HOMETOWN HAILS CESAR
A STATUE of legendary Celtic captain Billy McNeill was unveiled in his hometown of Bellshill yesterday.
The £70,000 sculpture by John McKenna was revealed following three years of planning and fundraising by the Billy McNeill Commemoration Committee since the 1967 European Cup winning-skipper’s passing in 2019.
Former Celtic players Jim Fallon, Jim Craig, John Clark and Danny McGrain attended the unveiling along with former Rangers captain and manager John
Greig, and ex-Ibrox hero Willie Henderson.
McNeill, affectionately known as ‘Cesar’, died in April 2019 aged 79, following a lengthy battle with dementia.
He led Celtic to nine successive Scottish titles, seven Scottish Cups and six League Cups. He won 29 Scotland caps. McNeill had two spells as Parkhead manager from 1878 to 1983 and 1987 to 1991, winning four championship titles, including a league and Scottish Cup double in 1987-88.