HAIL CESAR
Scotland mourns sporting giant as Lisbon Lions hero passes away
THEY came to Paradise in their generations yesterday, to Hail Cesar.
The statue built to honour true sporting great Billy McNeill at Celtic Park became the natural shrine for friends, former team-mates, fans and assorted admirers to gather and exchange stories of the great man and to pay their respects.
Inscribed on his monument is a quote from Jock Stein from 1974, where his old mentor acclaimed the legendary leader’s ability to bring out the best in others. Stein said: “It is this quality which has raised our captain above all others.”
Another plaque on the statue tells how Billy played 790 matches over 18 seasons, winning 31 trophies, including the first British success in the European Cup, an achievement that cannot be eclipsed.
A humble warmth and charm over decades spent in public life off the park also set Billy apart, making an unbreakable connection with those he encountered.
Among the pilgrims were veteran fans who travelled to Lisbon in 1967, forming a lifetime bond with the man who lifted the cup at the Estadio Nacional.
The number also included descendants of those involved in the formation of the club in 1888, as well as rookie fans already well versed in the achievements of “Cesar” more than half a century earlier.
Emotional ex-team-mates of the legend were also there to greet those who gathered, exchanging songs and tears at the statue, where hundreds of floral tributes, scarves and shirts had amassed within hours of the great man’s death being announced.
At 79, after battling for several years, the former Celtic captain and manager had finally succumbed to dementia.
His family told of their “great sadness” but spoke of their pride that, typically, Billy “fought bravely to the end, showing the strength and fortitude he always has done throughout his life”.
But despite their pain, the family’s overwhelming sentiment was made clear: “Our father always made time for the supporters so please tell his stories, sing his songs and help us celebrate his life.”
Yesterday, Billy’s football family came to Celtic Park to do just that. At the request of gathered fans, Billy’s fellow Lisbon Lion Bertie Auld led a brief chorus, singing: “It’s a grand old team to play for...”
The song tailed off quickly as the gravity of the situation took over, with frail Bertie tearfully telling the gathered faithful how he came to hear of the loss of his lifelong friend in a call from another Lisbon Lion, Jim Craig.
He said: “He calls me often and one of the first things we discuss is how Billy is doing. I never knew this morning he’d be calling to tell me this.”
The passing of the man who epitomised perhaps more than any other “the Celtic way” ideal brought a host of stories of how Billy connected with people in a human way. Daniel Harty, 79, was the same age as his hero and he recalled how he spent a week’s wages flying to Lisbon on May 25, 1967.
The former caterer, who did work for Billy’s Glasgow pub, said: “I went out with a party from St Brendan’s Celtic Supporters’ Club in Linwood and we paid £15 for our plane and match ticket.
“It was a lot of money and it was exciting because none of us had been on a plane before. But I was convinced we’d win and it was the happiest day of my life when Billy lifted the cup.” He added: “Billy was truly charismatic, a real gentleman, and he remained so for decades.
“I just felt it was the right thing to do, to come to Celtic Park today, like so many others.”
Lifelong Celtic fan James McCann travelled to Parkhead, despite suffering from terminal cancer, accompanied by son Christopher, daughter Lauren and grandson Daniel, two. He said: “It’s truly the end of an era.
“Billy epitomised everything that’s good about Celtic. If the Celtic way is about high achievement on the park and behaving well off the park, nobody will ever compete with Billy. He’s a legend.”
James added: “We’ve gathered at Paradise and we know that Billy will already be there, so there’s some comfort in that.”
Ann McMeekin, 50, and sister Claire Gilchrist, 35, arrived with Claire’s son Daniel, two.
Their father, David Conner, passed away four years ago after battling Alzheimer’s. Ann,
from Rutherglen, near Glasgow, said: “When we heard of Billy’s diagnosis a couple of years ago, we felt pretty emotional because we went through all that and it’s not easy. “His family would have found it tough and I’m sure in the days to come they will find comfort in all the good things that are said about Billy and seeing all the love there is for him.”
The great-grandfather of Jim Black, 75, was among those to donate 10 shillings and sixpence to Brother Walfrid as he set up Celtic FC in 1888.
Jim, of Coatbridge, said: “The family is very proud that my great-grandfather Daniel Hughes gave up the donation back in 1887 or so and we have all been Celtic fans all our days.
“It seemed like the right thing to do to come and pay respects.”
Jim was accompanied by his nephew Andrew Paterson, 25, who said: “There’s a family history that we are all aware of and Billy McNeill is Celtic’s biggest hero. It’s a sad day.”
Donna Dickie, from Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire, has visited the Estadio Nacional in Lisbon to pay tribute to the heroes of 1967.
She had her photo taken on the spot where Billy lifted the European Cup.
Donna, 55, heard the news at 9.06am and she said: “I just jumped in the car and got some flowers and headed for Celtic Park. I was blubbing my eyes out but Billy McNeill is a legend and someone truly special, so I needed to do something.”
Publican Nicholas Stewart, 69, who runs McChuills bar in Glasgow’s Merchant City, said: “Billy was a great player. He had charisma and heart and he represented all that is good about Celtic, the ideal.”
Raymond Hadden, 64, who is originally from Aberdeenshire but now lives in Tipperary, Ireland, travelled to Celtic Park after hearing the sad news during a visit to Glasgow.
He said: “It felt like a profound thing, the passing of a man like Billy McNeill, so I came along to pay my respects.”
Rangers fan Paul McWhirter received an ovation as he walked to the statue to present a club scarf to the icon.
Paul, 48, said: “I’m a Rangers fan but I’m from Parkhead and to anyone living round here, Billy was an east end legend who did so much for Glasgow.
“He would have banter with you in the street just the same even if you supported Rangers and he was one of the true greats who managed to cross the Old Firm divide.
“He was a great human being and many Rangers fans would agree with me on that.”
Then, late last night, perhaps Celtic’s most famous fan, rock legend Rod Stewart, paid his own personal tribute, tweeting: “Hail Hail Cesar!
“Farewell my friend, Billy McNeill. And farewell one of the best Celts ever.”