Tommy Callaghan passes away at 78

Everyone at Celtic Park was saddened to hear that former player, Tommy Callaghan passed away early this morning (Friday) at the age of 78.

Cowdenbeath-born Tommy signed for Celtic from Dunfermline Athletic in November 1968 and, in doing so made history in being signed by Jock Stein twice, as it was Stein who had also signed Tommy for the Fife team in 1962.

Midfielder, Tommy made an immediate impact on his debut by scoring against Partick Thistle at Firhill.

That was the first of 34 goals in 264 games he played for Celtic between then and joining Clydebank in 1976.

Over Tommy’s time in the Hoops, Celtic lifted six titles, five Scottish Cups and three League Cups

His heart was always at Celtic Park and he was still a regular at every game as a matchday host with the club.

The thoughts and prayers of everyone at Celtic Football Club are with Tommy’s friends and family at this sad time.

 

Rip..

 

Rest in Peace,Tommy

 

R.I.P big man

 

R.I.P.Tommy

 

https://www.celticfc.com/news/2253



Becoming a Bhoy: Tommy Callaghan






TOMMY Callaghan was one of the few players who were lucky enough to team up with Jock Stein more than once in his career. And to be signed by the legendary manager twice, in the space of just six years, is a clear indication of how highly Stein rated Callaghan as a player.

He joined Celtic in 1968 and was one of the first new signings to join up with the Lisbon Lions following their European Cup triumph. Despite scoring on his debut, against Partick Thistle, however, Callaghan had a slow start to his Celtic career.

Fans knew changes after the 1967 success were inevitable, but were reluctant to accept them. With the vote of confidence from his gaffer, however, the midfielder went on to enjoy almost a decade in the Hoops making over 260 appearances.

Still a familiar face around Celtic Park, Callaghan remains a part of the club, despite hanging his playing boots up almost 33 years ago...

Do you remember how the move to Celtic came about?
I’d fallen out with George Farm, the manager at Dunfermline, so I had asked away. For a few weeks things weren’t happening and then I got a call from a reporter in Dunfermline who asked if I had heard anything. I said no and he told me Celtic had put a bid in for me. He asked me to go along to his house at night and it was there that Big Jock was going to phone me. And he did. He told me they had put a bid in and they were in talks with Dunfermline. I think there was a difference of £5,000 at the time, Dunfermline wanted more for me. He told me to keep going in and see them every week and eventually they would get fed up with me. So that’s what I did and all of a sudden I was signed.

What did you think when you heard of Celtic’s interest?
I was over the moon because at that time I was really low. I was playing in Dunfermline’s reserve team, which is something I had never really done before. There was a European game coming up and the boys were going to Greece. That was the first trip that I’d missed since I had joined Dunfermline so I wasn’t too happy. But when I got the news of Celtic’s interest I was absolutely delighted. The timing was perfect and it gave me a right lift.

What was Jock Stein like while you were at Dunfermline?
He was absolutely brilliant. That’s where he cut his teeth in management and he was so different. Managers normally went around in suits and smoked pipes, they were a figurehead, but Jock Stein was active. He was with the players. he would put the tracksuit on and mixed with everyone. I remember being at Dunfermline, when I was on the groundstaff at the time, and he would come into the snooker hall with us. We would get a game of snooker and then he would go in and clean the dressing rooms. It didn’t matter if you were first-team or reserves, he mixed with everyone.

So it was no real surprise that it was him who personally called you then to arrange the Celtic deal?
At first I thought it was a hoax! I had worked with him at Dunfermline and he was so good. When he left everyone was shattered but, lo and behold, I ended up back with him again so it worked out well for me. It was brilliant - when I got the call, I nearly ran across the Kincardine Bridge!

How quickly was the deal done after you met Jock Stein for the first time?
It was done immediately. I signed the papers right away. I went into the boardroom and he had the forms sitting out in front of me. I went to sign them and he said; ´Do you not want to know how much you’re getting a week?´ I said ´No, just give me your pen,´ and I signed them there and then. He then told me my wages and told me to give him back his pen because I had put it in my pocket.

