Packie Bonner’s tears for fellow Celtic legend

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Celtic legend: Tommy Burns 1956-2008

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Thousands of fans yesterday united in grief with famous faces from the world of football to say farewell to Celtic legend Tommy Burns.

Mourners lined the streets and flooded to Celtic Park to pay their last respects to the former manager of the Glasgow club, who died at home last Thursday aged 51.

Rangers manager Walter Smith and his assistant Ally McCoist helped carry his coffin from the church, as did former Ireland goalkeeper Packie Bonner, who was distraught at the funeral of his former Celtic teammate.

Former Scotland midfielder Burns died after losing a battle with cancer.

At Celtic Park around 20,000 fans listened to the requiem Mass which was broadcast on loudspeakers from St Mary's Church in the east end of Glasgow -- the church where Burns had worshipped as a young boy.

A further 1,500 supporters congregated outside the church, where Celtic scarves hung from the railings and the street had turned green and white.

Inside, stars of the football world, including Celtic manager Gordon Strachan and the first team squad, joined with friends and family to remember an "extraordinary man''.

Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond also attended the funeral.

Other figures from the football world included Rangers captain Barry Ferguson, Everton manager David Moyes, Motherwell boss Mark McGhee and former Celtic manager Martin O'Neill.

There were also a host of former Celtic players, including Roy Keane and Kenny Dalglish.

In a eulogy, Celtic team-mate, Billy Stark, described Burns as a "unique and special man''.

Stark, his assistant manager at Kilmarnock and Celtic, said: "A list of Tommy's wonderful qualities is endless -- a dignified man of principle, his generosity of spirit knew no bounds. He showed great compassion for those less fortunate than himself.

"Tommy Burns treasured three things in life above all others -- family, faith and football, particularly Celtic Football Club.''

At the close of the eulogy, breaking down as he finished speaking, Stark said: "Tommy Burns was a unique and special man, an inspiration to many of us.''

At the end of the service the Bishop of Motherwell, Joseph Devine, told mourners: "I was very moved to see the Rangers management team, Walter Smith and Ally McCoist, as two of the pallbearers.''

After the two-hour service the funeral cortege passed in front of the main stand of Celtic Park. And as the cortege made its way out, Parkhead filled with 'You'll Never Walk Alone'.