Albion Rovers manager between January, 1986 and November 1987, he was finished with football playing or management. Or so he thought: In April, 1993 he was persuaded to return to Albion Rovers, but, stayed for just nine months, before resigning again.

While at Dundee, Gemmell had taken his first steps in business, buying and running a hotel in Errol. He later ran another hotel, prior to entering the insurance and financial planning industry, where he did well with various companies, rising to managerial level. He also had a spell as a football reporter with Radio Clyde, where his trenchant views made him very popular with the listeners.

His first marriage, to Anne, collapsed during his time running the hotel in Errol and simultaneously managing Dundee. He divorced and remarried. His second wife Mary, survives him with David and Karen Michelle, the children of his first marriage.

Tommy Gemmell loved fast cars and a good time. He loved life. With Celtic he won 14 medals – one European Cup-winner’s, six Scottish League-winner’s, three Scottish Cup-winner’s and four League Cup-winners, adding that fifth League Cup-winner’s medal with Dundee. He was inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame in 2006 and named as left-back in The Greatest-Ever Celtic team. Not bad for a boy from Craigneuk.

Matt Vallance

Tommy Gemmell dead: Celtic announce death of ‘Lisbon Lion’ after long illness, aged 73

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/tommy-gemmell-dead-lisbon-lion-celtic-a7607051.html
Gemmell scored in the 1967 European Cup final in the side that went on to be remembered as the ‘Lisbon Lions’

Jack de Menezes
@JackdeMenezes
Thursday 2 March 2017 10:27 GMT
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Tommy Gemmell has died at the age of 73 after a long illness PA

‘Lisbon Lion’ Tommy Gemmell has died after a long illness at the age of 73, Celtic have announced.

The former Celtic defender made 418 appearances for the Glaswegian side, and was part of the famous side that won the 1967 European Cup final, scoring the equaliser in the 2-1 victory over Internazionale, with the team going on to be famously dubbed the ‘Lisbon Lion’.

A statement issued on the official Celtic website on Thursday morning read: “Celtic legend Tommy Gemmell has passed away at the age of 73, and his death will be mourned by Celtic supporters and also the wider football world.”

Having joined Celtic in 1961, Gemmell went on to make nearly 250 league appearances, along with 54 matches in Europe, and left the club in 1971 with 64 goals to his name along with the impressive penalty record of 34 goals from 37 attempts.

He would join Nottingham Forest where he remained for two years, before heading to America in 1973 after agreeing a deal with Miami Toros. However, the move was short-lived, and later that year he returned to Scotland to join Dundee where he spent the last four years of his playing career.

Gemmell also made 18 appearances for Scotland after making his debut against England in April 1966, and was part of the famous Scotland side that beat the World Cup winners the following year 3-2 at Wembley. His one and only international goal came via a penalty against Cyprus in a 1970 World Cup qualifier, and he would make his final appearance for his country in 1971, before retiring completely in 1977 to become Dundee’s manager.
tommy-gemmell.jpg
Gemmell scored in the 1967 European Cup final as Celtic became Britain’s first European champions (Getty)

Gemmell also managed Albion Rovers, having spent three years in the dug-out at Dundee, and after his first stint ended in 1987, he returned to the club six years later before leaving the following season.

Celtic’s statement added: “Tommy Gemmell is a true Celtic legend, part of the greatest side in the club’s history and a man who played a pivotal role in our greatest ever triumph when, in Lisbon’s Estadio Nacional, 11 men all born within a 30-mile radius of Celtic Park, beat Inter Milan to win the European Cup.

“The whole Celtic Family is mourning his passing, and everyone associated with the club sends their thoughts and prayers to his family, his fellow Lions and his many friends at this desperately sad time.”

Tommy Gemmell, one of Celtic’s Lisbon Lions dies at the age of 73

Tommy Gemmell
Tommy Gemmell: 1943-2017
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/03/02/tommy-gemmell-one-celtics-lisbon-lions-dies-age-73/
Roddy Forsyth

2 March 2017 • 9:10am

Immortality contains its own taunting contradictions, as we have been reminded by the latest tidings of Celtic’s 1967 European Cup winning team, the first British side to bring the ultimate club trophy back to these shores. As time burnishes the epic achievement of an assembly of players who – Bobby Lennox apart – were all born within a modest hike of Glasgow city centre, the passing years insist upon their toll of transient flesh.

The death of Tommy Gemmell, the left back whose equalising goal on that May evening restored Celtic’s fortunes against a chronically defensive Inter Milan whose tactics were designed to suffocate the Scottish champions’ swashbuckling ambitions, means that there are now only seven Hoops survivors. Bobby Murdoch was the first to pass, aged 56, in 2001, followed by Ronnie Simpson in 2004 and Jimmy Johnstone two years later.

Gemmell had been ill for some time and news of his death came only four days after the family of Billy McNeill confirmed publicly that the Lisbon Lions’ captain has been severely affected by the ravages of dementia. That these bulletins have been issued in the approach to the 50th anniversary of the Lions’ feat will imbue the many planned celebrations with poignancy.

Gemmell was something of a rambunctious figure, in appearance as well as character. His prominent nose was the object of dressing room banter, which he tried to mitigate by suggesting that he was, in fact, a ringer for the American movie and musical star, Danny Kaye.

“He loved to be called Danny because Danny Kaye was an entertainer and so was my pal,” said former team-mate, Bertie Auld. “He was a Lisbon Lion and he could entertain. I will miss everything about him.”

Gemmell was not to be goaded with impunity and, if overmastered by his temper, the outcome could be spectacular, as when he was sent off during one of his 18 Scotland appearances, a World Cup qualifier in West Germany in 1969. The Scots needed to avoid defeat to have a chance of the play-offs but were trailing 3-2 in the closing stages when Helmut Haller, who had been niggling Gemmell, clipped the big man’s heels.

Gemmell’s response was to boot Haller right up the rear end, a majestic foul which threatened to launch the German into the stands. Without waiting for the formalities of dismissal, Gemmell made straight for the tunnel.

He was also known to test the patience of Jock Stein on occasions, one of which was the Scottish League Cup final at Hampden Park in October 1969. Gemmell had left the dressing room to dispense match tickets to family and friends. Stein, meanwhile, became annoyed at having been kept waiting and had dropped Gemmell from the team and replaced him with David Hay, who got a winners’ medal for the 1-0 victory over St Johnstone.