Was it fair to say it was an extra-special moment considering you were a Celtic fan?
Yes, I’d grown up a Celtic fan and the year before that, they had won the European Cup. They were the top team in Europe so to join a club like Celtic at their peak was unbelievable. It was the old story of a dream come true but it was true, I kept thinking, ´* almighty, I’m signing for Celtic!´ It was hard to take in at first. There was a guy along the road from me who was Celtic-daft, he used to take me to all the games, and he was actually crying when I signed. He was a friend of the family and he went to every game. He would take me on the supporters’ bus and look after me when I was a kid.

Was your family’s reaction similar?
Yes, my Mum and Dad were so happy. My Dad never actually saw me play for Celtic, though, because he took not well after I signed so could never manage out to see the games, which was a pity. My brothers would come through a few times when I first signed. It was a great thing for the family.

Did you save the newspaper cuttings from the day you signed?
Yes, I kept them all! They’re up in the loft somewhere in a box. But there wasn’t the same hype you get today. Nowadays they are paraded about in a Celtic strip at Lennoxtown and it’s all very razzmatazz but all I got was a ´Callaghan signs for Celtic´ headline and that was it – that was as far as the media covered it then.

What kind of reception did you get from the fans after signing?
It took a bit of time for the Celtic supporters to get used to me and nobody understands why. I played in the team early doors and then I was out of the team for a while. I got back in but it was a love/hate relationship with the fans. But after that wee spell I got a regular place in the team and it was alright. That was the Lisbon Lions, though, and with the likes of myself and Harry Hood coming along, everything was changing. That was the team who won the European Cup breaking up and no one likes change – but I did!

How easy was it to settle into your new surroundings?
It took me a wee while because the first game I played was at Firhill so I had to wait until the next Monday or Tuesday to get to the stadium. Celtic were playing away in Europe at the time. That was when wee Jimmy didn’t have to go with the team because he tore Red Star Be;grade apart, so Big Jock had let him stay at home. I remember seeing wee Jimmy at Barrowfield. He had a big Jaguar at the time and he could hardly see over the wheel. The first-team were away but everything was starting to fall into place and it was exciting. Once I got into the swing of things it was good and I think the big thing that helped me was moving to Glasgow. I had been travelling through with big George Connolly from Dunfermline every day, and that was good company for me. I signed in November but I didn’t move through until the summer, just before the new season started.

Did you ever feel out of place in the dressing room with the Lisbon Lions?
I think at first you’re asking yourself, ´What am I doing here?´ but I think after I got my first game under my belt – and scored my first goal that day too – it was fine. There were a lot of good boys there who helped me settle in, people like Bobby Lennox and Stevie Chalmers who I’m still friendly with today. Jim Brogan as well – he was a good lad. It was a good squad actually, and big Jock helped knit them all together.

Was Jock Stein the same man at Celtic to the one you knew at Dunfermline?
He was the same but as he got older he got wiser, if that’s possible. He used to say ´I can hear the grass growing.´ His knowledge of football was first-class. He was very simple and basic - he didn’t use stupid terms you get in the present day now, it was a game of football and that was it. He also never asked us to do things we couldn’t do. He made you believe in yourself.

And finally, what was the highlight of your Celtic career?
I’ve got far too many. From the day I signed to the present day, I still get a wee kick when I go into the park. I talk to all the boys and all the ones who work with me on a Saturday still get these wee kicks. It’s in us and even coming up the stairs to the offices is great. I’m still being remembered by doing these interviews and that’s nice.

 

Thoughts with his family. RIP.

 

RIP

 

RIP

 

RIP Tommy.

 

RIP TC

 

Rest in peace, Tommy. YNWA.

 

So this wee story my dad told me and I am sure he was talking about Tommy Callaghan. Feel free to correct me if anyone knows better. My dad and uncle went to watch Celtic v Dunfermline , they said the game was pretty tight. There was an open goal which if the player had put this in the back of the net, Dunfermline would have won the game or drawn it. Anyway it looked to them at the time that the player deliberately missed the chance, it was easier to score my dad said. Turns out the player was Tommy Callaghan and he signed for Celtic either the day after the game or just a few days later.
My dad said TC knew about the move to Celtic before the game and deliberately missed the chance to score, so his move to Celtic never fell through. As I say if anyone knows better feel free to pil on me.

 

I saw him quite a few times in the '70s and loved the way he could pick the ball up deep and just power through. He had some shot on him too. Great player to watch.