Thousands gather at Celtic Park for poignant farwell to Bertie

Not even a freezing cold winter’s day could keep fans away from paying their final respects to Bertie Auld.

While the funeral mass took place at St Mary’s in the Calton thousands gathered along the Celtic Way to watch the service and salute one of the Lisbon Lions.

Auld was the very public face of the Lions in recent years, ever-present around Celtic Park with a word and time for fans young and old.

Fans stood in silence as they braved the cold, listening in to the service as the life of the person rather than the footballer was remembered.

When the funeral service ends the cortege will make an emotional journey along the road to Celtic Park, among the fans that Bertie identified with and was always comfortable to mix with.

On Sunday before the match with Aberdeen, Celtic will pay their final respects to the Lion from Maryhill.