It was, however, for connivance in ignoring Stein’s instructions in Lisbon that Gemmell was rewarded with his moment of epochal significance. Trailing 1-0 to Sandro Mazzola’s early penalty kick, Celtic pushed Inter steadily back upon their own lines, but as the contest wore on without producing a change of fortune, both Hoops full backs found themselves high upfield.

“We weren’t supposed to do that,” said Jim Craig, who was at right back. “It was risky and wouldn’t have happened in just about any other circumstances but this was the European Cup final and we were desperate for a goal.

“I had the ball just inside their penalty box and was holding it, trying to draw the nearest opponent. Big Tam was coming up behind, screaming for the pass. I played it back and he shot home the equaliser.

“Afterwards he said, ‘Did you hear me?’ I said, ‘Your granny in Largs could have heard you.’ And that was what set us up and Steve Chalmers duly got the winner.”

Gemmell’s defensive solidity, combined with attacking flair, kept him in favour with Stein, who installed him at left back, although he was a right footed player. In 1970 Gemmell again scored in a European Cup final, but this time in a reversal of the circumstances of 1967, when Celtic met Feyenoord in Milan.

His goal was the opener but Celtic, having underestimated their Dutch opponents, lost 2-1 in extra time. Nevertheless, Gemmell, along with Phil Neal of Liverpool, was able to claim the joint distinction of being the only British footballers to score in two European Cup finals.

Peter Lawwell, the Celtic chief executive, said: “One of the privileges of my job is that you get to meet your heroes and Tommy was certainly one of them. I remember the goals in Lisbon and Milan.

“That Lisbon team inspired me – the underdog, 11 local lads, a unique achievement for Celtic and Scotland. I also remember watching the Scotland game in Germany on the television when Helmut Haller went past Tommy and nicked him and he turned round and blootered** him.

“He was larger than life and he was a leader as well. He was one of the best full-backs in the world in his time, if not the best.”

Tommy Gemmell, Celtic hero and ‘Lisbon Lion’, has died after a long illness

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/mar/02/celtic-lisbon-lion-inter-milan-european-cup-winner-tommy-gemmell-died
• Gemmell scored in famous 1967 European Cup win against Internazionale
• Left-back also scored in 1970 final when Hoops were beaten by Feyenoord

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Press Association

Thursday 2 March 2017 09.15 GMT
Last modified on Thursday 2 March 2017 14.09 GMT

Tommy Gemmell, a member of Celtic’s ‘Lisbon Lions’ team who won the 1967 European Cup, has died at the age of 73 after a long illness.

Gemmell scored the equaliser in the final against Internazionale in the Portugal capital almost 50 years ago, with Stevie Chalmers scoring the winner after another Gemmell raid down the left flank.
From The Vault: The Lisbon Lions
Read more

Celtic said in a statement on Thursday morning: “The whole Celtic family is mourning his passing, and everyone associated with the club sends their thoughts and prayers to his family, his fellow Lions and his many friends at this desperately sad time.”

Gemmell, who was capped 18 times by Scotland and played in the 3-2 victory against the World Cup winners England at Wembley in 1967, also scored in the 1970 final when the Hoops were defeated by the Dutch side Feyenoord. He spent 10 years at Parkhead between 1961 and 1971, making 418 appearances and scoring 63 goals.

He won six league titles, three Scottish Cups, four League Cups plus that European Cup in 1967. Celtic were the first British club to win the competition.

His death comes days after the family of Billy McNeill confirmed the Lisbon Lions captain has dementia, and shortly before the 50th anniversary of Celtic’s greatest triumph. Their fans have paid tribute to their most famous team in the 67th minute of each game in recent months with a light display and song, In The Heat Of Lisbon.

Celtic’s statement said: “Tommy Gemmell is a true Celtic legend, part of the greatest side in the club’s history and a man who played a pivotal role in our greatest ever triumph when, in Lisbon’s Estadio Nacional, 11 men all born within a 30-mile radius of Celtic Park, beat Inter Milan to win the European Cup.

“The legend of the Lisbon Lions was created that night, and Tommy and his team-mates were assured their place in the pantheon of Celtic greats. And, like the rest of the Lions, Tommy remained humble about his incredible football achievements.”

Gemmell joined Nottingham Forest in 1971 and spent two years with the East Midlands club. He spent a short time in the US with the Miami Toros before moving on to Dundee, who he captained to victory against Celtic in the 1973 League Cup final after scoring the only goal in the Hampden semi-final win over Kilmarnock. He remains the last man to lift a major trophy for the club and retired in 1977.

He went on to manage Dundee for three years, the highlight being promotion back to the Premier League in 1978–79 as champions. He also had two spells in charge of Albion Rovers six years apart.

“I’m devastated, absolutely heartbroken,” said Bertie Auld, a fellow Lion. “Tommy was one of my favourite people, a great colleague and a genuine pal.”

Murdo MacLeod, a former Celtic midfielder who also spent a spell as assistant manager at Parkhead, described Gemmell as “one of the greats”. He told BBC Scotland: “I know he had been struggling over the last few months. Just really sad news.

“He’s obviously been one of the greats at Celtic Park to be part of the European Cup-winning side. A top player, one of the first defenders getting forward all the time. [It’s] just so sad. We heard Billy McNeill’s news over the last few days and now this. It’s just very sad.”

Celtic’s chief executive, Peter Lawwell, said: “Tommy was a Celtic great, one of football’s greats and I know he will be so sadly missed by everyone who knew him. He was a man of huge stature in the game and someone who made such an important mark on Celtic Football Club.

“Tommy will forever hold his rightful place as one of the true Celtic legends. In this particular year it is so very sad to lose such an important figure – while we mourn his loss, I am sure all our supporters will also celebrate the life and the wonderful achievements of the great Tommy Gemmell.”

There were also tributes from his other clubs. “Nottingham Forest were saddened to hear of the passing of former player Tommy Gemmell this morning,” read a statement from the club for whom he made 39 league appearances and scored six goals from 1971–73. “Everyone at Nottingham Forest sends their condolences to Tommy’s family and friends at this sad time.”

