Celtic fans' sad farewell to Burns

Thousands of fans said their final goodbye to Tommy Burns

By Brian Ponsonby Glasgow and the West reporter, BBC Scotland news website

The trinity of family, faith and football was central to the life of Tommy Burns.

It was fitting, therefore, that after his untimely death from cancer last week these should be so evident on the day he was laid to rest.

Not since the passing of another Celtic legend, Jimmy Johnston, has Glasgow's east end witnessed such a turnout for a funeral.

Hundreds gathered outside St Mary's Church in Calton - the area where Burns had grown up - to hear the Requiem Mass.

An audio link of the service was relayed to outside Celtic Park, where thousands had congregated to say their final farewell.

Strips and scarves mingled with black suits and ties as the massed ranks of mourners stood respectfully during the service.

Tommy Burns was a unique and special man, an inspiration to many of us Billy Stark

Occasionally there was a burst of gentle applause to eulogies for their hero.

One such contribution came from former team-mate and friend, Billy Stark, who said: "Tommy Burns was a unique and special man, an inspiration to many of us."

When the Mass concluded the crowd packed tighter together as it prepared for a final glimpse of the man considered by many to be "Mr Celtic".

Children perched on parents' shoulders, hundreds stood on tip-toes and cameras were held aloft.

'You'll Never Walk Alone'

Then, after what had seemed an age, the first cheers could be heard for the approaching cortege.

At the first glimpse of the hearse, scarves were thrown onto the road and mourners clapped loudly in respect.

By the time the cortege was in front of the stadium, there were chants of "Tommy Burns" and "You'll Never Walk Alone".

The club's PA system then played this great football anthem as thousands of fans sang along and raised their scarves.

Mourners lined the route from St Mary's Church to Celtic Park

Tommy Burns' family then emerged to inspect the shrine that had been left to his memory.

Tens of thousands of scarves, flags, photographs and hand-written messages had been left - many by the fans of other clubs.

When this was over, the cortege resumed its final journey to Linn Cemetery, leaving the vast number of mourners to melt away.

The trek away from the stadium resembled the end of a home game for Celtic.

This time, however, there was no favourable result, only introspection from loss and the comfort of faith, family and football.

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