Farewell Lion king
Tributes pour in for Dunblane’s Lisbon legend
Tributes have been paid to Dunblane’s Lisbon Lion.
Celtic announced yesterday that club legend Tommy Gemmell had passed away, following a long battle with ill health.
Until recently, the former Scotland defender had lived in Dunblane and the town’s Celtic Supporters Club carries his name.
“In terms of Celtic legends, you can’t get much higher than a man who scored in two European Cup finals,” said Tommy Gemmell CSC treasurer David Feaks.
“You used to meet Tommy out in the street or see him at Tesco, and you could always have a blether. He always had great stories to tell, it is a devastating loss.”
Despite ill health in recent years, Tommy still watched the odd game with members of the club and was the guest of honour at the club’s 20th anniversary last year.
Tommy scored in Celtic’s 2-1 win over Inter Milan in 1967, helping his team become the first British club to win the European Cup.
He 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. He was capped 18 times for Scotland, and went on to manage Dundee and Albion Rovers.
Tommy lived in Dunblane for many years, and was well known around the High Street. He lent his support to Dunblane Soccer Club and also backed a fans’ buyout of Stirling Albion.
Binos chairman Stuart Brown tweeted yesterday: “Saddened to hear of Tommy Gemmell’s passing. A gentlemen and boyhood hero. Thoughts with his family and friends from everyone at Stirling Albion.”
Tommy, 73, died peacefully in his sleep at a Glasgow care home with Mary, his wife of 31 years, by his bedside.
He is the fourth Lisbon Lion to pass away, following Bobby Murdoch, Ronnie Simpson and Jimmy Johnstone.
The club will celebrate the 50th anniversary of their European Cup victory in 1967, on May 25.
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.”
You’d meet Tommy on the street or in Tesco and he always had great stories to tell. It is a devastating loss