Albion Rovers said in a statement: “Everyone at Albion Rovers FC, fans and staff would like to pass on our condolences to the Gemmell family after the sad passing of ex-Albion Rovers manager and Celtic legend Tommy Gemmell today. Tommy was in charge from 1986–87 and built up the majority of the squad that Davie Provan won the league with. Tommy returned to manage the club in 1993-1994 season. RIP Tommy Gemmell.”

And Dundee said: Everyone at Dundee Football Club was saddened to hear of the death of former player and manager Tommy Gemmell. The thoughts of everyone at Dens are with Tommy’s family and friends at this sad time.”

His death means there are only seven Lisbon Lions left – McNeill, Auld, Bobby Lennox, Willie Wallace, Jim Craig, Stevie Chalmers and John Clark.

Peter Lawwell: Tommy Gemmell was one of my heroes

http://www.celticfc.net/news/12171

By: Mark Henderson on 02 Mar, 2017 20:00

CELTIC Chief Executive Peter Lawwell has revealed that Tommy Gemmell was a childhood inspiration as he paid a personal tribute to the Hoops legend following his sad passing today at the age of 73.

Speaking to Celtic TV, he shared some of his memories of the Lisbon Lion, who went down in folklore for his stunning equalising goal against Inter Milan in the 1967 European Cup final as Jock Stein’s side became the first British team to lift the iconic trophy.

Peter Lawwell said: “One of the privileges of my job is getting to meet your heroes and Tommy was certainly one of them. I found him to be a gracious man and one of real stature as well as being a great football player.

“I came to Celtic Park on the eve of my eighth birthday when they brought the (European) cup back. These are memories that never leave you. They formed me not only as a football supporter but as a person and Tommy was one of that team who inspired me in every aspect in terms of my life.

“You go to specifics like the European Cup final, but one that sticks out was the Benfica match in 1969 when I was in the Rangers End. In the second minute, someone takes the free-kick to him and he batters the ball into the top corner, and those things live with you from your formative years.

“The other one that was quite funny was the Scotland match away to Germany which we were watching on TV. The chap Haller nicked Tommy as he went by and Tommy just turned around, chased him and gave him a right kick – great memories, great achievements, great successes and great fun.

He continued: “It’s a deeply sad day. Tommy was one of the massive figures in the history of Celtic, a true Celtic great and legend. Scoring a goal in each of the two European Cup finals that we appeared in was a great achievement.

“He was a great character and a great player. In this particular year of it being the 50th anniversary, although we are all in mourning, I hope we can find a time to celebrate the achievements of Tommy and that great team.

“I hope Mary and the family and the Celtic family can take real comfort from the fact he was a great Celtic player who will always be remembered.”

Ian Storey-Moore remembers his time with Tommy Gemmell at Nottingham Forest

http://www.nottinghampost.com/ian-storey-moore-remembers-his-time-with-tommy-gemmell-at-nottingham-forest/story-30174741-detail/story.html
By Barry_Cooper | Posted: March 02, 2017

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image: http://www.nottinghampost.com/images/localworld/ugc-images/276368/Article/images/30174741/15885300-large.jpg
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Ian Storey-Moore in action for Forest.
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He may have only spent just over a year at Nottingham Forest, but Tommy Gemmell certainly made an impression at the City Ground.

As the football world mourns the death of the 73-year-old ex-Scotland international, his former team-mate at Forest Ian Storey-Moore recalls just what it was like to have a member of the Lisbon Lions within their ranks.

Ex-Red Storey-Moore told the Post: “He was a real character, Tommy.

“It’s a real sad loss, he was a real nice, funny guy. You could always have a laugh and fun with Tommy and he was a fun guy to be with.

“Tommy was a good full-back, tallish. He had a good career and had a reputation of having a terrific shot, and could score goals from distance.”

It was that powerful shot that ensured his name would be forever etched in Celtic folklore when he scored in the 1967 European Cup final.

His strike helped the Bhoys overcome Inter Milan to be crowned kings of Europe and in the process become the first British side to win the coveted trophy.

“Celtic were a terrific team at that time, winning the European Cup,” said 72-year-old Storey-Moore.
Read more: Former Nottingham Forest and Celtic defender Tommy Gemmell dies

image: http://www.nottinghampost.com/images/localworld/ugc-images/276368/binaries/Tommy%20Gemmell.jpg
Tommy Gemmell during his days at Forest
Read more: Nottingham Forest at 150: Flashback: Storey-Moore’s ten great years with the Reds

Gemmell went close to adding a second European Cup three years later, but the Glasgow giants were beaten 2-1 by Dutch outfit Feyenoord.

After a decade in Glasgow, Gemmell made the move south of the border to Nottingham for a fee of £40,000, with Reds boss Matt Gillies taking him to the City Ground.

He trebled his wages to £180 a week and was given a £2,000 signing on payment but only went on to make 39 appearances for the Reds, before leaving the club.

The former Celtic man admitted had he stayed around for the duration of his career, and worked under Brian Clough, he might have added another European Cup triumph to his CV.

Writing in his autobiography, Gemmell said: “Cloughie might have got the best out of me.

“A second European Cup winner’s medal would have been a nice way of rounding off my playing career.”

Storey-Moore added: “He was a great guy and it’s a sad loss.”

Tommy Gemmell: Former Celtic defender and ‘Lisbon Lion’ dies aged 73

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39139454
From the section Football

Lisbon Lion Tommy Gemmell (centre) has passed away
Gemmell has passed away following a long illness

Celtic have paid tribute to Lisbon Lion Tommy Gemmell, who has died aged 73 following a long illness.

Former Scotland defender Gemmell scored in the 2-1 victory against Inter Milan in 1967 when Celtic became the first British club to win the European Cup.

“Our thoughts are with Mary and Tommy’s family and friends at this very difficult time,” Celtic said.

Club chief executive Peter Lawwell expressed sadness at the loss of “a true Celtic giant”.

Gemmell also scored in the 1970 European Cup final, which Celtic lost 2-1 to Feyenoord. He spent 10 years at Celtic, between 1961 and 1971, making 418 appearances and scoring 63 goals.

The right-footed left-back also won 18 Scotland caps, making his debut against England in April 1966 and playing in the famous 3-2 victory over the world champions at Wembley the following year.
‘Tommy thought he was Danny Kaye’

“Everyone at Celtic is deeply saddened by the loss of Tommy, a true Celtic giant and a man who gave the club so many years of his life in an illustrious football career,” said Lawwell.

