Cesar Billy McNeill - Rest In Peace Cesar.

What a send off that is

 

Lump in my throat watching some of those videos.

Goodbye Mr Celtic, you and your legacy will never be forgotten

 

The funeral of Billy McNeill, One Club Man Award 2019, was held today in Glasgow, and the impressive farewell that the club itself and Celtic FC fans have dedicated to the Scottish legend since 11:30 in the morning gives us a precise idea of the enormous dimension of Billy McNeill as a footballer and as a person.

Such was the crowd wishing to say goodbye and pay their respects to Celtic’s legendary number 5 that the church service at St Aloysius was broadcasted live at Celtic Park, where thousands of people awaited the arrival of the funeral procession at around 1.30pm to bid a final farewell to McNeill, their eternal captain.

It is clear that for the followers there is no record that can equal the recognition and affection that a One Club Man obtains thanks to his identification with the team of which he is a saint and a sign.

Athletic Club will also pay their particular tribute to McNeill next Sunday, 12th of May, at the One Club Man award ceremony during the break of the match against RC Celta. Rest in peace, Cesar. You’ll never walk

 

One final journey to Paradise


Rest in peace, Cesar.

 

IT was an emotional day as the Celtic Family said a final farewell to Billy McNeill, the club’s greatest ever captain who passed away last week at the age of 79.

Thousands of supporters gathered at Paradise to watch the Funeral Requiem Mass from St Aloysius’ Church, Glasgow, with the Mass being shown on big screens at the stadium where Cesar had made his name as a football legend.

The church itself was packed, with Billy’s family and friends gathering to mourn the loss of a great man. Celtic directors and staff were there, too, along with Neil Lennon and the Celtic first-team squad, while many supporters joined fellow mourners inside the church.

There were many Celtic legends in attendance, most notably Billy’s friends and fellow Lisbon Lions, John Clark, Bertie Auld, Jim Craig, Bobby Lennox, Willie Wallace, John Fallon, John Hughes and Charlie Gallagher.

And as well as many other former Celts, including Danny McGrain, Kenny Dalglish, Davie Hay, Mike Jackson, Tommy Callaghan, George McCluskey, Roy Aitken, Tom Boyd, Tosh McKinlay, Billy Stark, Pat Bonner, John Collins, Frank McAvennie, Peter Grant and Charlie Nicholas amongst many others, there were many other names from the world of football in attendance to pay their own respects.

Those included former Celtic managers, Martin O’Neill, Brendan Rodgers and Gordon Strachan, plus Sir Alex Ferguson, Pat Crerand and Willie Miller.

A number of Rangers directors were there, as well as Rangers legend John Greig and former manager, Walter Smith, while both the SFA and SPFL were represented.

Just before the start of the service, John Innes, the ‘People’s Tenor’, performed a moving rendition of Ave Maria.

The Funeral Requiem Mass was celebrated by Archbishop of Glasgow, Philip Tartaglia, along with a number of fellow priests. And the Archbishop expressed his condolences to Billy’s wife, Liz, their children, Susan, Paula, Libby, Carol and Martyn, and their grandchildren on their loss, while also giving thanks for Billy’s remarkable life and everything he had done both professionally and personally.

And in his Homily, the Archbishop remembered some memorable moments from his own childhood watching Celtic that involved Billy McNeill, most notably, his goal in the 1965 Scottish Cup final, the winner against Vojvodina in the European Cup quarter-final two years later. And, of course, that historic night of May 25, 1967 in Lisbon, when Billy lifted the Big Cup after he and his team-mates had defeated Inter Milan 2-1 in the Estadio Nacional.

Archbishop Tartaglia had also, at the start of Mass, spoke of the loss of the man who scored the winning goal in Lisbon, Stevie Chalmers, who passed away earlier this week at the age of 83. The Archbishop passed on his thoughts and prayers to the Chalmers family.

Towards the end of Mass, and before the final blessing, there were moving eulogies from Billy’s son, Martyn, and his friend, the broadcaster Archie Macpherson.

Martyn McNeill acknowledged the legendary status that his father had gained in the world of football, but to the family, he was a devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather, and a warm and special man. He also spoke of the lifelong friendship his father had enjoyed with Mike Jackson, the two men having signed for Celtic on the same day back in 1957.

Archie Macpherson remembered a friendship with Billy that developed over time, having gone from commentating on Billy’s greatest triumph in Lisbon to later working alongside him in broadcasting after Billy had finished his managerial career.

And Archie explained that Billy’s character transcended football rivalries, so that he was always respected by friend or football foe as someone who gave his all for the green and white Hoops. Billy McNeill, of course, epitomises everything that is special about Celtic Football Club.



Large crowds gathered in George Square and applauded as the funeral cortege passed through the centre of the city before it headed out to Celtic Park where Cesar took his final bow at Paradise.

Remarkably, it is 44 years to the day that Billy played his last game in the Hoops – the 1975 Scottish Cup final win over Airdrie.

Thousands of supporters had waited respectfully, and there was warm applause as the cortege made its way down the Celtic Way before it stopped at the statue of Cesar, where Billy’s family briefly got out of the cars to acknowledge and thank the fans before his wife, Liz, laid flowers at the statue.

Then they continued to the cemetery for a private burial service. The Celtic Family has said its final farewell to the club’s greatest ever captain, but the famous words of Willie Maley are fitting on a day such as this. ‘They never die who live in the hearts of those they leave behind.’

The thoughts and prayers of everyone at Celtic Football Club continue to be with Billy’s family at this very sad time.

 

Bhoy what a day , I haven’t cried so much for a long time .
RIP Cesar .

 

Billy's family showed incredible strength today. They done him proud. I can't imagine having to grieve so publicly. They too must be so proud as the Celtic family turned up in great numbers to see him off.

Hail Cesar!

 

From STV

 

Notorious many thanks for all the pictures and videos posted today .
We all appreciate the brilliant work you put in every day so thank you buddy .

 

Aye, cheers @Notorious and @Bobo_

Was at work today your posts were helpful, good work lads

 

Rest in peace Billy. Wish I could have got there to pay my respects, gutted I am away working.

 

My pleasure mate.