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TOMMY BURNS FUNERAL NOTICE
The funeral of Tommy Burns will take place on Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at St. Mary's Church, Abercromby Street, Calton, Glasgow. The Requiem Mass will begin at 12.15pm.
St. Mary's is a parish which Tommy was extremely close to personally. St. Mary's Church Hall was also the birthplace of Celtic Football Club, when in November 1887, Brother Walfrid along with others discussed the establishment of a football club to feed the poor in the East End of Glasgow.
Unfortunately, due to restrictions on seating at the church, access to the service will be predominantly for family, friends and club representatives and there will only be very limited public access.
Following the Requiem Mass, the funeral cortege will pass by the Main Stand at Celtic Park where supporters will have the opportunity to pay their respects to Tommy Burns
Celtic Legend Tommy Burns Dies
Tommy Burns, a legendary figure in Celtic's history, has died at the age of 51 after a battle against cancer.
Former Scotland and Celtic midfielder Tommy Burns was treated for skin cancer in 2006, but the illness returned earlier this year.
He had been undergoing treatment in both Glasgow and France in recent weeks after having been diagnosed in March.
Tommy Burns played for Celtic from 1974 until 1989, and also had a spell as the Hoops' manager in the mid-1990s. He was working as the club's first-team coach before being granted leave.
A statement from Celtic said: "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 was a key member of the Celtic side that won the Scottish Premier Division championship and Scottish Cup in the club's centenary year under the management of Billy McNeill. He earned eight caps for Scotland.
As a player, Burns bade an emotional farewell to Celtic Park on agreeing a £50,000 move to Kilmarnock, becoming manager at Rugby Park four years later.
Having guided Kilmarnock back into the Scottish top flight, he was appointed as manager of Celtic in July 1994, and eventually helped the Bhoys end a six-year trophy drought when they won the Scottish Cup final against Airdrie at Hampden Park.
He left Celtic in 1997 and worked as manager of Reading and assistant manager of Newcastle United before eventually returning to Glasgow with Celtic, where he worked in a variety of roles.
These included youth development as well as first team coaching. Burns also served as a member of the Scotland coaching staff, before his death.
Celtic chairman, John Reid said: "Tommy is someone who was loved by so many of us. He was a man of true integrity and dignity. As a Celtic player, manager and coach, Tommy served Celtic with distinction and true professionalism.
"He was a true gentleman and someone who had the ability to connect and engage with anyone he met.
"As Celtic supporters, we recognised Tommy as one of our own and Tommy in turn was always delighted to spend time in the company of fellow fans.
"It was a privilege to know Tommy Burns. He was a man who gave so much to the club he loved over so many years.
"Tommy's passing will be mourned by the entire Celtic family. He will be hugely missed by us all, but he is someone we will never, ever forget.
Peter Rafferty, Secretary of the Association of Celtic Supporters' Clubs, commented: "Celtic was a big part of his life but the biggest part of his life was his family. He became a grandfather a few weeks ago and that is the biggest tragedy," Rafferty said.
"Legend is a word that is used quite a lot these days but he was. He was a great player with Celtic first and foremost.
"He was a manager who played football the way Celtic supporters like to see it.
Alan McInally, who played alongside Burns as a striker at Celtic, and under him at Kilmarnock, added: ""I have memories of Tommy Burns being just the most happy, family-loving individual I think I've ever met in my life.
"He was always good to me and certainly a character in the dressing room. It would be difficult for any Rangers fan, never mind a Celtic fan, to have anything wrong to say about Tommy Burns.
McInally also hailed the talent Burns displayed as a player, saying: "He was a fantastic football player. He was effective, so effective. I think that's why as a coach and a manager he did so well.