“Tommy was a Celtic great, one of football’s greats and I know he will be so sadly missed by everyone who knew him.

“He was a man of huge stature in the game and someone who made such an important mark on Celtic football club.

“In this particular year [the 50th anniversary of the Lisbon Lions’ European cup win] it is so very sad to lose such an important figure. While we mourn his loss, I am sure all our supporters will also celebrate the life and the wonderful achievements of the great Tommy Gemmell.”

Fellow Lisbon Lion Bertie Auld says his late team-mate viewed himself as an entertainer.

“Tommy actually thought he was [the actor] Danny Kaye,” Auld told BBC Scotland. “He looked like him, but he believed he was.

“And he was, in every degree, because he was an entertainer.

“He was the best left-back in the world at that time – without fear of contradiction.”
Tommy Gemmell (left) and Billy McNeill hold aloft the European Cup
Gemmell (left) was part of the European Cup-winning Celtic side of 1967 that became known as the Lisbon Lions

Former Celtic player Murdo MacLeod said it was “very sad news” and described Gemmell as “one of the greats”.

MacLeod, who also had a spell as assistant boss at Celtic, told BBC Scotland: “I know he had been struggling over the last few months. Just really sad news.

“He’s obviously been one of the greats at Celtic Park to be part of the European Cup-winning side.

“A top player, one of the first defenders getting forward all the time. [It’s] just so sad. We heard Billy McNeill’s news [about suffering from dementia] over the last few days and now this. It’s just very sad.”

Asked how Gemmell would be remembered, MacLeod said: “Scoring a goal in the European Cup final. To be part of that was just fantastic. The Celtic Lisbon Lions – anywhere they went over the years everybody knew who they were.

“And for Tommy Gemmell to score a goal in that [1967] European final was just wonderful.”
John Hartson tweet
Former Celtic player John Hartson has paid tribute to the late Lisbon Lion

After retiring as a player with Dundee in 1977, Gemmell managed the club for three years, and also had two spells in charge of Albion Rovers.

SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster said: “Tommy is one of the most significant figures in Scottish football history having scored in two European Cup finals, including the famous 1967 victory over Inter Milan in Lisbon.

“Today’s news is particularly poignant with this year being the 50th anniversary of Celtic’s achievement in becoming the first British club to win that special trophy.”

Bertie Auld: Tommy Gemmell was an outstanding person

http://www.celticfc.net/news/12170
By: Mark Henderson on 02 Mar, 2017 16:28

BERTIE Auld says that his good friend and team-mate Tommy Gemmell was a truly world-class player and a wonderful, charismatic human being.

The Celtic great sadly passed away today at the age of 73, prompting a flood of tributes from across the football world.

And paying his own personal tribute, Bertie told Celtic TV that his fellow Lisbon Lion was a special player and a special man, who possessed enormous self-belief.

“It’s a sad day but yet all I think about is great memories,” he said. “As far as I was concerned, he was the best left-back in the world at that particular time. He was a big part of the family, a big part of Celtic Football Club and he had tremendous charisma.

“He knew what he was as a footballer and as a personality he could have gone into any company and would have held audience with them.He was a very clever man. Many people don’t realise that he was a dux at school. He was a very positive man and he believed in himself.

“I always liked going to the Pavilion and other theatres to see Glen Daly and Lex McLean and that’s what Tommy was like in the dressing room – an entertainer. He honestly believed he was Danny Kaye!

“Tommy was good enough to play at any level for any team. He was infectious in the dressing room. He lifted everyone because of his belief. He was outstanding as a person. He was a great guy – but the worst singer in the world!

A flamboyant, attacking full-back, Tommy spent 10 years in Paradise between 1961 and 1971. He won six league titles, three Scottish Cups, four League Cups and, most notably, the European Cup.

He played 418 games in the Hoops, scoring an impressive 63 goals. The former Scottish internationalist is also among a select few to have found the net twice in European Cup finals. A penalty-kick specialist, he only missed three times from the spot in 34 attempts.

Tommy is probably best remembered, however, for thundering home Jim Craig’s pass from the edge of the box to level the European Cup final against Inter Milan. He also played a part in Stevie Chalmers’ winning goal as Jock Stein’s side went on to triumph 2-1 and become the first British team to lift the famous trophy. It was the greatest day in Celtic’s history.

“This is where the manager came in,” said Bertie. “Jim would be released and would play it across for Tommy who would be coming from the other side and hit it with his right foot which created a bit of an angle that was beneficial to Tommy.

“Tommy had this flair. He could score goals. He was the type of character that was full of it. His chest would stick out in the dressing room when he was getting ready and he was bubbly. He scored penalties and he could have scored from corner kicks as well like Charlie Tully.

“He was our reserve goalkeeper as well. In the days where there no substitutes, Tommy, one of our strongest players and an entertainer, would go in goal. I think he was in two or three times and I don’t think we ever got beat.

“We spoke about the Lisbon game and it was our first time in the European Cup and we won it. Anytime it’s a one-off, this magnificent club comes forward – the St Mungo’s Cup, the Coronation Cup, the Empire Exhibition Trophy.

“When Jock became manager in 1965, the first thing he said to us in the dressing room was, ‘this is our era, let’s make history’. I don’t think we ever let him down, and a big part of that was someone with the flair, determination and confidence of Tommy Gemmell.

“Football is a short career but when you play for Celtic it’s a way of life – 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 52 weeks of the year. That was proved as the two of us still had that family orientation on and off the park even after we retired.

“I will remember his presence in the dressing room, the level of football he played for Celtic Football Club and his passion for the game.

“Tommy scored a lot of important goals but none more important than in the 1967 European Cup final and he also played his part in Stevie Chalmers’s goal. I will always remember those two goals and the two people that scored them.”

Lisbon Lion Tommy Gemmell passes away

http://www.celticfc.net/news/12168
By: Newsroom Staff on 02 Mar, 2017 08:37

CELTIC legend Tommy Gemmell has passed away at the age of 73, and his death will be mourned by Celtic supporters and also the wider football world.

A member of the legendary Lisbon Lions, Tommy scored Celtic’s equaliser that famous day, on May 25, 1967, as Jock Stein’s side went on to beat Inter Milan 2-1 and lift the European Cup, the first British team to do so.

