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Burns, Tommy
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Personal
Fullname: Thomas Burns aka: Tommy Burns
Born: 16 Dec 1956
Died: 15 May 2008
Birthplace: Glasgow
Games: 352 Games
Goals: 52
First game : Dundee home 1-2, 19 April 1975
Last game : Ajax home 1-0, 6 December 1989
International: Scotland
International Caps: 8
One of Celtic's favourite and most beloved sons! Through his career he was at different times a player, a manager and a coach at the club, and there was nobody to say a bad word about him on a personal level.
He truly was Mr Celtic personified.
Player 1975-1989
Countless thousands of Celtic supporters have dreamed of playing for their club or of taking charge as manager. Tommy Burns was one of a very select few who was able to turn that dream into a reality. Born in 1956, Tommy played for the St Mary's Boys Guild before joining Eastercraig Amateurs in 1970, after which he was invited to train at Celtic Park. He signed as a schoolboy in 1970 and joined Celtic Boys Club and signed professional forms on 23 August 1973. He was then farmed out to Maryhill Juniors and later to Salisbury Callies in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) three weeks after he'd made his debut on 19th April 1975.
Scottish football has known gifted players who lacked application, and hard workers whose technical ability was limited. In Burns, Celtic were fortunate to find a midfielder who was both richly talented and utterly willing to give his last ounce of energy for the cause.
His first major honour, the league title of 1976-77, was won when Jock Stein was still manager. His second, two years later, came under Billy McNeill. He won six in all as a player, in addition to three Scottish Cups and one League Cup, but he was far more than a player who could be relied upon to come good on the big occasion.
At times, in the first half of the 1980s when Alex Ferguson's Aberdeen were the dominant force in Scotland, Celtic were a poor team, at least judged by their own high standards. But even when some of those playing alongside him were hardly worthy of appearing on the same pitch, Burns would not let his commitment waver.
His enthusiasm for the sport, his commitment to the cause, and his belief in the necessity for honest hard work could not be separated into distinct ingredients. Instead, they were intertwined elements of his personality which reinforced each other – and that personality, in turn, gave hope to the Celtic support even in situations when they might have succumbed to despair.
Burns was not the only player in the squad to have a never-say-die attitude, but he was often the only one skilled enough to turn defiant hope into a tangible result. That attitude and the ability which went with it ended up by inspiring virtually every player at the club, and at times they all appeared to believe they simply could not lose.
The 1985-86 season, when Celtic won the title on goal difference on the last day, was a case in point. So too was the centenary season, 1987-88, when the Scottish Cup joined the league flag among the trophy haul.
Celtic should not even have got past their first match in the cup that year, as Stranraer had a penalty saved and another excellent chance missed before Frank McAvennie popped up to score the only goal of the game. And they would not have got past Hearts in the semi-final, when they were a goal down with minutes to play, but for the kind of late rally which Burns had led them to believe they could make. They won that game 2-1, then won the final, against Dundee United, by the same score.
It was towards the end of that centenary season that Burns realised another long-held ambition, when he was capped against England at Wembley. Andy Roxburgh was the manager then, and Craig Brown, the assistant who would succeed him, yesterday recalled the gratitude shown by Burns.
"Before he went on to the pitch (as a substitute), Tommy stopped at the bench to thank Andy for giving him something that meant so much on a personal and a family level," Brown said. Burns, who went on to win eight caps, later said himself that even coming off the bench to play for Scotland against England "fulfilled a boyhood dream".
Scottish football has known gifted players who lacked application, and hard workers whose technical ability was limited. In Burns, Celtic were fortunate to find a midfielder who was both richly talented and utterly willing to give his last ounce of energy for the cause.
His first major honour, the league title of 1976-77, was won when Jock Stein was still manager. His second, two years later, came under Billy McNeill. He won six in all as a player, in addition to three Scottish Cups and one League Cup, but he was far more than a player who could be relied upon to come good on the big occasion.
At times, in the first half of the 1980s when Alex Ferguson's Aberdeen were the dominant force in Scotland, Celtic were a poor team, at least judged by their own high standards. But even when some of those playing alongside him were hardly worthy of appearing on the same pitch, Burns would not let his commitment waver.
