Numerous tributes have been paid to Tommy Burns on the tenth anniversary of his death.
The former Celtic player, manager and fan left behind a multitude of memories with hoops supporters of all ages having special experiences and contact with the bhoy from the Calton.
Despite the problems and difficulties that he often encountered at the club he never lost sight of the supporters, the backbone that has kept the club going at all times.
In 1994 Burns left Kilmarnock for what was literally a shell of a football club, decanted to Hampden for a season with the clock ticking down towards Rangers (IL) matching and beating Celtic’s cherished nine-in-a-row.
After the horror of losing the League Cup Final to Raith Rovers in 1994 the following year brought the signing of Pierre van Hooijdonk, Andy Thom and most importantly a return to the redeveloped Celtic Park and the towering north stand. Burns ended a six year trophy drought by winning the 1995 Scottish Cup.
From the return to Celtic Park the club has been on an upward trajectory.
A lot of Fergus McCann’s decisions were disputed by the fans, with Burns as manager and an attractive team on the park there was no signs of the dissent that ousted the previous boardroom regime.
In 1997 McCann decided not to renew Burns’ contract as manager, a youth development job was offered that was never going to be accepted.
Following Wim Jansen, Jo Venglos and John Barnes, Burns returned to Celtic early in 2000 to assist caretaker Kenny Dalglish.
Under Martin O’Neill and Gordon Strachan he contributed greatly from the sidelines, his attitude and spirit lives on in the club to this day in John Kennedy, Shaun Maloney, James Forrest and Callum McGregor.
TEN YEARS ON
A decade on various players and coaches recall their memories of TB including Brendan Rodgers.
The current Celtic manager was starting out as a young coach when Burns was appointed as manager of Reading.
Rodgers’ isn’t shy about admitting how he was in awe of a Celtic hero, I’m sure Burns would be more than pleased with the impact that the Irishman is having at the club both men hold so dear.
CELTIC GRAVES SOCIETY
The Celtic Graves Society does incredible work in recognising the significant and often overlooked personalities that have created the rich history and traditions of the club.
Modern history is often overlooked but no one will ever be left in any doubt about the impact Burns had on modern Celtic.
The passions and values of the past, essentially the link with supporters, was everything to Burns as the new corporate Celtic emerged with no player, coach or official left in the dark that everything inside the ground is geared towards giving the fans a source of pride.