And Tommy was also one of the few players to have scored in more than one European Cup final, scoring again three years later in the 1970 final against Feyenoord in Milan’s San Siro Stadium.

He spent 10 years at Paradise, between 1961 and ’71, making 418 appearances and scoring 63 goals. And as well as his two European Cup final goals, there were also 31 penalties. Indeed, he only missed three spot-kicks from the 34 he took in his career, a remarkable conversion rate.

Tommy’s first-team debut came on January 5, 1963 when he played in a 5-1 league win against Aberdeen at Pittodrie, while his first goal came at Rugby Park in October 1964. The Hoops lost 5-2 that day, although Celtic’s other scorer was the man who joined Tommy on the scoresheet in Lisbon just under three years later – Stevie Chalmers.

Although renowned as a left-back, Tommy had actually started the historic 1966/67 season in the right-back role, but he switched flanks at the turn of the year, with Jim Craig coming in at right-back. And the two full-backs were outstanding in the European Cup final, with Jim Craig setting up Tommy to blast home Celtic’s equaliser.

During his 10 years with the Hoops, Tommy won six league titles, three Scottish Cups, four League Cups and, of course, the European Cup. He was also capped 18 times for Scotland.

He made his 418th and final appearance for Celtic on November 3, 1971 in a European Cup tie away to Sliema Wanderers. The Hoops had won the first leg 5-0, with Tommy scoring one of the goals, and they also won the return leg 2-1. Two months later, he joined Nottingham Forest where he spent two years, playing alongside future Celtic manager, Martin O’Neill, and coach, John Robertson.

After a short and unsuccessful spell at Miami Toros, he then joined Dundee for three years, and ironically captained them to League Cup glory, beating Celtic 1-0 in the 1973 final. He hung his boots up in 1977 and went straight into management at Dundee, staying there for three seasons. It was there he signed Jimmy Johnstone. He would then go on and manage Albion Rovers for two individual seasons, six years apart.

Tommy Gemmell is a true Celtic legend, part of the greatest side in the club’s history and a man who played a pivotal role in our greatest ever triumph when, in Lisbon’s Estadio Nacional, 11 men all born within a 30-mile radius of Celtic Park, beat Inter Milan to win the European Cup.

The legend of the Lisbon Lions was created that night, and Tommy and his team-mates were assured their place in the pantheon of Celtic greats.

And, like the rest of the Lions, Tommy remained humble about his incredible football achievements.

The whole Celtic Family is mourning his passing, and everyone associated with the club sends their thoughts and prayers to his family, his fellow Lions and his many friends at this desperately sad time.

Celtic Chief Executive, Peter Lawwell said: “Everyone at Celtic is deeply saddened by the loss of Tommy, a true Celtic giant and a man who gave the club so many years of his life in an illustrious football career.

“Firstly, I would like to send our sincere condolences to Tommy’s family, our thoughts and prayers are with them all. They will have every support from the club at this most difficult of times.

“Tommy was a Celtic great, one of football’s greats and I know he will be so sadly missed by everyone who knew him.

“He was a man of huge stature in the game and someone who made such an important mark on Celtic Football Club.”

He added: “Tommy will forever hold his rightful place as one of the true Celtic legends.

“In this particular year it is so very sad to lose such an important figure – while we mourn his loss, I am sure all our supporters will also celebrate the life and the wonderful achievements of the great Tommy Gemmell”

Our thoughts are with Mary and Tommy’s family and friends at this very difficult time.

Funeral details will be announced in due course.

‘They never die who live in the hearts they leave behind.’

Tommy Gemmell: The Celtic full-back who took role to the future

One of the greatest accolades that can be paid to any footballer is that he helped redefine the game. Tommy Gemmell was such a footballer. One of the men who undoubtedly put the swash into the buckle of the Lisbon Lions, the loss of the 73-year-old yesterday following a long illness must have left his team-mate and friend Jim Craig feeling like the surviving member of a double-act.

http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/celtic/tommy-gemmell-the-celtic-full-back-who-took-role-to-the-future-1-4381762

MARTIN O’NEILL PAYS MOVING TRIBUTE TO GEMMELL

By CQN Magazine on 3rd March 2017 Latest News

FORMER Celtic boss Martin O’Neill has paid tribute to Lisbon Lion Tommy Gemmell who has died at the age of 73.

The Irishman was a team-mate of the Hoops legend at Nottingham Forest in the latter stages of the full-back’s career.

Gemmell and O’Neill met again when when he became manager of the Parkhead side in the summer of 2000.

But it is one of the early meetings with Gemmell that O’Neill recalls with a smile.

He recalled: “I was just a young player at Forest when Tommy came down to play after leaving Celtic and I was a little bit in awe of him and what he had achieved at Celtic.
“I plucked up the courage one day to say to him ‘that was some goal in the European Cup Final,’ to which he replied without a second of a pause, ‘which one, son?’

“And I thought to myself, ‘very good’, well, brilliant actually, just brilliant. It really was.
“In many ways he was right. I do think that the achievement of getting to the 1970 European Cup Final gets lost a bit, even now at the club.

“Anyone who scores in two European Cup Finals has got a little bit about them, that would be for sure.

“It is so sad. It is a real shame and he is a man that I had so much respect for.

“I got on just fine with Tommy and when I was up in Glasgow, I got so much support off of him, as did from all of the Lions.”

O’Neill added: “It was a great privilege of mine to have known him.”

