Celtic legends attended the statue unveiling for European Cup-winning hero Tommy Gemmell.
A statue paying tribute to Celtic European Cup-winning hero Tommy Gemmell has been unveiled in his hometown. Emotional spectators, including Hoops boss Martin O’Neil, attended the ceremony in Craigneuk this afternoon.
The sculpture pays homage to local icon Tommy Gemmell who scored in two separate European Cup finals for the Parkhead side, including their first goal in Celtic’s famous victory over Catenaccio giants Inter Milan. The landmark project, to honour the Lisbon Lion who passed away aged 73 on the March 2, 2019, was led by the Tommy Gemmell Project Committee and supported by our Community Partnership Team.
Tommy’s wife, Mary Gemmell, said: “It’s just incredible. The statue looks so like Tommy, the likeness is unbelievable. Andy Edwards has done such an outstanding job. When I first saw it properly, it really took my breath away.
“This has always been about more than a statue. It’s about bringing Tommy home and celebrating him in the community he loved so much. I can’t thank everyone enough for the support, the fundraising and the kindness shown throughout this whole journey.”
Hundreds gathered for the unveiling, including current Celtic FC manager Martin O’Neill and club legends Roy Aitken, Tom Boyd, Peter Grant and Joe Miller. They were joined by a number of well-known faces, including actor Tony Roper.
A piper kicked off proceedings before Martin O’Neil left the crowd in stitches with a beautiful tribute to his former Nottingham Forest teammate.
“It was my first year there at 19 and Tommy was 104. Sorry Mary, he wasn’t,” he joked.
He continued: “I couldn’t wait to speak to Tommy. I was fawning all over him, I must admit.
“I said to him, ‘Tommy, that was a great goal you scored in the European Cup final’. He then said, ‘Which one son?’.
“Tommy was not a modest man. You couldn’t pay Tommy any higher compliments which he hadn’t already paid to himself.
“I had about four months with him and we was fantastic company. He really looked after me. I am honestly honoured to be speaking for just a moment this afternoon.
“It’s a great tribute to Tommy and the community.”
A countdown then commenced and the statue was unveiled showing Tommy in the famous hoops while carrying a football. Martin McCrum from the Tommy Gemmell Project Committee, paid tribute to the sculptor and the community effort behind the project.
He said: “Andy Edwards is an incredibly talented artist and he’s captured Tommy perfectly, the stance, the expression, even that quiet determination. It’s like he’s standing there ready to strike a ball again.
“I was lucky enough to call Tommy a close friend for many years. We travelled together, did business together, and spent hours talking, not just about football, but about Craigneuk. He never forgot his roots. He cared deeply about this area and the people in it.
“When Tommy passed, people said we needed a statue. At first, I wasn’t sure I was the right person to lead it. But after seeing the challenges our community faced, I knew we needed something positive. Something that could inspire hope.
“That’s why this has always been about more than a statue. It’s about giving the community something to believe in, a focus for good, and a reminder that someone from here made it to the very top, and never forgot where he came from.”
Provost Kenneth Duffy helped officially unveil the statue and he praised the wide range of support that made the event such a success.
He added: “This has been a special day for Craigneuk and for North Lanarkshire. The council was proud to support the project, and I want to thank our events team, Community Partnership and Roads teams, and the staff at the Jim Foley Community Centre for their hard work behind the scenes to make today run so smoothly.
“A huge thank you as well to the pupils and teachers from Berryhill PS who took part in the ceremony, and to the council school pipe band for piping guests on the day, including well-known football figures from past and present. It was a real community celebration, just as Tommy would have wanted.
“The statue is not just a tribute to a footballing great, it is a symbol of community spirit, resilience and ambition. Tommy Gemmell is home. And his legacy now stands proudly in the place it all began.”
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