When Gordon Strachan emerged from the main entrance at Celtic Park yesterday,
he could barely look anyone in the eye. He knew if he did, there would be no
way back. Tears would surely have come. Celtic was a football club in a deep
state of shock.
The death of Tommy Burns at the age of 51 from cancer prompted such a wave of
emotion from Celtic supporters that they converged upon the ground to lay
floral tributes and club colours. The man who had worn their shirt for 15
years as a player and then managed the team for a further three, before
taking on the role of head of youth development and first-team coach, had
been taken from them. And the reality cut through everyone’s thoughts like a
knife.
Strachan had done a round of media interviews inside Celtic Park before
heading to the car park. He looked ashen, telling supporters that he would
like to meet everybody and thank them for coming but he was not really in
any state to do so because he just lost the best man he’d ever met.
The Celtic manager had only known Burns for three years, since his arrival as
manager in 2005, but that was long enough to get the measure of the man whom
he had visited on his deathbed on Wednesday. The pair shared ferocious
clashes on the pitch in the 1980s when they represented Aberdeen and Celtic,
respectively, in midfield.
When Strachan was appointed successor to Martin O'Neill in June 2005, it would
have been easy, in time-honoured football fashion, to dispense with, or
marginalise, all the existing backroom staff. However, Strachan felt that
Burns’s personality, warmth and coaching experience would be of immense
benefit to the new first-team squad he was building.
Two successive titles indicate the wisdom of that decision. “Of all the
signings I’ve made, the most important thing I did when I came to Celtic was
bring Tommy into the coaching team,” Strachan said. “Through his
intelligence, common sense and humour, he made me understand what Glasgow
was all about. Without him, I would have gone off my head. Tommy kept me
sane at times.
“It was just a privilege to be in his company every day. I worked with him
every day, laughed and joked with him, and it’s been like that for three
years. That’s why the loss has hit us so hard. I came to Celtic three years
ago and it’s been a fantastic journey. But the best part of it is being able
to call Tommy Burns a friend for the last three years.
“We’re talking about legends here, but I’ve always said that people won’t just
be judged as a footballer - and there weren’t many better than Tommy - but
as a person. He’s top of the league when it comes to being a man. I think
there’s a difference between legendary footballers, and legendary men. I
know what I would like to be remembered as.
“I’m always asked about the high-lights of my career, and I always say that I
judge them on how much I laughed. There is absolutely no doubt about it... I
have laughed every single day since I’ve been at Celtic. Over the next few
days, we will find some Tommy stories that we will laugh at. He made me feel
good when he was alive, and his memory will make me feel good now that he’s
gone. Tommy radiated. Whenever he walked into a room, it didn’t matter how
you were feeling. When Tommy was about, you felt better. We’ve missed him
about the place, because it’s not the same when he’s not there.
“Tommy wasn’t one for going on about what he did in football. He was too busy
helping other people. Even yesterday, when I went to visit him, his faith
was incredible. All he was interested in was Rosemary [Burns’s widow] and
the kids, and that I was alright. He wasn’t thinking about himself, which
was absolutely incredible. And being Tommy, we still managed to have a
laugh, just hours before he passed away. When I was leaving, I gave him a
hug and said if you’d told Celtic and Aberdeen fans 30 years ago that we’d
be having a hug on his bed, they wouldn’t have believed it.
“That’s just the type of man Tommy was. You could go from kicking lumps out of
each other on the pitch to being friends, and I miss him as badly as I’ve
ever missed anyone. I’m not thinking about football just now – it’s a
distant second. His faith yesterday was all about making sure his family was
strong. That’s the last thing he did.
“We’ll have a few days thinking about Tommy. We’ll train on Friday, but we’ll
be thinking about Tommy Everyone will be. We’ll all know how lucky we’ve
been to know him.”
The east end of Glasgow raised Tommy Burns and made his name, so it is
appropriate that his funeral will take place there on Tuesday. A requiem
mass at St Mary's Catholic Church, in Abercromby Street, less than a mile
from the ground, will be a poignant farewell for a man who went to the
nearby school. St Mary's Church Hall was also the birthplace of Celtic FC in
November 1887. Supporters will have the chance to pay their respects when
the cortege later stops outside Celtic Park.
The pain was there from the top to the bottom of the club. Stephen Mc-Manus,
the captain, added: “It's been a pleasure to have known him for eight years.
