Football Poets

Tommy Burns, R.I.P.

From the Gallowgate to Paradise

Our Lord, he waits at heaven’s gate
With Brother Walfrid by his side,
For Tommy Burns, a legend, travels
From the Gallowgate to Paradise.
Jimmy Johnstone and Johnny Doyle
Both stand on heaven’s pitch.
As they await the arrival of Tommy Burns,
Who will enter heaven in a Celtic strip.
There, the angels will praise his name
For they will remember him of the days,
For when Tommy Burns wore a Celtic jersey
He played football, the Celtic Way.

© Daniel McDonagh
R.I.P Tommy Burns

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The green giant – Tommy Burns

Tam, the wee lad from Maryhill
Joined the Bhoys in 73
A gallant and true servant was he
Not many would disagree

A silky, accomplished schemer
A bridge in the Old Firm divide
Blue and green gathered in union
Last respects paid side by side

Out of a mere 51 years
20 served the club he adored
As player, coach and gaffer
Tam was loath to cut the Hoops cord

Said Lisbon Lion Gemmell
‘I don’t think you will find on this earth
Anyone who will say a bad word’
A comic full of laughter and mirth

His greatest moment in football
Mac the knife sealing a double at Hampden
All in the great centenary year
Upstaging Rangers was extra golden

352 league games for the Bhoys
8 golden national caps
53 potent strikes
For this affable, golden haired chap

Assistant to ‘Allsort’ Bertie
A refined coach with Smithy
Star youth development at Parkhead
Maloney, Mc Manus, McGeady

Completed a rare football hat trick
Returning home as coach and trainer
Mentor to the latest starlets
A stroll for the seasoned campaigner

Alas a fatal blow was struck
By an old lurking assassin
The aged adversary struck
Diagnosed cancer of the skin

A Requiem Mass at St Mary’s
Evoke with the chime of the bell
A true ambassador for Scotland
For Bonnie Tam a final farewell

Number 7
© Emdad Rahman

A tragic loss of a wonderful man.
Coming so soon after the death of Phil O’Donnell, who he signed for Celtic.
Respect to Tommy Burns – A true Celtic great.

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Poem for Tommy Burns

Celtic Park stands quiet
While the nets sway in a breeze,
As the spirit of Brother Walfrid
Embraces the faithful’s tears

Tommy Burns was proud to wear
The famous hoops of green & white.
He battled for his faith and Celtic’s cause,
On the pitch at Paradise.

A left foot with immaculate talent,
Committed to Celtic on the pitch.
His prayers, as a boy, were answered
When he wore Celtic’s green & white strip.

Now, as Parkhead mourns the passing
Of a faithful Celtic son,
We will remember in song and story
A Calton bhoy, called Tommy Burns.

In the sky over Parkhead
Shall shine bright, a heavenly star,
For the soul of Tommy Burns
Shall live forever at Celtic Park.

© Daniel McDonagh
Tommy Burns has died at the age of 51 after losing his long-running battle with cancer.

The club’s first-team coach originally contracted skin cancer in 2006 and although he received treatment, the disease returned in March.

Former Scotland international Burns, who spent 15 years as a player at Parkhead and also managed the club for three seasons, had been undergoing treatment in both Glasgow and France in recent weeks.

A statement from Celtic on their official website said: “It is with great sadness that Celtic Football Club confirmed this morning that Tommy Burns has passed away.

“Tommy, a true Celtic legend and wonderful man will be sadly missed by us all.

“Clearly, our thoughts are very much with Tommy’s wife Rosemary and his family at this extremely difficult time.”

Burns joined Celtic as a teenager in 1973 and went on to play 352 league games for the club, scoring 52 goals, and winning eight Scotland caps.

“Tommy had a fine career and every Celtic supporter and Scottish football fan will have their own special memories of a man whose life was dedicated to his family, to the game of football and in particular to Celtic Football Club.

“Those memories will live on.”

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Tommy Burns, R.I.P.

They breed heroes in Glasgow
Toughened men of steel
They drape them in one or other colour
To only one half they appeal

But now the city unites in grief
As the dark sky returns
For there’s an extra twinkling up above
The star that was Tommy Burns

© Clik the mouse, 15th May 2008
Condolences to Tommy’s family & friends, from his many fans in football.

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