Great Tommy DVD offer with Tribute tickets

THE superb DVD documenting the life and career of one of Celtic’s greatest ever servants, Faithful Through and Through – The Tommy Burns Story, could be yours for only £14.99 in any official Celtic store simply by showing your Tommy Burns Tribute Match ticket at the counter between now and Monday, June 1.

That’s a massive saving of £5 on the regular price of a DVD that simply can’t be missed.

All you need to do is get along to any official Celtic store with your Tommy Burns ticket between now and Monday to make this great saving.

If you don’t already have a ticket for this gala occasion and a celebration of Tommy’s life, they are still available.

Tickets for this match are priced at £15 Adults and £5 concessions. Tickets are available by calling 0871 226 1888, by visiting the Celtic Ticket Office or online.

Ticketmaster and Ticketmaster Scotland are lending their support to the Tommy Burns Tribute Match and will donate 60% of all booking fees to the beneficiaries of the game.

Tickets are also available from the following Celtic retail outlets: Argyle Street, Sauchiehall Street, Clydebank Coatbridge, East Kilbride.

 

Di Canio returns for Tommy Tribute

PAOLO Di Canio has become the latest former Celt to sign up for the Tommy Burns Tribute Match this Sunday, May 31.

The Italian star, who had a colourful spell at Celtic under Tommy in season 1996/97, is a late addition to the TB Select side and will revive his spectacular relationship with ex-team-mates Pierre van Hooijdonk and Jorge Cadete.

Having starred for Lazio, Juventus, Napoli and AC Milan, Di Canio’s signing was something of a coup for Tommy. A gifted and entertaining performer, the winger became a fans’ favourite during his year-long spell.

In total, Di Canio scored 15 goals in 37 appearances for Celtic. He was also named Player of the Year by his fellow professionals in Scotland.

Highlights included his penalty against Rangers in 1997 Scottish Cup tie, while he also dazzled the football world with a sublime individual goal against Aberdeen while wearing golden boots, which would later be auctioned off for charity.

Di Canio, who had a close relationship with Tommy during his time at the club, last year revealed that he had been captivated by the Celtic strip as a young child.

He said: “When I was young I would play Subbuteo with my friend. There was a squad with horizontal green and white lines. I was captivated by the colours of the shirt. I decided if one day I became a footballer I would like to play in Scotland.

“After 10 years playing in Italy an offer came from Glasgow and I decided straight away to go to Celtic because my dreams would come true. The first time I wore the Celtic shirt was emotional for me. I was like a child who has just received a big present.”

Di Canio left Celtic months after Tommy’s departure as manager. He went on to play for Sheffield Wednesday, West Ham, Charlton and Lazio. Now retired, Paolo will return to Paradise 12 years after leaving to honour his former boss.

The Tommy Burns Tribute match kicks off at 2pm on Sunday, May 31, at Celtic Park and tickets are now on sale, priced £15 for adults and £5 for concessions.

Di Canio will join up with ex-Celts including Pat Bonner, Neil Lennon, Roy Keane, Peter Grant, Alan Stubbs, van Hooijdonk and Cadete in the TB Select.

Tommy Tribute to be broadcast live

THIS Sunday’s tribute match, celebrating the life of Tommy Burns, will be broadcast live on BBC ALBA.

The match, on May 31, will see the current Celtic first team take on a Tommy Burns Select which will include a host of former stars who played with Tommy, as well as many that he worked with as manager and coach.

The select team will be managed by Celtic great, Billy McNeill and will feature Peter Grant, Derek Whyte, Joe Miller, Andy Walker, Murdo MacLeod, Tom Boyd, Simon Donnelly, Pierre van Hooijdonk, Alan Stubbs, Tommy Johnson, Tosh McKinlay, George McCluskey, Neil Lennon, John Hartson and Paul Lambert.

Jonathan Burns, Tommy’s son, will also be taking part in the game as will Celtic youth protégé, Islam Feruz, who will represent the Academy that Tommy played a leading role in establishing.

Packie Bonner will also run out as the select team captain, with Paul McStay working as Billy’s assistant manager.

Alan Esslemont, head of content for BBC ALBA, said: “The line up for Sunday’s Tommy Burns Tribute match is absolutely terrific and is testament to what Tommy had to offer both on and off the pitch.

“I am delighted that BBC ALBA is providing live coverage of what is shaping up to be a very exciting day at Celtic Park.”

The game kicks off at 2pm, however coverage will start on BBC ALBA at 1.45pm and will include a pre-match fan feature as well as half time interviews with some of the featured stars.

Peter Lawwell, Celtic Chief Executive commented: “Everyone at the club is looking forward immensely to the Tommy Burns Tribute match, as we honour the life and contribution of Tommy, one of Celtic’s greatest sons.

“It is sure to be a fantastic event as we pay tribute to a man who served the club with distinction and someone who is still missed dearly by us all.

“We are very grateful to BBC ALBA for all their support in broadcasting this match live and ensuring great profile for such an important event.”