His enthusiasm for the sport, his commitment to the cause, and his belief in the necessity for honest hard work could not be separated into distinct ingredients. Instead, they were intertwined elements of his personality which reinforced each other – and that personality, in turn, gave hope to the Celtic support even in situations when they might have succumbed to despair.
Burns was not the only player in the squad to have a never-say-die attitude, but he was often the only one skilled enough to turn defiant hope into a tangible result. That attitude and the ability which went with it ended up by inspiring virtually every player at the club, and at times they all appeared to believe they simply could not lose.
The 1985-86 season, when Celtic won the title on goal difference on the last day, was a case in point. So too was the centenary season, 1987-88, when the Scottish Cup joined the league flag among the trophy haul.
Celtic should not even have got past their first match in the cup that year, as Stranraer had a penalty saved and another excellent chance missed before Frank McAvennie popped up to score the only goal of the game. And they would not have got past Hearts in the semi-final, when they were a goal down with minutes to play, but for the kind of late rally which Burns had led them to believe they could make. They won that game 2-1, then won the final, against Dundee United, by the same score.
It was towards the end of that centenary season that Burns realised another long-held ambition, when he was capped against England at Wembley. Andy Roxburgh was the manager then, and Craig Brown, the assistant who would succeed him, yesterday recalled the gratitude shown by Burns.
"Before he went on to the pitch (as a substitute), Tommy stopped at the bench to thank Andy for giving him something that meant so much on a personal and a family level," Brown said. Burns, who went on to win eight caps, later said himself that even coming off the bench to play for Scotland against England "fulfilled a boyhood dream".
The following year, Burns left Celtic at the age of 32 to join Kilmarnock in 1989 where he would become the manager in 1992, winning the club promotion to the Premier Division in season 1992-93.
Manager 1994 - 1997
Tommy Burns was appointed manager in 1994, in what were regarded as controversial circumstances, with allegations of tapping up by then Chief Executive Fergus McCann, leading to fines by the SFA which the press lapped up with no need for encouragement. For Tommy, it was too strong a challenge to say no. He'd done well with Kilmarnock but Celtic was where his heart lay, and he was the fan's choice to take over. Alex Ferguson is said to have given a reference for Tommy to Fergus in appointing him, and so little better recommendations could have been given.Things didn't start off swimmingly, and the relationship with Fergus generated friction which Tommy found hard to conceal at points (even from the early days) as potential signings were missed due to the new business manner imposed by Fergus. In fairness, Fergus was correct in asking for a more measured process in transfers, but the football world was (and still is) anything but prudent, and Tommy as much had to balance and work within the new confines.
The first season was difficult as Tommy had to resuscitate the team and finally win us a trophy (just anything to finally relieve the tension from the previous 5-6 years or so of ignominy). The league was beyond the current squad, leaving the cups as our best chance to regain some pride, and we first reached the final of the league cup against Raith Rovers, so it was all in our hands. Dramatically for Tommy and the squad, we lost on penalties!!! The saddest sight was seeing the pain etched on Tommy Burns' & Paul McStay's faces (the latter having missed a penalty). It was a setback (despite having reached the final) and the waves of schadenfreude continued to roll on against the club.
Despite this, Tommy managed to pull the squad together, and we were given a second chance in the Scottish Cup final in May up against Airdrie. Airdrie hadn't exactly covered themselves in glory over recent years (over 100 yellow cards in one season!), and so no one expected it to be a flowing classic. Van Hooijdonk scored the sole goal in the game, and a tense wait for all to the final whistle to see us life the cup. So Tommy was off to a fair start in his first season (not dismissing the earlier hiccup). For a man like Tommy, winning the cup final meant a lot and proved to the doubters that he was worthy of an opportunity to stop the Huns beating 9-in-a-row. However, it was to be our only trophy under Tommy.
Tommy's second season was a difficult one. No excuses, as the transition year was over, but the Huns had too much of an advantage financially and they had the momentum from previous seasons. They were little concerned by Celtic's cup runs from the past season, and Tommy to defeat them and drum in a winner's mentality into our squad (no easy task). The players were all behind Tommy but again it just wasn't to be. We came out empty handed from the season, with nothing to show unlike last and the warning signs were there, but Tommy was Celtic through and through, and there were many still behind him. We'd only lost one game that season, so it wasn't all bad, but still the question remained of why we still couldn't win the league.
