What tragic news to wake up to. The only King Billy has passed away. I was a nipper at his last game for us in the 75 final where we won 1.0.
I also was there at his testimonial against Liverpool and being so young spent most of the game watching the crowd as the place was packed to the gunnels.
As a manager for us he was our leader and a true gent.
My uncle Joe loved him, on a visit back home from his Southampton home, I decided to take him around to Billy’s pub in the Southside to see if he was in. I didn’t mention it incase he wasn’t. When standing at the bar, Billy came out from the back and my uncle Joes face was a picture. He took a doubly take looked at me and asked, is that the big man son, I think I’m losing the plot.
I told him it was, I spoke to Billy and told him Joe loved him and could he say hello. Billy went over and they shook hands. Joe’s face was like a wee boy, he is the same age, but he was meeting his hero. For the rest of the night I couldn’t get a word in as the two Celts talked about the old days. I could have went for a walk and my uncle wouldn’t have noticed. Apart from when the drink ran out.
When we eventually left he hugged billy and when we got outside he hugged me for taking him there to meet him. He was buzzing .
When we got back to my flat he says.
“Fuck sake son, I never got a round in, the time flew in.”
Billy had time for supporters. He was Caesar, he was a Lion, he was our manager, but first and last, he was a Celtic supporter.
A true legend and a sad day for us all. RIP Big Man. Let’s wrap up this treble in style for him.