Farewell to a Celtic legend

Published on Wednesday 21 May 2008 00:12

THE funeral of Tommy Burns, the former Celtic player and manager, united Glasgow yesterday as he was carried aloft by friends and – at least when on the pitch and touchline – former enemies.

Ally McCoist, the Rangers coach and pall-bearer, then turned to weep on the shoulder of Paddy Bonner, the former Celtic goalkeeper, while 40 priests and two bishops looked on at the ecumenical reward for a life well lived.

He described him as "a dignified man of principle, his generosity of spirit knew no bounds. He showed great compassion for those less fortunate than himself".

The presence of McCoist and Walter Smith, the Rangers manager, among the pall-bearers was described by Bishop Joseph Devine as a sight "that will not be as pleasing to others as it was to me", a comment that was greeted with applause from the congregation that included Alex Salmond, the First Minister, who packed into St Mary's Church in Glasgow's East End, where Celtic FC was founded by Brother Walfrid in 1888.

The life of Tommy Burns, who died last Thursday from cancer at the age of 51, was first celebrated in a touching eulogy by Billy Stark, his close friend as well as his assistant manager at Kilmarnock and Celtic, who gently mocked his failure to embrace either punctuality or DIY, but celebrated his "endless" wonderful qualities.

As Stark explained: "Tommy Burns treasured three things in life above all others – family, faith and football, particularly Celtic Football Club.

"You would see him on the training ground in the morning, demanding and driven. When he returned from the lunchtime visit to the chapel, he turned into a calm and serene man."

Among the congregation was Gordon Strachan, the Celtic manager, as well as the first-team squad and former Celtic players, including Roy Keane, Kenny Dalglish and Pierre van Hooijdonk. The Rangers captain, Barry Ferguson, attended alongside Alex McLeish and Gordon Smith, the chief executive of the SFA.

Outside the church about two thousand fans gathered and listened to loudspeakers as Monsignor Tom Monaghan, a priest at Tommy Burns's local church, said: "The ordinary people of Glasgow have joined with the fans of Celtic Football Club and, indeed, other teams to express their regard and appreciation for Tommy. It may be that better footballers and better managers have passed through the gates of Celtic Park, but there really can't be anyone more loved."

He went on: "You can't say anything bad about this extraordinary man. There can be few families who have received the number of condolences upon the death of a treasured member of the family as the Burns family."

Listening were Burns's wife, Rosemary, his daughters, Emma and Jemma, sons Michael and Jonathan, while his grandson slept in his daughter's arms.

A devout Catholic who attended mass daily and endured his brief battle with cancer with the assistance of prayer, Tommy Burns once said in an interview, which was quoted during the service: "This life is just something you are living through and the best is yet to come."

Yesterday, he was proved correct. The reception he received at "Paradise", as Parkhead is frequently called, was rapturous as more than 10,000 Celtic fans gathered to cheer, applaud and shower the hearse in scarves of green, white and gold.

As one mourner at Celtic Park, Paul Farrell, 37, explained, Burns's values in life set him apart.

"I think he epitomised everything that a Celtic fan should be. His family was always his first priority. After that you have his faith, which was very important to him, and I think that gave him a lot of strength, especially with his illness. He was a great man, and that's why he had the respect of all fans.

"I think he brought a lot of people together, and I think it shows today with the crowds here."