Tommy's last season was his last chance but this time he was better prepared. A strong squad was assembled with the arrival of Di Canio & Cadete, and for the first time in a long time, confidence was high that we could win the league. A good team played some great football, and there were many moments of joyful skill by the players, which allowed Tommy Burns to allow the team to play the game as he like to see it. Sadly, this wasn't enough. Despite amassing an incredible number of points, we still lost the league to the Huns. Tommy Burn's stated that Goram's performances for Rangers in goals was the reason for this, but that's deflecting attention from the real truth. We may have been an exciting attacking team, but a hell of a nightmare in defence to watch and we blew too many easy points away with some bad defensive decisions in both tactics and personnel.
It was the end of the road, and no matter how much we all respected him, it was the end for Tommy as manager. Progress was not maintained, and towards the end of a disappointing third season at the helm (especially as regards results of matches v Rangers) he was offered another position at the club in charge of youth development—an effective demotion which he declined. He resigned accordingly on 2 May 1997.
Despite the disappointments, both Di Canio and Cadete, who left Celtic acrimoniously, spoke very highly of Tommy Burns venting their ire on Fergus McCann instead, and there was nobody who had a bad word personally to say about Tommy as a manager despite the disappointments of the past few seasons. It just wasn't to be.
On leaving Tommy didn't exactly cover himself in glory, doing a double page interview in a tabloid criticising the board management and seeming to be way over sanctimonious about his role at his time at Celtic against the board. It was ill-judged and uncharacteristic of Tommy, and in reflection he himself will likely have regretted going ahead with it. Journalists usually take liberties and exaggerate points, and such an article so soon after departing did not give enough time for a breather and sensible reflection.
So what exactly was the reasoning behind his failing? Most likely it stemmed from his over-emotional attachment to the club. He was, by his very nature, an emotional person and this was as much his achillie's heel as anything else. The ability to step back and be objective is an important aspect for any management, but Tommy didn't seem to be able to do this, and his lack of reticence in the the goldfish bowl of Glasgow football meant he was easy pickings for the press. His cavalier approach to football meant an over emphasis in attack to the detriment of the defence, inevitably meaning that tactics weren't comprehensive enough, and for any discerning opposition manager it made their life easier in knowing how to approach to play Celtic.
Tommy also had an acrimonious time with the board, but it's too simplistic to take either side alone. Celtic was going through transition everywhere (new stadium construction, new management, new board etc etc), so it was never going to be easy, and Tommy should have dealt with this new environment better than he did. The board can argue clearly that they supported Tommy as he was also able to spend more on players than any previous manager in Celtic's history. Probably, it was a task too far to take on the job, as he admitted in part when he said after leaving: "'I probably did 15 or 20 years as a manager in those three years."
Tommy, sorry to say, was a fair manager but not good enough at the end of it all. He did many things right as per the textbooks but let his heart rule his head too often. Pragmatism would have paid us out more dividends in some places, and then it's possibly likely that the Huns could have been stopped. It's an irony for all that Celtic actually did stop Rangers winning ten-in-a-row, but this was the next season under Jansen who had a weaker squad and won with less points than Tommy even amassed during his last season. In fairness, Tommy laid certain foundations that made that league victory, just sad that he wasn't the manager to have got that great elusive title that we deserved to win.
After Celtic, he moved to work under Kenny Dalglish at Newcastle in his unsuccessful spell there, and then later moved on to an undistinguished period of management at Reading. Management didn't sadly work out for Tommy in these spells, however Reading were always quick to note that Tommy was responsible for creating the set-up, especially amongst the youth, that later carried them upto the Premiership.
International player
He is a former Scotland international himself, having won 8 caps whilst a Celtic player. A paltry number, however a few things must be noted before anyone talks of conspiracies. Tommy was one of Jock's last signings as a youngster and was later the Scotland Manager, so likely saw him as a wee man rather than the adult player he was. This played against Tommy when Scotland at the time was spoilt for quality midfield players, amongst them being Paul McStay. This at the end was likely a bigger reason for Tommy's lack of caps.Scotland Assistant Manager
He became Assistant Manager of the Scotland national football team under Berti Vogts and has retained the position under Walter Smith, where together they helped Scotland achieve some great results (beating France 1-0). However after Walter Smiths' departure from his position with Scotland, Tommy Burns left also after shabbily being ignored by the SFA for the position.He also returned to Celtic in 2005 in a third-in-charge role under Gordon Strachan (he was working with the Scotland set-up simiultaneously). A position that helped to bolster Strachan who stated that working with Tommy was the best thing from his time at Celtic.
