Bertie Auld: Tommy Gemmell Was an Outstanding Person

BERTIE Auld says that his good friend and team-mate Tommy Gemmell was a truly world-class player and a wonderful, charismatic human being.

The Celtic great sadly passed away last Thursday at the age of 73, prompting a flood of tributes from across the football world.

And paying his own personal tribute, Bertie said that his fellow Lisbon Lion was a special player and a special man, who possessed enormous self-belief.

“It’s a sad day but yet all I think about is great memories,” he said. “As far as I was concerned, he was the best left-back in the world at that particular time. He was a big part of the family, a big part of Celtic Football Club and he had tremendous charisma.

“He knew what he was as a footballer and as a personality he could have gone into any company and would have held audience with them. He was a very clever man. Many people don’t realise that he was a dux at school. He was a very positive man and he believed in himself.

“I always liked going to the Pavilion and other theatres to see Glen Daly and Lex McLean and that’s what Tommy was like in the dressing room – an entertainer. He honestly believed he was Danny Kaye!

“Tommy was good enough to play at any level for any team. He was infectious in the dressing room. He lifted everyone because of his belief. He was outstanding as a person. He was a great guy – but the worst singer in the world!

A flamboyant, attacking full-back, Tommy spent 10 years in Paradise between 1961 and 1971. He won six league titles, three Scottish Cups, four League Cups and, most notably, the European Cup.

He played 418 games in the Hoops, scoring an impressive 63 goals. The former Scottish internationalist is also among a select few to have found the net twice in European Cup finals. A penalty-kick specialist, he only missed three times from the spot in 34 attempts.