Rangers defeat last night in the UEFA Cup and subsequent violence which followed was going to be the main discussion topic today, and I will no doubt post about that later, but this morning I have learned the shocking news that Celtic legend Tommy Burns has died at the age of 51.
Tommy, who was working as first team coach at Celtic Park, has had a long running battle with cancer after first being diagnosed with skin cancer in 2006. He responded well to treatment and was back to work with Celtic but it returned earlier this year, and Tommy passed away in the early hours of this morning.
Tommy served Celtic as a player for 15 years between 1974 and 1989 before signing for Kilmarnock. He went on to become player manager of Killie and took them to First Division promotion in 1993. He moved to Celtic in 1994 and in his first season they defeated Airdrieonians to lift the Scottish Cup, but they lost the League Cup final to Raith Rovers. It proved to be his only trophy as Celtic boss and left in 1997. He coached at Newcastle and had a spell with Reading before being appointed assistant to then Scotland boss Berti Vogts in 2002.
When Vogts was sacked and Walter Smith assumed charge, Tommy was retained as his assistant but after Smith left and the SFA overlooked him to take the top job, Tommy left the SFA. By now, he was working as head of Celtic’s youth development and Gordon Strachan also elevated him to be his first team coach.
This has come as an absolute shock, especially at such a young age. Celtic will release a statement later but my deepest thoughts and sympathy go out to Tommy’s wife and family.
A sad, sad loss to Scottish football.
wow your quick off the mark. it truly is a sad day for scottish football.
can you send me the exact wording of the melvs essay please.
and of course it is a sad day for scottish football. for one who was so young to have left us. i second your motion on the condolances to the family. RIP Tommy