On 29 March 2006, Celtic confirmed Burns had begun treatment for skin cancer.
On 15 May 2008, Tommy Burns passed away RIP, a great loss to Scottish Football and to Celtic, but more importantly to his friends and family.
Summary of T Burns importance
More Than Just A Footballer.He was the conscience of our club, a role model for any Celt. His understanding of what made the Celtic supporters tick was fundemental in his make up simply because he was a fan himself. A fact he never ever lost sight of.
Nor would he let others who succeeded him in his beloved hoops, who were far better waged than him as a player. His insistence that Celtic players should treat the supporters with the utmost respect was ingrained in Tommy Burns. In an age of fantastic salaries, off field bonuses and unprecedented media hyperbole, the man who once took a wage cut to stay at Celtic, would have had players contractually obliged to attend supporters functions.
The Celtic support knew and understood this. That's why they filled the car park on his arrival as manager, Remarkably when he was dismissed, there was no need for a skulking side door exit (as if he would) to avoid a baying crowd, but a stroll through the front door to the welcoming love of those who wanted to comfort the man who represented their own dreams and ambitions. Results had hurt him and the supporters but the solidarity shown was reflective of the fact that they knew Tommy had, as he had done as a player, given nothing but his best for Celtic.
Tommy Burns the player was at times a joy to watch. Gloriously left sided he wasn't perhaps the most balanced, but there was a culture, thoughtfulness and no little guile in his play. Allied to the fact that he set himself, and demanded of others, the highest of standards and determination,you have the make up of Tommy Burns. But the real joy in Tommy Burns playing for Celtic, was simply playing for Celtic. Players come and go for Celtic, and indeed other clubs, and many would believe themselves sincere when they speak of the thrill of playing for the supporters.
Check out Tommy's face on any old videos when he scored for Celtic. Look at his face whenever Celtic were parading a trophy at Hampden, pure unadulterated joy. Whenever I see Celtic passing the Cup down the line at the old Hampden, Tommy was always last as he had to be dragged away from his celebrations in front of the fans.
Indeed when we won the Centenary cup final in 1988 at the final whistle he sprinted the length of the stadium to jump for joy at the Celtic end. His breathless, emotional interview shortly afterwards summed up the man. Declaring his love for his wife and children, remembering a young Celtic fan watching in hospital and finally paying tribute to the fans for their support ("Because they're there and they're always there"), you saw Tommy Burns as usual thinking of others before himself.
There has been some talk, of which I have been party to, about winning the league on Thursday for Tommy. On the face of it, that seems a fine and worthy sentiment. But on reflection I doubt Tommy himself would have any truck with such talk. He would have urged the players to carve out their own piece of Celtic history, to make their mark in the hearts of the supporters who will cheer them to the rafters for their efforts. Win it for Celtic, win it for yourselves and the supporters and if possible win it in style.
Today, St Mary's Chapel, Celtic Park's car park and seemingly the Gallowgate itself was an all ticket sell out for Tommy Burns. He deserved nothing less. We are so much poorer for his loss, but his life in Celtic should be an inspiration to us all.
(Vlad of the KStreet forum, 20th May 2008)
Playing Career
| APPEARANCES | LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL__ |
| 1973-89 | 325 (32) | 38 (5) | 70 (1) | 34 (3) | 467 (41) |
( ) = Substitute Appearance
Honours with Celtic as a player
Scottish League Championship:Scottish Cup:
Scottish League Cup:
Honours with Celtic as a manager
Scottish CupQuotes
"When you pull on that jersey you're not just playing for a football club, you're playing for a people and a cause"Tommy Burns
'That's was so special about them right there, Jim. Just right up there; that's what's so special about them. They're there and they're always there. And God bless every one of them'
Tommy Burns, May 1988 (being interviewed as we just won the league and cup double in the Centenary year)
'In the Celtic team I liked the red-haired man'
Johan Cruyff after Celtic played Ajax in the 1982 European Cup on Tommy Burns
'The manager at the time, Billy McNeill, knew it was going to be my last game for the club but the fans were unaware I was joining Kilmarnock.
