The football world has paid its tribute to the late great Tommy Burns a Celtic legend. Tommy lost his battle for life on the 15th May in the early hours of Thursday morning And the Celtic family all over the world had lost one of their own, a man who was always a Bhoy at heart.

 

Tommy Burns was a much respected figure not only by the Celtic support but supporters from all clubs have come to pay their respects and lay their tributes Outside Celtic Park. Colours from clubs from all over the world have been laid outside Celtic Park Such was the respect and high esteem that Tommy was held in by all supporters.

 

On the night before Tommy passed away, Celtic’s great rivals Rangers had played And lost a UEFA Cup Final and some of the Ibrox support had given the club a bad name with their behaviour but thousands of decent Rangers fans took the time out from the European heartbreak when on the road back from Manchester to pay their respects to Tommy Burns, a gesture that had not gone un-noticed by the Celtic supporters as they applauded their rivals as they paid their respects to a great man. Such acts of decency give us hope for the future that the nastiness that surrounds the Old Firm can be stopped once and for all but it has taken the death’s of such much respected figures in the football world, Davie Cooper, Jim Baxter, Jimmy Johnstone And now Tommy Burns to show the world the compassion of both sets of the Old Firm supporters.

 

The sight of the Rangers management team standing side by side with their former Celtic rivals carrying Tommy’s coffin brought tears, applause and tributes from the Celtic faithful, the sheer act of humanity shown by Walter Smith and Ally McCoist Towards Tommy will never be forgotten by anyone at Celtic Park, football and even the greatest of rivalries were put to one side as all sections of the football world Paid their tributes to a loving, compassionate man and a legend at Celtic Park.

 

The training complex at Lennoxtown should pay testament to the memory of Tommy Burns as he was the man who had wanted the club to do something to help with the youth development scene, indeed the club are thinking of renaming it in Tommy’s honour as a tribute to the great man. Tommy was a much respected figure in the game, he was loved by the followers of Glasgow Celtic, for his devotion and passion for the club and of course his talent. A boy from the Calton area of Glasgow born only a short distance from the place fondly known as “Paradice”, Tommy was a boy who would live the dream. Tommy joined Celtic from Maryhill juniors and he would go on to have a glittering career as a player with his boyhood heroes. Six Premier League medals, three Scottish Cup medals, one League Cup winner’s medal and he was involved in the Celtic side which won the Centenary Double in 1988 under Billy McNeill.

 

Tommy was a special player in a special team but the surprising thing was that he only earned eight caps for Scotland despite his natural talent. Despite Tommy’s love of Celtic, he knew his time had come for him to move on and After a Testimonial against Liverpool and his last match for Celtic, a friendly against Ajax, were he gave his boots to the fans in the “Jungle”, the place were the hard core Celtic fan went and many had stood there over the years watching this ginger haired Boy grow into a man and who watched as the man known as TB would grow into one Of the finest players this club had ever seen.

 

Life after Celtic took Tommy to Kilmarnock, were he was signed as a player by Jim Fleeting and Tommy helped the club to the first division in his first season at the club. In 1992, Tommy would become player-manager and he helped the club win promotion To the Premier League. In 1994 the emotional pull of Celtic is too much to resist and both Tommy and his friend Billy Stark become the new management team at Celtic Park. Under Tommy, Celtic would play some of the most attractive football seen at Celtic Park, the kind of flowing attacking football that Celtic have been renowned for over the years but unfortunately for Tommy, Rangers under Walter Smith were a tough nut To crack, as previous Celtic managers had found out to their cost and unfortunately A Coca Cola Cup Final defeat to First Division Raith Rovers on penalties and only a Scottish Cup Final win over Airdrie (1-0) was Tommy’s only success as Celtic manager as Rangers closed in on Celtic’s Nine-In-A –Row record.

 

In 1996 Celtic only lost one match but still lost the title to Rangers and the pressure on Tommy was added to when Rangers won all four matches and he was sacked in the 1997 season, many felt that Tommy should have been given more time but he was gone. Spells at Newcastle and Reading proved unsuccessful but Tommy returned home in 2000 to help Kenny Dalglish and as Martin O Neill came north, Tommy was given A role with youth development, a role that he would relish indeed as Gordon Strachan Arrived at Celtic, Tommy was given the role as first team coach, no matter who has been in charge over the past few years at Celtic, they have always wanted Tommy by their side that says something about the man and what he knows and means to Celtic.

 

Tommy was also involved with the international scene as assistant to Berti Vogts who after a turbulent time in charge of the national side was replaced by Walter Smith but not before Tommy had a taste of management on the International scene as he was caretaker manager as the team lost 4-1 to Sweden. Even as Berti Vogts took a hammering from the Scottish press, Tommy always stood by the German even in his darkest hours that is the measure of the man. Tommy stayed loyal to Walter during his time in charge of the national side and formed a great backroom team with his old firm rivals Walter Smith and Ally McCoist. When Walter and Ally went back to Rangers, many felt that Tommy could be given the chance to take the national job on but Alex McLeish was given the nod and Tommy devoted his time to Celtic.

 

Tommy had other things on his mind as he was receiving treatment for melanoma, a form of skin cancer and had two lumps removed from his leg, many thought that Tommy would now be clear of his illness but unfortunately that was not to be As further treatment had been received but to no avail and Tommy passed away at home. Many things have been said and written about Tommy, he was a special person, unique, funny, had a great voice when he was singing his favourite song-Mac the Knife, a talented footballer, family man and devout Catholic.

 

The tributes outside Celtic Park and beyond have shown just how significant a figure Tommy Burns was in the Scottish game, Rosemary and the rest of the Burns family Should be proud of him, he was one of the Bhoys, much loved and he will never be forgotten. Tommy Burns-You’ll Never Walk Alone-RIP

 

Sean Graham