On Thursday 15th May 2008 I was driving as normal to work. As usual, I had the radio on and I heard something that certainly wasn’t usual.
From memory, there wasn’t anything particularly different about that morning. It was just a Thursday morning that I happened to be going to work on.
Then Hugh Keevins came on the radio with the announcement that Tommy Burns had passed away. Like everyone who supports Celtic, it’s something that I felt great sadness over.
We had heard about Tommy’s health problems in the past but he was a young healthy fit man. He was Tommy Burns and he was one of the first people that came to mind when I thought of Celtic.
Such an integral part of the club couldn’t be gone just like that? I remember Gordon Strachan talking about Tommy Burns shortly after his death and saying how he was such a good guy.
Regardless of the fact that Tommy was a successful football player, a promising manager, and a respected coach, he was still a down to earth guy.
Ever since I had been a supporter of Celtic, Tommy was part of the club.
He started playing for the club before I was born and was there until I was 6 or 7 years old. By that time, I already was aware of who some of the players were, including Tommy.
In 1994, Tommy came back to the club as manager, by that time I already had my season ticket and was at an age (12) where I could enjoy the style of football that he had the team playing and I could idolise the players that he brought in.
He was part of the club, during the time that he was boss, I was lucky enough to have met him at Celtic Park.
I can’t begin to think of how many people who would have stopped Tommy Burns just to say hello or to get an autograph from him or a photo. Yet, he was always happy to stop and chat.
The reason I am writing this piece is mainly because someone on twitter, creg1888 suggested that I do it. There was also a suggestion that the Lennoxtown Academy should be named after Tommy Burns.
I don’t think that’s a bad idea although with the amount of football stadiums changing name, due to sponsorship deals, I don’t know if the training ground could end up being sponsored and renamed as something that will generate money for the club.
Regardless of that, I doubt any fans would have an objection to the Lennoxtown complex being renamed after Tommy Burns.
Tommy reckoned that he was a fan who got lucky. It’s one of the few things that I would have disagreed with him about. He was an incredibly talented guy who worked hard to get to where he wanted to be.
If anything, folk like myself and any other fans who watched him play, manage or even people who met him, then we are the lucky ones.
Tommy Burns. Gone but never forgotten. Rest in peace, Tommy.
Feel free to add your favourite memories of TB below
I think that Scottish Cup Finals provide me with my strongest TB memories.
Imagine Celtic going FIVE years without a trophy? The 95 win over Airdrie was a brutal match but one cross from Tosh and a header from Pierre ended that run with the joy and relief so obvious for Tommy, scary to think where Celtic would be if we hadn’t won that match- the following season back at Celtic Park is one that few fans will forget.
After winning the 98 Scottish Cup v Rangers Tommy was just as emotional, he knew what it meant to give the fans something to cheer by stopping Rangers from winning a treble- doubt he could have guessed that he’d be the next manager to win a trophy for Celtic!
RIP TB
What can I add to what has already been said about Tommy Burns? One of the best. How his family must miss him. I know we, the Celtic Family, certainly do. Part of the double winning team in the centenary season (I’m still telling people about that Cup Final weekend, what I can remember of it). He should definitely be honoured in whatever ways possible by the club. God bless TB. You’ll never walk alone.
king of the calton.
Met Tommy quite a few times. Last time was when myself and a mate had a meeting wit Lawell for the fans.
He was playing keepy uppy in the foyer and cracking jokes. The only time I was in football ecstasy was watching TB in the European Cup against Dynamo Kiev before he QA crudely taken out the game. He was simply mesmerising. GBTB.
I attended the Tommy Burns Soccer Camp at Crownpoint through my school, just around the time speculation was rife that he was leaving Killie for us. He was unable to attend due to other commitments and it was obvious to us he was up the road discussing terms with Celtic, to become manager. Dom Sullivan took the coaching instead but Tommy still came down on the Friday to meet all of us, some 50+ players. If memory serves me correct, he was named Celtic manager within days after that.
Despite the fact he had such a massive and daunting job ahead of him, he still had a lot of time for us.
What a man!