Another Lasting Legacy To The Legend That Was Cesar McNeill
Following the sad passing of Celtic’s legendary skipper, Billy McNeill, back in April 2019 at the age of 79 years old after suffering dementia, over the weekend it was confirmed that the planned statue honouring his memory in his home town of Bellshill, North Lanarkshire, had now been unveiled.
Skipper of the famous Lisbon Lions side that fantastically lifted the European Cup back in 1967, McNeill represented the club for the entirety of his playing career and as well as earning himself 29 caps for Scotland, he made over 500 appearances in total for Celtic across all competitions in what was an effective 18 year spell. Modern football is unlikely to see such devotion to one club again now so for fans who like a flutter, whilst the odds might be great on a player spending 18 odd years at one club, there is probably a better return from an onlinecasino.
Having officially hung up his playing boots in 1975, McNeill moved into the world of management and spent time at Clyde and Aberdeen, before returning home for a five year spell in charge of Celtic. He moved on in 1983, moving firstly to Manchester City before spending a single year at Aston Villa. He again returned home in 1987 for four more years and he returned briefly to the game in 1998 with a short spell at Hibernian as their caretaker gaffer.
His spell with us as a manger saw him lift four Scottish league championships, including a league and cup double in our centenary season of 1987/88. He picked up a remarkable 31 trophies in total including his time as a player.
His statue at Parkhead celebrating the European Cup win was installed in 2015, and his widow Liz and members of the Billy McNeill Commemoration Committee were in attendance for the Bellshill unveiling. The assembled crowd also included former Celtic player Frank McAvennie, John Fallon, Jim Craig, John Clark, Danny McGrain and Tom Boyd.
Just ahead of the unveiling on Saturday, the Committee posted the following to their Facebook page.
“The boy from Abbotsford Place barely 150 yards from the statue site and who went on to be one of the most respected gentlemen in world football will finally get the recognition that he has so earned and deserved in his boyhood town of Bellshill and Mossend.”
Seems absolutely bizarre in the modern day and age of football to think that given the career he had at Celtic and the legacy he has in our history, he signed for what many would believe was a paltry £250 back in 1957 after reserve team coach Jock Stein saw him perform for Scotland schoolboys against England and ‘Cesar’ as he was lovingly nicknamed certainly did not have it all his own way as his early years with us also coincided with some of our most difficult times on a football pitch.
His statue is a lovely mark and show of respect though and I imagine his home town will now get a few more visitors as time goes by as fans again show their respect to his time with us.
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