‘Your lost friends are not dead, but gone before, Advanced a stage or two upon that road Which you must travel in the steps they trod.’ Aristophanes
For most of this week I’ve been checking into the Celtic Noise Forum each day and I’ve been thankful for it.
Thankful to have a world of Celtic supporters who know exactly how you feel because they are feeling it too. Where the emotion of it all has been interspersed with brilliant humour and anecdotes relating to Celtic’s greatest Captain.
A lot of reminiscing about Cesar and a lot of stories exchanged between Celts as they remember Billy McNeill and how they’d like him to be remembered moving forward.
It’s been comforting just to read and share now and then as the week has gone on.
We all now know Billy’s family have requested and would love, the applause, the songs and the colour of the Celtic support to give him the vociferous send-off he deserves.
That will start on Saturday lunchtime and it will continue onto and beyond the Cup Final on May the 25th when hopefully Celtic bestow upon Cesar’s memory the honour of lifting that Cup and completing an unprecedented Treble Treble.
The date will give such an accomplishment a beautiful symmetry. It would be the greatest achievement for the club since that night in Lisbon.
We’ve seen on The Celtic Star this week the ideas of renaming the North stand in Cesar’s name – The Hail Cesar Stand – or flag’s in a Lisbon 60’s retro style display like Firhill in 2017.
We’ve heard the club were considering to play with the Number 5 on the shorts. A fitting tribute I’m sure we’d all agree.
We’ve also had the thoughts of a good few, Neil Lennon included who’d like to see the number 5 retired altogether.
You couldn’t argue at the respectfulness of such a decision and although it may divide opinion when discussed, if the Club decided to go with it, every Celt would be right behind the decision once made.
The longevity of such a decision appeals and longevity brings me onto the point of writing this. What would be a fitting long standing celebration?
Back to The Celtic Noise forum for the one that grabbed me the most.
I hope the poster ‘Bertie Auld’ (may even be the real one for all I know!) on the forum doesn’t mind but I wanted to take his idea outside the forum.
Bertie’s idea was simple and brilliant.
His idea was for a Billy McNeill Champions Trophy.
Bertie wrote, ‘Do you think Celtic could from next season at summer, do a Champions Trophy in honour of Billy McNeill?, Say Champions from Thailand, South Africa, Europe, United Ireland, England and Invited guests.
All proceeds to Dementia Scotland, Celtic Foundation and the invited team’s charity of choice. We have to do something for Cesar it’s the least he deserves what do think?’
For me it struck a chord. It’s an idea that could be replicated year after year.
An opportunity to remember Billy McNeill and keep that memory alive for future generations.
Every time a young child is taken to that tournament to play for that trophy it’s an excuse and a reason to explain the history behind the trophy and the name that bears its name.
The idea of invited champions from around the World is also incredibly fitting given Cesar himself was the first Non Latin European to raise that amazing trophy above his head.
A true champion. The Giant on whose shoulders all the rest from this Island stood on in future years as they stepped forward to collect that trophy.
A weekend tournament in July at Celtic Park perhaps in the format of the Ajax tournament or The Emirates Cup like Celtic were invited to back in 2010.
A ticket gets you in for the day or you could get a weekend ticket and see 4 games involving Celtic and some of the invited teams, champions of the past.
The format is not important but a pre-season tournament with Celtic Park bathed in sunshine and Billy McNeill remembered by us all and passed on to future generations certainly seemed fitting to me.
Neil Lennon said this week, much like Bill Shankly said of Jock Stein, that he felt Billy McNeill was immortal, that somehow he would always be with us.
‘Bertie Auld’s’ idea on the Celtic Noise Forum would be a fine way to ensure Billy McNeill remains with us all and ensure the knowledge of the man and his achievement’s is passed on to the future Celtic Family, a family I’ve been so proud to be a part of this week.
“To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.” ― Thomas Campbell
Niall J