Tommy Gemmell: 6 October 1943 – 2 March 2017

I first met Tam Gemmell in the spring of 1965. I had signed for the club in January 1965 and although I was still halfway through the fourth year of the five-year course in dentistry – and should have been attending medical classes at the Royal Infirmary most mornings – I managed to ‘dog-off’ sometimes to train with the full-timers at Celtic Park. Two months later, Jock Stein arrived; and everything changed! Training was much more interesting than before, a lot of it was done with a ball and there was a fair bit of competition in all the various activities. Although I was another fullback and therefore a possible future rival, Tam could not have been more helpful and it was not long before I considered him to be a pal. When I made the first team later that year, he was even more considerate. When my nerves might have been showing, he made me feel much more comfortable as we waited to go down the tunnel for a match. Soon, whenever we went to Seamill for a few days or travelled abroad, we were paired up together as room-mates. However, this could have its problems. Tam had many good qualities but he also could have his little idiosyncracies. It had been made quite clear to me by the Boss that he expected me to keep an eye on Tam and make sure that he was ‘there’ when he was supposed to be ‘there’. I never thought much about this request – or perhaps command would be a better word – until certain events started to play a part in my life. On a foreign trip, for instance, we would leave our room at the same time to come.down for breakfast. Ten minutes later, though, the Boss would be asking me “Cairney, where is he?” and I was thinking that he had left the room at the same time as me and come down in the same lift. I even saw him in the foyer. But since then, I didn’t know! Mr Stein would ask me the same question when we were all seated in the bus ready to go to training. Neilly Mochan would do a head count, find out we were one short, tell the Boss it was Tam and the Boss would shout out my name and ask the inevitable question, “where the hell is he?” Unfortunately, these questions from the man in charge, asked in a decided tone of asperity, were ones that I could not answer with any degree of accuracy. Over the years, Tam could be accused of being noisy, argumentative, flamboyant – he had the flashy suits and the car with the ‘Colonel Bogey’ horn – and even arrogant at times, but he also delivered, his scoring record an excellent one for a fullback and his ability to drive home a penalty a great bonus. Probably his most famous goal was the equaliser in the European Cup final in Lisbon, although with great modesty might I say that he received such a perfect pass along the 18-yard line that his Granny could probably have knocked that one in? The last few years of his life have been tough. That once powerful frame began to weaken and Tam was eventually confined to his bed, a situation such a strong athlete must have found really difficult to cope with. Eventually, on 2nd March, he succumbed to his illness and passed away in the early hours of the morning. Our thoughts at this time must with his wife Mary, children Karen and David plus his extended family. In the years since Celtic Football Club was founded in 1887, there have been many fine full-backs who have worn the hoops with distinction but undoubtedly the name of Tommy Gemmell would be right up there with the best of them.
May he now rest in peace.

TODAY’S TOMMY GEMMELL TRIBUTE

http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/todays-tommy-gemmell-tribute/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
By CQN Magazine on 10th March 2017 LIONS & LEGENDS

TOMMY GEMMELL, Lisbon Lion was remembered today by the Celtic family. His friend of 48 years, Alex Gordon delivered the eulogy at Tommy’s funeral. Alex has kindly provided CQN with a copy in advance of the service and we have arranged for it to be posted at 12.30pm today.

Sleep well Tommy, good friend, great Celt, Lisbon goalscorer, Milan goalscorer, Lisbon Lion.

Over to Alex…

bHiYtyJM56G3xDzwFkb0sSlVBZX-39RuPy82AvshS0Q
TOMMT GEMMELL – EULOGY

Hello, ladies, gentlemen and friends of Tommy Gemmell.

Mary has asked me to say a few words about her husband Tommy. And she has made me promise to trim it to under an hour.

I’ll do my best.

Okay, where to start when you are talking about a genuine Celtic legend, a unique footballer and human being who made the beautiful game even more attractive by his awesome presence?

Well-deserved tributes have been paid over the past eight days to a man who will be remembered for all time in Celtic folklore.

Tommy Gemmell touched the hearts of so many and he gave us all an avalanche of outstanding memories to treasure and cherish.

Only a few weeks ago, at his bedside in the Glasgow care facility that had become home for almost three months, I asked him what it was like to make so many people smile.

How did it feel knowing his goal in Lisbon would still be being replayed in one hundred years’ time? And one hundred years after that?

“Ach, I’m happy if I made other people happy,” he said without a trace of mock modesty. He added: “Mind you, I enjoyed it, too.”

Life was never dull around Tommy Gemmell. He was a generous, big-hearted personality who was one of the most humble guys I ever had the honour to meet and call a friend.

He was an ordinary bloke who did extraordinary things.

Tommy Gemmell is the only British player to score in two European Cup Finals AND a World Club Championship Final. That feat will never be equalled.

I was still at school when I first clapped eyes on this remarkable character in 1963. I’ve been a Celtic supporter as far back as I can remember and I used to attend all the games in the old Jungle at Celtic Park with my dad and two uncles.

The first left-back I can remember at Celtic was a sturdy, no-nonsense fellow by the name of Jim Kennedy.

He was a proper full-back with his shorts pulled up to his armpits, concrete-reinforced shinpads and boots that must have weighed about four stone each.

It didn’t matter that he was as mobile as Frankenstein’s monster because he rarely ventured into the other team’s half.

He was a defender and he was there to defend. I recall his main strength was his ability to lob the opposing outside-right about 50 yards with devastating accuracy.

In Jim Kennedy’s own words: “I was purely a defender and tended to get a nosebleed if I went over the halfway line.”

And then in came this young whippersnapper by the name of Tommy Gemmell. He was 19 years old at the time and didn’t look like any full-back I had ever seen. No sign of bulky shinpads, no boots made in John Brown’s shipyard.

He was blond, tall, lithe and stylish.

And he could run like an Olympic athlete. Bewilderingly, he would spend a fair percentage of the game in enemy territory and he possessed the kick like an angry mule as he routinely terrified opposing goalkeepers.

He was a swashbuckling character who performed with a swagger.

Tommy Gemmell was here to stay.

For me, it was adoration at first sight.

Of course, what I – and thousands of other Celtic fans didn’t realise at the time – was the fact Tommy was going against strict orders from Sean Fallon, who was Jimmy McGrory’s assistant manager, who threatened to drop him if he continued to cross the halfway line.

Tommy, being Tommy, chose to ignore those instructions.

And we can all be eternally grateful for that. If he had listened to the assistant manager, Celtic Football Club might not have a certain celebration to look forward to on May 25.

Tommy Gemmell scored 63 goals for Celtic. Even including 31 penalty-kicks, that is a stupendous record for a full-back.

We should make no mistake, Tommy revolutionised that position.

And he took on that task on his own. Jock Stein, of course, became Celtic manager in March 1965 and, as we all recognised, he encouraged attacking football.

That suited Tommy Gemmell, but it must be noted Big Jock told him his main role in the team was to defend and heaven help him if he was marked absent when crosses were allowed to come into the Celtic box.

But there was just no way you could curb the adventurous spirit or the eye-catching antics of this amazing footballer.

Tommy Gemmell was a cavalier in green and white hoops as he relentlessly hurtled up and down the right and left wings.

