Tommy Gemmell

Tommy has passed away this morning really sad news RIP Lisbon Lion Devastated
http://www.celticfc.net/news/12167

 

RIP big man. I have no words to do him justice right now.

 

Aw fs man, terrible week regarding news of the Lions.

RIP Tommy

 

* sake.

RIP

 

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.

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

 

RIP! Such a nice guy when I met him

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RIP A true legend,and a Celtic great

 

This is terrible. A legend and a great guy. So sad.

 

no * way...one of my heroes

RIP

 

RIP Tommy

Thanks for the amazing memories.

 

Devastating news.

 

Just seen this news.

Another huge figure in the history of our club, who has shaped what Celtic has become.

RIP, Tommy.

 

RIP Tommy

 

Sad day for the Celtic family. Big Tommy was always a fan favourite. RIP big man

 

Another one of Celtic's greatest team head upstairs to join *'s 11.

Thanks for the memories Tam, giant of a man.

 

Sad news, such a shame too with the clubs 50yrs celebrations being so close.
R.I.P. tommy, another legend gone

 

Very sad news. A true Celtic Great

 

It's horrible watching these legends for our club slowly start to disappear.

R.I.P.

Capped 18 times for Scotland, absolutely criminal. The treatment of the Lisbon Lions by the Scottish national teams should make the SFA ashamed of themselves, and that's one of the reasons why I'll never support the Scottish national team.