You can’t help but love him to bits. He’s going to be sadly missed.”
Peter Lawwell, the chief executive added: “Tommy Burns will live forever in
the club. He’s part of the history. We’ve had many legends at this football
club but truly he’ll take his position in there. His energy, his drive, and
his passion was remarkable.”
John Reid, the chairman, confirmed that Celtic will look at making a lasting
tribute to Burns. “In his own playing life and as a manager he never
compromised his own philosophy and his own style of football, which he
really believed was the Celtic style,” Reid said. “That in a sense is the
best legacy that we can give him. Of course we will look at what might be
done in memory of Tommy.”
Davie Provan, a former teammate for almost a decade, said that Burns’s
humanity touched everyone. “I’ve lost a friend that I have known for 32
years. I will remember him as a very good footballer but more than that, a
great human being. He was decent and honest.”
Burns earned respect across the Old Firm divide. Indeed, there were plenty of
Rangers scarves yesterday among the tributes outside Celtic Park and the
Ibrox club abandoned plans for a bus tour through Glasgow after the Uefa Cup
final, adding: “The club would like to extend its sincere condolences to the
family of Tommy Burns at this very sad time.”"
Tommy Burns 1956-2008
Gordon Brown Prime Minister “I was deeply saddened. His death
robs Scottish football of one of its most inspirational figures of modern
times and one of the nicest people in football. He will go down as one of
the all-time great players for Celtic. His belief in good football shone
through in his time as Celtic manager, as well as in his service for
Scotland and Kilmarnock. But perhaps most of all it was his passion and love
for his family and for life itself that made Tommy so inspiring. He will be
sadly missed by us all.”
Alex Salmond First Minister “Tommy Burns was an outstanding
servant to Celtic and to Scotland. He was always there at the call of his
club and country. He will be hugely missed by his family, to whom we send
our condolences, and right across the world of football and well beyond.”
Sir Alex Ferguson Manchester United manager “It’s very sad. He
was a real good man.”
Gordon Strachan Celtic manager “As a footballer there were not
many better than him and as a person he was top of the league when it comes
to being a man.”
Peter Lawwell Celtic chief executive “He was a wonderful human
being and I think in life you really only meet several special people and
Tommy Burns was certainly that. His football style as a Celtic man, his
values, his standards, his integrity, his humour made him that special
person.”
John Reid Celtic chairman “Tommy is someone who was loved by so
many of us. He was a man of true integrity and dignity.”
Davie Provan Former Celtic teammate “He embodied everything good
about the club.”
Tommy Gemmell Lisbon Lion “I don’t think you will find anyone
on this earth who will say a bad word about him.”
SFA Official statement “Tommy’s passing is a great loss and he
will be sadly missed by us all. He was a true gentleman and a magnificent
ambassador for Scottish football.”
Stephen McManus Celtic captain “He was courageous and probably
as brave a man as you will ever meet. He will be badly missed by every
single one of us not just as a coach but as a person. It has been a pleasure
to know him for eight years and you can’t help but love him to bits.”
I am so sad to hear that Tommy has gone. A true Celtic great . RIP
I'd like to add that in a week which has been poor for Rangers on and off the pitch -- it was a very five gesture by those Teddy Bears who paid their respect and the club itself by cancelling their parade. Well done, and thank you
andy, london, UK
its a very big loss not only to celtic but to football all around the world. god bless and rip tommy. from celtic jock
tony chalmers, kettering, england
Tommy and Davie Cooper will surely be out there somewhere, their spirits live on in every back street kid who kicks a ball against a wall and dreams of pulling on their beloved Club's shirt, to run out to the roar of thousands, to be brave, to try to entertain, and to win. You made us proud!
Chris Stirling, East Kilbride, Scotland
A fitting tribute to a true Celt and fine man....
see link below
http://www.gopetition.com/online/19308.html
Peter , East Kilbride,
I live in Sydney and woke up this morning to the sad news.
Prayers are with his family and to our great club.
RIP Tommy
Scott Cannon, Sydney, Australia
up there now with all the mighty Celts. R.I. P. legend!!!!!!
Gerry Duddy, Derry City, North Ireland
What a player, what a man.
R.I.P. TB
ALAN MITCHELL, TORRANCE,
I endorse every word Gordon Strachan has said,What a shock!
Our thoughts are with Tommy Burns family.
Hugh McCoach, Doncaster, England