'I wanted to go out with a smile on my face and not a tear in my eye, so I got all of my crying out of the way during the warm-up before the friendly against Ajax.
'I ran about the pitch for 20 minutes with tears running down my cheeks because I knew I would never wear a Celtic jersey again.
'Big Billy was kind and understanding because he took me off 30 minutes into the match so that I could say a lingering farewell to the fans.
'I ran to the old Jungle and paid my respects before moving to the 'Celtic end' where I had stood as a boy.
Tommy Burns on his last game for Celtic
'I probably did 15 or 20 years as a manager in those three years.'
Tommy Burns on his three years as Celtic manager under Fergus McCann
'When they attacked we were four players down.'
Tommy Burns on fielding Paolo di Canio, Jorge Cadette, Andy Thom and Piere van Hooijdonk in a UEFA Cup game defeat against Hamburg, 1996
"There's always room in the team for an exceptional youngster, but I think the Old Firm will be fielding cheque book teams more and more in the future."
Tommy Burns 1989
"The way Celtic play you could put Franz Beckenbauer at the back and they would still lose goals."
Terry Butcher (ex-Rangers, commentating on Tommy Burn's team) 1997
"Tommy was simply one of the best friends anyone could ever hope to have. I can only consider myself fortunate not only to have worked with him on a daily basis for the past three years, but to have been able to count on him as a friend in that time. His bravery throughout his illness was an inspiration, and right to the end he was checking everyone else was OK, never giving a thought for himself or his situation. The fact that he has now gone will take a long time to sink in, and my thoughts are with Rosemary and his family."
Gordon Strachan (Celtic Manager) on the announcement of Tommy Burns Death (15th May 2008)
"Coming here he made me understand what Glasgow was about. If I didn't have him i'd have gone off my head!"
Gordon Strachan (Celtic Manager) on the announcement of Tommy Burns Death (15th May 2008)
"You would never hear anybody in football say a bad word about Tommy Burns, and to have been involved in football for so long, that's quite an accolade. He's a smashing man, he's a very strong man, he's got a lovely family and we at this football club just wish him all the very, very best."
Ally McCoist (ex-Rangers player) on Tommy Burns (15 May 08)
Fergus McCann, the Parkhead club's chief executive during Burns' stint as manager, was equally effusive in paying tribute. "I am deeply saddened to hear of Tommy's death," McCann said. "I pray for the repose of his soul and for strength for his wife Rosemary and their children. "Tommy had a fine career and every Celtic supporter and Scottish football fan will have their own special memories of a man whose life was dedicated to his family, to the game of football and in particular to Celtic Football Club. "Those memories will live on.
"Fergus McCann (ex-Chairman) on the announcement of Tommy Burns Death (15th May 2008)
“I LOVED Tommy Burns. You meet some people and you like them, but Tommy was someone that I loved. I got to realise that during the early 1980s, although I wouldn’t have told him that. But he was just one of those people that you just can’t help but love. He was a helpful guy and his memory will live on within this club. Now that Tommy’s gone, maybe all the young players Tommy has coached over the years will think about what he’s said to them and take it on board. If they’re intelligent enough and think about the knowledge Tommy gave them, hopefully they will take something from it.”
DANNY McGRAIN, memories of Tommy Burns (20th May 2008)
“HE did the right things, he looked after his diet, he worked hard at his game as he just wanted to further himself all the time. The red hair wasn’t purely superficial as he had a wee sharp temper as well which was excellent as I like people with spirit and Tommy had spirit in abundance. But he was a good example to youngsters because he was dedicated. He didn’t have to tell them a lot as they saw it in him and he was a well-disciplined boy off the park. He was straightforward and honest and upright with it and that was probably Tommy at his best. He treated people as he expected to be treated himself. He had a good way of talking to people and a good way of illustrating exactly what he wanted from them.”
BILLY McNEILL, memories of Tommy Burns (20th May 2008)
“IT was easy for me as a foreigner to feel at home when I moved to Glasgow. I learned the language very quickly and the players and the club staff made me feel very welcome. Tommy had a lot to do with that, that was his influence and he welcomed you into the football club as a person, not just as a football player. I still find it hard to believe that he’s not there anymore. I really just wish Rosemary and the kids all the power and strength for the future. They meant the world to Tommy and he loved them so much. They must always know that Tommy was wonderful person.”