BBC ALBA has provided a comprehensive football package throughout the season, broadcasting SPL matches on Saturday nights, three live televised First Division matches, live coverage of the SFL First Division play-off matches and the Women’s Unite Scottish Cup final. BBC ALBA is available on Sky channel 168 and on Freesat channel 110.

Sunday’s tribute match will benefit the Burns family, with donations also being made by the family to the Celtic Charity Fund and the Tommy Burns Skin Cancer Trust, established by Tommy’s daughters.

 

Cadete: It's an honour to play in tribute match

JORGE CADETE will return to Paradise this Sunday, May 31, to play his part in the Tommy Burns Tribute Match. And the Portuguese star, who is in the starting XI for the Select side, is looking forward to the whole occasion.

In particular, Cadete wants to pay tribute to the man who brought him to Celtic Park in 1996.

The striker scored an impressive 38 goals in just 49 appearances for the Hoops, with his goal against Aberdeen in April 1996 sparking a roar from the Hoops support that famously knocked Radio 5 Live off air.

Speaking to the official Celtic website ahead of the Tribute Match, Cadete said: “It will be a tremendous honour to come back to Celtic on Sunday.

“Celtic is a club I love dearly and I am really looking forward to once again playing on the famous Celtic Park turf. I may not be able to play as I used to, but I will certainly be doing my very best.

“In any case, we are all there for another reason, to honour the great Tommy Burns. Tommy is one of the finest men I have ever known and when asked to take part in this match, it was something which I simply had to do.

“It would have been impossible for me to miss this chance to come back to Celtic and to pay my respects to a man who gave so much to our great club.

“When I heard the news that Tommy died, I was devastated and my sympathies are very much with Tommy's wife and family, who I know will have suffered an extremely difficult year.

“If anyone deserves to be honoured in this way it is Tommy. He was a man who had such great qualities and someone who loved the Club so passionately.

“I am sure the event will be a fantastic celebration of Tommy's life and it will be a privilege to be part of this on Sunday.”

 

Boyd in shape for Tommy Tribute

HE’S been limbering up for weeks, going through the old drills in preparation of Sunday’s big encounter.

The bones may be creaking slightly and a few old aches and pains may be bubbling up to the surface, but Tom Boyd and Celtic’s team of distinguished old boys are clearly aiming for an upset at Tommy Burns’ Charity Tribute Match.

The former Celtic captain will line up in a side which will include a number of Tommy’s team-mates and former charges, including Murdo MacLeod, Davie Provan, George McCluskey, Pierre van Hooijdonk, Jorge Cadete, Peter Grant, Derek Whyte, Joe Miller, Andy Walker, Packie Bonner and Paul McStay.

Their opponents will be the Celtic first team and the old pros are clearly looking forward to the challenge.

“I’ve been trying to keep fit for this game and I am actually in the midst of a run of charity matches, so I should be alright,” said Boyd.

“I am really looking forward to it and it’s going to be a great day for Tommy and his family.

“I am looking forward to playing on the park again as well, I managed to play for both Motherwell and Celtic at Phil O’Donnell’s game at the end of last season.

“We are coming here for a fantastic reason, to pay tribute to Tommy and raise a lot of money for charity and I can’t think of a better way to pay our respects to someone who was a true Celtic legend and gave everything to this club, as a player, a coach, a manager and a supporter.

“He was someone who was respected for the way he conducted himself, wherever he went and I am sure all the fans will want to be a part of it.

“I know that a few of the lads have been getting in shape for this one, but I just hope the first team go easy on us,” Boyd added with a laugh.

With a specially commissioned plaque, detailing Tommy’s lifelong association with the club, being unveiled before the match and many of his former friends and colleagues involved, the afternoon will be a poignant one for the Burns family.

But it will also be a celebration of his life and legacy and as Boyd explained, he believes supporters will again turn out in numbers to support a worthy cause – with the match benefiting the Burns family, with donations also being made to the Celtic Charity Fund and the Tommy Burns Skin Cancer Trust, which has been established by Tommy’s daughters.

“We had Phil O’Donnell’s tribute game last year and the tragic circumstances that surrounded his death at such a young age, but I don’t think many people could inspire this kind of interest in a match,” said Boyd.

“The Celtic fans always turn out in great numbers for great causes and this is certainly one of them.

“Tommy was one of their own, everyone knows what Tommy felt about this football club and he touched every supporter that ever met him and thousands more who didn’t.

“He was someone who gave 100 per cent in everything he did and there was a genuine enthusiasm and desire in getting across how he believed this football club should be run and how they should play football.

“It’s going to be a great occasion and I just hope the first team lay off us a wee bit during the 90 minutes!”

The game kicks off at 2pm and tickets are now on sale, priced £15 for adults and £5 for concessions.

 

£15,000 windfall superdraw at tommy's tribute

AS if there weren’t enough good reasons for getting along to the Tommy Burns Tribute Match, there are now FIFTEEN THOUSAND others as there will now be a Paradise Windfall Superdraw at half-time.

The Paradise Windfall prize money has been upped to and amazing FIFTEEN THOUSAND POUNDS for the BIGGEST half-time draw ever.

