Tributes to Celtic legend Tommy Burns

Fans, managers and politicians mourn the parkhead hero who was known as an absolute gentleman

By Lucinda Cameron

Published:

IN MOURNING: Grieving fans gather at Parkhead to honour Celtic legend Tommy Burns who died yesterday morning

Tommy Burns who died from skin cancer

Billy Connolly joins the mourners outside Parkhead

Celtic legend Tommy Burns was remembered as a “wonderful human being” as tributes flooded in following his death from cancer yesterday.

Burns, 51, died at home at 4am after losing his long-running fight with the disease.

It was announced in March that Burns, who was first diagnosed with skin cancer in 2006, was facing a new fight against the disease.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown, First Minister Alex Salmond and key figures from politics, football and the church were among those who paid tribute.

Football fans were left shocked by the news, and hundreds streamed to Celtic Park to pay their respects.

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan said: “Being Tommy’s mate was the best part of joining Celtic. As a footballer there were not many better than him and he was top of the league when it comes to being a man.

“He made me feel good when he was alive and his memory will make me laugh when he is not here.”

Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell said: “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.”

Gordon Brown said: “His death robs Scottish football of one of its most inspirational figures of modern times.” Celtic chairman and ex-Home Secretary John Reid described it as “devastating news”. Alex Salmond recalled him as “an outstanding servant for Celtic and Scotland”.

Outside Celtic Park a carpet of bouquets, football scarves and shirts from a range of clubs was laid by fans.

Manager Strachan added: “The most important thing I did when I came here (in 2005) was make Tommy assistant manager. Through his intelligence, commonsense and humour, he made me understand what Glasgow was all about. He kept me sane at times.”

From the other side of the Old Firm divide, Rangers assistant manager Ally McCoist said he had known Burns for 25 years and described him as “an absolute gentleman”.

“You would never hear anybody in football say a bad word about Tommy Burns,” said McCoist. “To have been involved in football for so long, that’s quite an accolade.”

Burns was, said McCoist, “a very good friend” of himself and of his boss, Rangers manager Walter Smith.

Lifelong fan, comedian Billy Connolly, who is patron of the Celtic Foundation charity, said: “Celtic gave me a seat here, myself and Rod Stewart, for opening these stands and Tommy was part of that, so I feel a link to him. I liked him personally. I thought he was a really nice man.”