One tweet summed up the unique bond between Billy McNeill much more than any story could ever explain.
McNeill’s statue has become a shrine in the east end of Glasgow attracting people of all ages who are far from regular visitors to Celtic Park.
Got my old man upto Celtic Park today so that we could say goodbye to Cesar. My dad was at THE GAME and is a few months younger than Billy and suffers from dementia. I asked him if he could remember the (lisbon) goals. He smiled and started rhyming off Billy’s great goals #wow pic.twitter.com/RLCRqvXOBm
— Robert Macphee (@smelltheglove7) April 26, 2019
God bless him and god bless you for taking care of your dad ????????
— Sean Reid?? (@ciacai) April 27, 2019
I took my replica European Cup to a Hospice one evening, to a young guy with MND. He’d had a bad week, not eating and hadn’t said a word for two weeks. I gave the staff the trophy and got ready to take a photo. He turned, stared at the cup and said, “1967”.
Just amazing ????— Raymy (@RaymundMcGrath) April 27, 2019
These r memories that for u as a family money could never buy. My mother has dementia so this week and tweets like these r always closer to home. Billy kept that space especially 4 yer wee Da, glad u got t share this moment with him..gb?
— Clairebear (@Claireb52116681) April 27, 2019
You have my total empathy and sympathy. My auld man suffered from it too. In his last months, it would be a way of communicating- talking about Lisbon as he was there. He knew George Connelly and we would talk about it too. My Da and Billy are talking now
— Graeme Bell (@GraemeBhoy1967) April 27, 2019
What a special moment for you both to cherish. Best wishes to your Dad ????????
— Eileen M (@Fitzi1968) April 27, 2019
The story of his life and career is one that so many can relate to with a golden decade of success for Celtic that no one could dare to dream of as they welcomed in 1965.
By the time that McNeill retired in 1975 a legacy had been set that shows no sign of dimming with modern communications taking the story to an even wider audience.
Into the eighties and nineties Celtic’s Lisbon triumph was remembered by less and less people who had watched on telly across Europe with the tale kept alive by ex-pats scattered far and wide.
The fortieth and fiftieth anniversaries were spectacular events, younger generations know all about the 11 men from within 30 miles of Celtic Park and the impact of their successes.
For the generations that lived through the Lisbon triumph of McNeill and Jock Stein the pride of witnessing Celtic’s greatest decade is stronger than ever.