ANDREAS THOM, memories of Tommy Burns (20th May 2008)
“TOMMY captured the imagination of the young Celtic support. He truly was Mr Celtic and he has become such a focal point for what Celtic means to young people now. It’s absolutely extraordinary and it’s something from which Tommy’s family and all of Tommy’s friends have taken incredible strength from. I’ve been at Tommy’s house over the past few days and the strength that the family have received from the tributes at the ground, particularly from the Celtic support. It’s been an absolutely incredible tribute. There are lots of other fans involved in that as we know, but Tommy has become an icon of Celtic. He himself was one of the most recognised Celtic fans.”
CHARLIE NICHOLAS, memories of Tommy Burns (20th May 2008)
“HE lived the dream of supporting Celtic, playing for them, coaching them and ultimately managing them and I suspect that if I asked any Celtic fan of a certain vintage what brand of football they have enjoyed most in the past 30 years, the majority would answer the type played under Tam. Tam going into management was a natural progression but he was never the type who craved a flamboyant lifestyle, out on the town eating in flash restaurants and being noticed. That was never his way. Tam would rather be at home with his wife and his family. Having said that, he also spent a great deal of time away from home on football business, much more than many other managers. He was fortunate to have a wonderful wife in Rosemary, who took care of their home and family.”
GERRY COLLINS, memories of Tommy Burns (20th May 2008)
“IT'S hard to find the words at times like this, he was such a young age - he was only 51. Tommy and I came into the team at the same time and played for all those years together. That team during the 1970s and ‘80s had great bonds. We were fans on the pitch as much as anything else and as far as Celtic Football Club was concerned, Tommy wore his heart on his sleeve. He played for the jersey and you could not find a more committed player. The number of years he gave to the club was incredible and it’s tragic that his life has been drawn short, so unfairly. He gave everything to the club. My thoughts and prayers are with Rosemary, his children and his whole family.”
ROY AITKEN, memories of Tommy Burns (20th May 2008)
“TOMMY was a terrific gentleman. He loved Celtic Football Club to the core and he also loved his family and his faith to the core. It’s so tragic that, less than six months ago, we were saying the same things about Phil O’Donnell, and the similarities are there in the type of people they were. They were both great family men, they both loved their faith and they were perfect gentlemen. Everybody who spoke to Tommy, regardless of what club it was, only had admiration for him, and the character he was. There are not that many players down the years who would get that level of affection from fans and even though Tommy didn’t succeed as a Celtic manager, most of the fans appreciated the way that he tried to play football and what he gave to the club.”
TOM BOYD, memories of Tommy Burns (20th May 2008)
“THE night against Juventus (September 1981) it turned into Tommy Burns against Liam Brady and Tam won the game for us that night. He bossed that game and I’ve never seen him in such form. He just stuck his chest out that night and decided that was his stage. He took the ball in all areas of the pitch, and I know we won trophies together but if I’m thinking of a football memory, that was Tommy at the very top of his game that night. I remember the day we buried Johnny Doyle and we practically had to carry Tam out of the chapel that day. I’ve never seen anyone so distraught. He was in bits that day because he had lost his wee soul mate in many ways, and I just can’t believe we’ve lost Tam early now as well.”
DAVIE PROVAN, memories of Tommy Burns (20th May 2008)
“I’LL miss laughing with him. The two of us learnt to text over the past two or three months and all we did was text each other every day. I couldn’t do it before so my kids had to show me and I think he was the same, and we became experts at it. He was a supporter who’d played for the team and had won things and enjoyed great adulation from the fans. But he actually went on to become the manager as well, and to manage and play for your team, which you thought was the greatest team in the world, must have been the greatest accolade ever.”
GEORGE McCLUSKEY, memories of Tommy Burns (20th May 2008)
"Tommy Burns knew what Celtic is about and represents to the Celtic Supporters because he was one of Us - Tommy epitomised everything that is great about the Celtic - the Ultimate Celtic Man". ***
"From Soho Street to Paradise - The Calton Bhoy lived the dream".***
"Tommy said he was "a fan who got lucky" - it was Celtic who got lucky Tommy".***
"Thanks for everything Tommy - you raised the bar when it come to being a Celtic Man but even more importantly you raised the bar in being a Man"***.