Soon opponents were putting out wingers to man-mark the Celtic full-back. Incredible.

So, we know all about the goals, the gongs and the glory of Tommy Gemmell’s remarkable career at club and country level.

What about the man?

I could never have dreamed how things would pan out for Tommy Gemmell and that wee boy in the Jungle. Truly, as they say, you couldn’t make it up. Fact is often stranger than fiction.

I first interviewed Tommy in 1969 for a football magazine when I was 17 and working as a sports sub-editor on the Daily Record newspaper.

To me, and many others, he wasn’t just the best left-back at Celtic or in Scotland, he was the best left-back in the world.

If Tommy had been born in Rio de Janiero and not Craigneuk, he would have been a global sensation.

I recall that interview vividly. I was a nervous wreck when I dialled his phone number. “Hello,’ said the voice at the other end.

“Hello,” I responded. I managed to blurt out: “I’m looking for Mr Gemmell.”

“You’ve found him,” came the friendly reply. “And my name’s Tommy. What can I do for you?”

I explained who I was and that I was looking for an interview for a football magazine. I asked: “May I steal five minutes of your time?”

There was a laugh at the other end of the line. “No, you may not steal five minutes of my time. Take as long as you want, son.”

That conversation lasted 48 years, on and off.

Tommy Gemmell transformed from hero to friend in a heartbeat that day.

He put a rookie interviewer at ease and I never forgot that simple act of kindness.

He was always there when I needed him, nothing was too much bother for this guy. Eventually, we met in person and we kept the friendship going.

This generous man – and I use the word ‘generous’ in all its many aspects – gave up his time to spend hours being interviewed by me and the sports reporters of various other newspapers and magazines.

We all knew he was an intelligent, witty character and the stories just about wrote themselves. Tommy Gemmell never asked for a penny for his time.

There were other individuals in the sport without a scintilla of Tommy Gemmell’s ability who’s first question would be if you asked them for an interview was “How much?”

There was a well-known character who was known to the Press as FIFA.

And ‘m not talking about world football’s governing body.

You spoke to this guy and it was a case of “a fee for this” and “a fee for that.”

That was not Tommy Gemmell’s style.

As a human being, Tommy insisted there were two classes: First and none. Guess which category fitted Tommy.

Tommy Gemmell, of course, played his football as he lived his life, with a smile on his face. And he lived life to the full, believe me.

I left the Sunday Mail, where I had been sports editor, in 1994 and acquired a sports news agency called 7 Day Press. I moved the company to West Nile Street in Glasgow city centre.

Around the same time, the financial advisers where Tommy worked shifted across the city to…West Nile Street. Suddenly, my big pal and I were neighbours.

The Iron Horse pub was directly opposite my office and a short free-kick from Tommy’s. Needless to say, it became headquarters. Two or three times a week, I would receive a phone call from Tommy: “HQ, five minutes.”

Who could turn down that request?

This went on for for the best part of 20 years. Just an hour or so in each other’s company, a lot of the time on our own – well, as much as you can be on your own in a pub in the heart of Glasgow.

Tommy Gemmell was, of course, still an instantly recognisable figure.

I want to meet the genius who invented mobile camera phones.

I’ve taken more snaps that David Bailey and Lord Lichfield combined.

Complete strangers would burst into our company, it didn’t matter that we were having a private conversation, and embrace Tommy like a long lost brother.

And Tommy always had time for those fans. They would hand me their phone and order me to take a picture.

Tommy would pose with his new best friend and have a natter before another satisfied punter left, looking at his phone and a memento that would no doubt be kept forever.

Again, that was so typical of the man. He loved Celtic Football Club, but, equally, he loved Celtic fans.

Eleven months ago – on April 8, to be precise – Tommy made his last appearance at a supporters’ function.

Ironically, it was the Dunblane Tommy Gemmell Celtic Supporters’ Club and they were celebrating their 20th anniversary at Stirling Rugby Club.

In truth, he wasn’t in the greatest of health. He could quite easily have politely declined the invitation. However, he made up his mind he was going to make an effort and go to the function.

“‘I don’t want to let anyone down,” he said. My wife Gerda and I drove to Dunblane to pick him up that Friday night. He didn’t look well at all, but he was absolutely determined he would attend the function. There was no changing his mind.

Tommy saw out most of the evening before we drove him home again. We took him to his ground floor flat. Normally, he would ask us in for what he termed a snifter.

But, on this evening, he turned and said: “Do you mind if I go straight to bed? I’m a wee bit tired.”

He looked shattered, out on his feet, but there was no way Tommy Gemmell was going to let down the people he always insisted were the greatest fans in the world.

On our days in the Iron Horse pub, Tommy’s tipple was dry white wine, but he always finished with a brandy and port.

Somewhere along the line we would have blotting paper – Tommy’s euphemism for food – but when we were winding down to go back to our respective workplaces, he would order up a brandy and port – “Gentleman’s measure, please”.

For the uninitiated in the ways of pub culture, a “Gentleman’s measure” is a double.

However, I have this feeling if Tommy had still been around in May he might have fancied a treble.

Even heroes have heroes and Tommy’s favourite sportsman of all-time was Muhammad Ali, for many people, rightly proclaimed as ‘The Greatest’.

Muhammad Ali was the world heavyweight boxing champion by the time he visited Scotland in August 1965.

It was arranged for Ali to visit Celtic Park and then Ibrox and, of course, the press was out in force. Ali posed for all sorts of pictures, even hammed it up in a kilt and Tommy was like a kid when I talked to him years later about his meeting with his hero.

Tommy told me: “He was an awesome presence. You saw him on the telly, but you never really appreciated the size of the guy or his fabulous physique. The dimensions of his hands were like sides of ham. And, of course, he was such an immaculately-honed sportsman with incredible good looks.

“Apart from that, he was just an ordinary fella.”

As Ali prepared to leave Celtic Park to go and meet the Rangers players, Tommy told him to look out for Willie Henderson, the club’s fabulous wee outside-right who also became a lifelong friend of Tommy.

Willie Henderson is a boxing aficionado. Tommy, in fact, made the point Willie actually looked like a boxer on account of his squashed nose.

Anyway, Muhammad Ali and his entourage arrived in Govan and went through the same routines with the Rangers players, posing for photographs and so on.