So this is the largest ever half-time Paradise Windfall draw and YOU could be the lucky winner of £15,000.

Paradise Windfall tickets are available to all supporters aged 16 and over and on matchdays you'll instantly recognise the Paradise Windfall sellers throughout the concourse areas in their bright yellow uniforms.

You can also buy tickets for this £15,000 Superdraw online at http://windfall.celticfc.net/superdraw and at just £2 per ticket, there's no stopping you!

 

Celtic staff run for Tommy Burns Charity

THREE Celtic Staff members are running in Sunday's Ignis Asset Management Women's 10k in Glasgow for the Tommy Burns Skin Cancer Trust.

The three, Rhona Macdonald, Laura Williams and Karen Stellard have so far raised £12,500 which the Celtic Charity Fund will top up by a further 25%.

Tommy's daughters, Jenna and Emma will also be running.

If you would like to sponsor the ghirls and support the Tommy Burns Skin Cancer Trust, please click here.

 

Tommy Burns Select

A HOST of former Celtic stars will descend on Paradise on Sunday, May 31 to celebrate the life of Tommy Burns in a special tribute match against the current Hoops side.

Managed by Lisbon Lions captain Billy McNeill, the star-studded Tommy Burns Select squad will contain fans’ favourites from the last three decades. Jonathan Burns, Tommy’s son, will also follow in his father’s footsteps by gracing the hallowed Celtic Park turf.

The 1988 Celtic Centenary team, of which Tommy was an integral member, will be well-represented. Peter Grant, Derek Whyte, Joe Miller, Andy Walker, Packie Bonner and Paul McStay are all confirmed members of the squad.

Murdo MacLeod, Davie Provan and George McCluskey, Tommy’s team-mates from the early 1980s, will be there, while Neil Lennon, Stilian Petrov, John Hartson and Paul Lambert have all signed up.

On top of that, several Hoops stars who played under Tommy during his spell as Celtic manager will pay tribute to their former boss. Tom Boyd, Simon Donnelly, Pierre van Hooijdonk, Alan Stubbs, Tommy Johnson and Tosh McKinlay will be pulling on the Hoops again.

Current Dunfermline boss Jim McIntyre, who played for Tommy at Reading, has been named in the squad, which will be bolstered by many more Celtic greats over the coming weeks.

Keep checking www.tommyburnstribute.com and www.celticfc.net for further updates on the Tommy Burns Select team.

The game kicks off at 2pm and tickets are now on sale, priced £15 for adults and £5 for concessions.

 

Tommy Burns Tribute Match

CELTIC are hosting a special charity match in tribute to Tommy Burns on 31st May 2009.

The match will see the current Celtic First team face the Tommy Burns Select made up of players who played with and for Tommy as a player, manager and coach over the course of his career.

A truly nostalgic squad of Celtic legends have been lined up to join the Tommy Burns Select and pay tribute to their former team-mate, manager, mentor and friend.

Tommy sadly died on May 15, 2008 after a long and courageous battle against cancer and his passing was felt across the whole of Scottish football.

He served Celtic with distinction over many years as player, manager, Head of Youth and first-team coach, but always considered himself just to be a supporter who got lucky.

The Tribute Match will benefit the Burns family with donations also being made by the family to Celtic Charity Fund and the Tommy Burns Skin Cancer Trust, which has been established by Tommy’s daughters.

And on the day of the match, Rosemary Burns will also unveil a bronze sculpture of Tommy at the entrance to Celtic Park.

The sculpture, depicting Tommy’s life in football will be mounted on the wall of the stadium as Tommy becomes the inaugural inductee into an elite group of true Celtic Legends.

Tommy's wife Rosemary Burns said: “Clearly it has been a very difficult year for the whole family. However, throughout this period we have been touched by the overwhelming support we have received from so many people.

“We are sure this match will be a great opportunity for people, supporters of all clubs to pay their respects to Thomas and I would like to thank in advance everyone who attends the match. I will also be delighted to unveil the sculpture of Thomas at Celtic Park.”

Celtic Manager Gordon Strachan said: “Naturally, we still miss Tommy so much. His whole personality was something which lit up the club and he was a man who just gave so much to Celtic – a club he loved so dearly.

“There is still great sadness at Tommy’s passing, but the wonderful memories of Tommy we will cherish forever.

“It was a great privilege to be able to call Tommy a friend and I know that I speak for all the players and backroom staff in saying that we are honoured to be taking part in this match in memory of such a tremendous man.”

Celtic Chairman John Reid said: “Tommy will forever be remembered as one of Celtic's greatest sons, not only for his playing ability but also for his attributes as a man.

“He is one of the finest men ever to grace the famous green and white Hoops and is someone I was proud to have known. Tommy epitomised Celtic and represented all that is great about our club.

“Clearly Tommy has been missed terribly by Rosemary and the family and everyone within the wider Celtic family - indeed the world of football as a whole.

“The match in honour of Tommy will be a fitting tribute to someone who made such a wonderful contribution to the club.

“We will also be delighted to unveil a wonderful piece of sculpture and ensure Tommy’s place as the first member in our group of true Celtic Legends.”