"Miss You Pal" - "Your light shines on eternally" ***
*** KDS members.
Pictures
- Player Pics
- Manager Pics
- Tributes pictures
- Celtic View - Tribute Edition
- Tommy Burns quote: "When you pull on the jersey..."
Videos
KStreet
- KDS Player Discussion
- Announcement of passing away 15th May 2008
- Memories of Tommy Burns (15 May 2008)
Funeral
Testimonial Match
Articles
- The Celtic Cause and Tommy Burns
- The Tommy Burns Supper (Heriot Watt & Edinburgh University Celtic Supporters Club)
- Obituary - The Scotsman
- Obituary - The Herald
- Obituary - Guardian/Brian Glanville
Tommy Burns Factfile
1956: Born 16 December in Glasgow.1975: Joins Celtic, having started his career with Maryhill Juniors.
1976: Having played for half an hour the previous season against Dundee, Burns makes his full debut in a 1-1 draw with Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
1988: Influential member of the Celtic side that wins the Scottish Premier Division championship and Scottish Cup in the club's centenary year under the management of Billy McNeill.
1989: Bids an emotional farewell to the Celtic supporters after agreeing a mid-season £50,000 move to Kilmarnock. Throws his shirt into the 'Jungle' terracing at Parkhead in a friendly with Ajax.
1992: Handed the Kilmarnock manager's job on a caretaker basis after the departure of Jim Fleeting. Insists he wants the job permanently and has his wish granted by the Rugby Park board.
1993: Guides Kilmarnock into the Premier Division and his team promptly beat Rangers at Ibrox early in the season thanks to a late winner from Bobby Williamson.
1994: Leads Kilmarnock to the Scottish Cup semi-finals where they only lose out to Rangers. Leaves Kilmarnock on 11 July and is appointed Celtic manager by Fergus McCann the following day. In October, Celtic are fined £100,000 by the Scottish League for approaching Burns while he was Kilmarnock manager and ordered to pay compensation. In November Burns leads Celtic into the Coca-Cola Cup final against First Division Raith Rovers at Ibrox but it ends in despair as Jimmy Nicholl's side win on penalties.
1995: Signs Pierre van Hooijdonk from NAC Breda in January. The Dutchman scores on his debut and then helps Celtic end a six-year trophy famine by netting the winner in the Scottish Cup final against Airdrie at Hampden.
1996: Celtic lose just one game in the Premier Division but still fail to stop Rangers winning the title. Also lose to Rangers in both cup competitions.
1997: January - Burns is fined and banned from the touchline for a year after a trackside flare-up in an Old Firm derby. The ban is later cut on appeal. On 2 May, Burns is released from his contract early by Celtic and parts company with the club. Joins up with Kenny Dalglish as assistant at Newcastle.
1998: Leaves St James' Park after the dismissal of Dalglish. Appointed manager of Reading after departure of Terry Bullivant.
1999: Sacked by the Royals after a poor run of results at start of 1999-2000 season.
2000: Re-joins Dalglish at Parkhead after head coach John Barnes' exit following the Scottish Cup defeat by Inverness. Takes over youth development officer role after the appointment of Martin O'Neill as manager.
2002: Scottish Football Association confirm they have made an approach to Burns to become part of the new national team coaching set-up under Berti Vogts. He is confirmed as Vogts' assistant on a part-time basis, while continuing his role as youth development officer at Celtic.
2004: Vogts resigns as Scotland manager but Burns' position as assistant remains unaffected. He is appointed as caretaker manager for the friendly against Sweden on 17 November but Scotland are defeated 4-1 by Sweden at Easter Road. The following month, Walter Smith is named as new Scotland manager, and keeps Burns on his coaching team.
2005: Gordon Strachan takes over as Celtic manager. Burns is named first-team coach.
2006: Celtic announce Burns faces treatment for skin cancer, having been diagnosed as suffering from a melanoma. Two months later, it is announced he has been given the all-clear by doctors after having two lumps removed from his leg.
2007: Eight days after Smith quits as Scotland boss, Burns resigns as assistant manager and commits himself to working full-time for Celtic. He had been tipped as a potential successor to Smith but was not invited for an interview.
2008: Celtic announce Burns will begin receiving treatment for skin cancer again. On 15 May, it is confirmed he has died at the age of 51.
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