Willie, as expected, took the opportunity to introduce himself to the world’s greatest-ever fighter. They shook hands and Ali looked at Willie’s nose.

“You a footballer?” he asked.

“Aye,” answered Willie.

Ali took another glance at the Rangers player’s flattened hooter.

“Man, I’m sure glad I’m a boxer,” he said.

Of course, Muhammad Ali passed away in June last year at the age of 74, a year older than Tommy. Can you imagine the chat these two guys could be having today as they discuss their sporting achievements?

The affection in which Tommy Gemmell held Willie Henderson is obvious today. Willie, who doesn’t drive, made frequent visits to his big pal in Dunblane and, latterly, Glasgow.

I love the story Tommy told me about Willie turning on a Rangers team-mate when they were at a footballing function.

He was chatting to Tommy when an Ibrox colleague said: “What are you talking to him for? He does nothing but kick you when you’re out on the football park.”

Willie bristled. “He’s never kicked me in his life. Tripped me up, tugged my jersey and pulled me down.

“But he’s never kicked me!”

Speaking of wonderful wee touchline magicians, we couldn’t possibly miss a mention of Jimmy Johnstone.

Tommy Gemmell loved his fellow-Lisbon Lions and what they achieved for Celtic, in particular, and the world of football, in general.

He could spend hours extolling the virtues of Ronnie Simpson, Jim Craig, Bobby Murdoch, Billy McNeill, John Clark, Willie Wallace, Stevie Chalmers, Bertie Auld and Bobby Lennox.

It must be said he was also a big fan of Davie Hay.

But there is no doubt that wee Jinky Johnstone had a special place in the heart of Tommy Gemmell. They were football’s odd couple with Tommy standing at 6ft 2in and Jinky at just 5ft 4in.

They first met even before they joined Celtic as they both attended Burnbank Technical College in Lanarkshire.

Tommy had thoughts of becoming an electrician and Jinky was training to become a welder. Thankfully, their career paths took a dramatically different course.

Tommy and Jinky both signed for Celtic in the winter of 1961 and became the best of buddies throughout their lives.

Tommy had a host of tales about Jinky, who, of course, was voted the Greatest-Ever Celtic Player by the supporters.

We all knew what he got up to on the field, but his off-the-field antics were just as entertaining.

Tommy told me the story of Jinky turning up at Celtic Park one day with a brand new Jaguar car. The wee man was as proud as Punch.

“Tam, come and have a smell at these seats. They’re real leather – that’s no’ rubber. Classy wheels, eh? A cigar lighter, too.” And so on.

Tommy agreed to let Jinky pick him after training the following day and they would head up to Crief for a relaxing spot of fishing.

They were heading to one of Tommy’s favourite spots and he was giving his wee mate directions.

At one point, they came to a roundabout.

“Which way, Tam?” asked Jinky.

“Straight through, Wee Man,” answered Tommy.

And with that, Jinky drove up onto the roundabout, through flower beds and all sorts of plants and down the other side.

“What the hell was that?” screamed Tommy.

“Well, you said straight through,” answered Jinky.

Tommy Gemmell will always be remembered as the guy who sent West German midfielder Helmut Haller into orbit when Scotland were playing in a World Cup qualifier in Hamburg in 1969.

The Scots were losing 3-2 in a crucial game that would go a long way to determining their hopes of playing in Mexico the following year.

With a minute to go, Tommy was charging through into his favourite position about 25 yards out and lining up a shot with his mighty right boot.

Haller snaked out a foot and blatantly tripped Tommy.

Tommy went down in a heap and was furious when the Swiss referee didn’t award the expected free-kick. His mood didn’t get any better when he saw Haller laughing.

The red mist came down and Tommy chased after the West German and attempted to put him over the stand.

Helmut Haller died in October 2012. I telephoned Tommy to get his reaction. Quick as a flash, he said: “I hope they’re not going to blame me.”

I won’t dwell on Tommy Gemmell’s latter years. My wife and I travelled through to Dunblane to go for lunch once a week for almost six years. It was always a pleasure to spend time in this bloke’s company.

We spoke on the phone virtually every day.

Of course, the chat always got around to Celtic. Tommy wasn’t able to get to as many games at Celtic Park as he would have liked, but he still retained a special interest in the club.

He would see the action on TV and read the reports. He always paid particular attention to the left-backs over the years. He rated the players who went that extra mile and realised that attack was the best form of defence.

Tommy liked Andy Lynch, who, of course, had started his career as an outside-left with Hearts.

He enjoyed the exciting forays of Emilio Izaguirre and I can tell you he had the highest regard for Kieran Tierney.

Genuinely, he spoke in glowing terms about the young man and I suppose if anyone could spot a left-back it would be Tommy Gemmell.

In the past six months or so, Tommy’s health was faltering. He was becoming increasingly frail, but I never once heard him moan about the situation.

One of his favourite sayings was: “Why should a living man ever complain?”

I didn’t think there was anything left for Tommy Gemmell to do to prove he was such an inspiration.

I was in awe of the courage, strength and character of the man.

One of his favourite actors was John Wayne.

Even Hollywood at its most far-fetched could never have captured the spirit and fortitude of Tommy Gemmell as he spent virtually the last three months of his incredible life bed-bound.

On December 7 last year, Tommy moved from Dunblane to the 3 Bridges care facility in the south side of Glasgow, ironically not far from Hampden Park.

He had fought and overcome so many obstacles as a footballer and a man, but this was one fight even the great Tommy Gemmell could not win.

Last Thursday morning around 1.30, Tommy passed away. His wife Mary, who had been at his bedside for practically an entire week, phoned me a few minutes later.

“Tommy’s gone,” she said. Those were the words we dreaded, but realised were inevitable.

You may believe you are well prepared for the news, but the words still hit you with the force of a wrecking ball.

At that moment, the world lost a good man, Celtic lost a favourite son, football lost a legend and my wife Gerda and I lost an exceptional friend.

More importantly, Mary lost a wonderful husband she called “the love of my life”.

Tommy Gemmell, after a decade of unparalleled success at Parkhead, was transferred to Nottingham Forest in December 1971. He was 28. And, of course, he didn’t want to leave Celtic.

It was only a matter of time before he returned to Paradise. And he managed that this morning.

Rest In Peace, old chum.

Alex Gordon

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