Tommy Burns

Was walking from the hall to kitchen when I heard Alan Brazil on Talksport say “I’m speechless”. I stopped in the kitchen and listened to the rest of the bulletin. “Diagnosed with cancer in 2006, came back March 2008” then the words “Celtic first team coach......”

Truth is I can’t remember what else was said. I had just finished writing this post and the laptop was cooling down. It was fired back up again and this simple post was written.

At the time I didn’t know what to write. Not one memory stuck in ma mind of TB. When Jinky passed the picture of the wee man sitting on an oversized armchair beaming from ear to ear sprung to mind. When Phil O’Donnell passed away the image of Phil in those thick Hoops scoring against Partick Thistle jumped into my memory right away.

In the car on the way to work I was still struggling to get one memory that stood out for me. Even though I started going to the games in the early eighties, TB the manager is how I remember him. A job that became too much for him because he cared too much.

I remember that night in Govan when I knew his time was up as manager. Was sitting in the front row of the Govan Stand (Gary McDonalds seat- it had a wee plaque on it, it didnae by the end of the game) when I saw Paulo Di Canio ignore TB’s pleas and continue to play where he wanted as we fell to a 1-0 defeat against the Falkirk Bairns.

I remember thinking that it was a sad way to go. Pishing wet night, at the home of your greatest rivals and losing to a lower division team. A man that with hindsight gave us oor club back. A Celtic minded appointment that gave us back oor pride and the Celtic way.

TB once said that “Andy Goram broke my heart” well every Celtic manager since TB has had the weight of the style and flair of his team on their shoulders. How many times have wee discussed that Gordon Strachan’s or Martin O’Neills Celtic are not as entertaining as TB’s. Every week for the last 10 years? Every Celtic managers since TB gravestone could read

“Mines wasn’t as good as Tommy’s”.

It wasn’t until lunchtime and I looked at the emotional Kerrydale Street thread that a moment jumped out at me. Scottish Cup Final 1988.TB's interview with Jim "Billy" White. I remember now watching this over and over again when I was younger as, like most, I used to record all the Celtic games to keep. I still, probably, have them in the loft.

The passion and emotion in that interview just summed up what Celtic meant to him. I’m angry at myself for not remembering that moment right away this morning. How could I have forgot that? Watching the videos, slideshows and tributes has made me realise that today we have lost a modern day Celtic Legend. A legend that to guys my age is like the older generation losing one of the Lions.

It’s hard to fathom that he is gone when in early August 07 he was sprinting across the CP turf to jump on The Holy Goalie after the penalty kicks win over Spartak. Aiden McGeady’s face in this photo sums everything up.

He has been taken too young and all our thoughts are with his family. It’s always the good that die young.

You’ll Never Walk Alone TB.