The Celtic Family joined Bertie Auld’s family and friends in saying an emotional farewell to our ‘Mr Celtic’ at his funeral service at St Mary’s, Celtic’s spiritual home and then at Bertie’s Theatre of Dreams at Celtic Park where thousands of fans waited patiently in the bitter cold for hours in order to say their own farewell to the Celtic legend who will be missed by everyone.
Around 10,000 supporters watched the the funeral mass which was broadcast live on the official Celtic FC You Tube channel. Ange Postecoglou was there with the entire Celtic first team squad, who had returned from Germany in the small hours of the morning. Former managers Neil Lennon and Brendan Rodgers were there, as indeed was the former Rangers legend Willie Henderson and the current Ibrox club Managing Director Stewart Robertson.
Former Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers pictured arriving for the funeral of Lisbon Lion Bertie Auld at St Mary's Church, Calton, Glasgow. Photographed for @heraldscotland & @Glasgow_Times #Glasgow #CelticFC #bertieauld #Celtic pic.twitter.com/Arl7ADvN5H
— colin mearns (@MearnsColin) November 26, 2021
The Celtic Board let my Chairman Ian Bankier and interim CEO Michael Nicholson were joined by Peter Lawwell, Brain Wilson and others and plenty former Celtic players were there including Lisbon Lions Jim Craig, John Clark, John Hughes and John Fallon. Tommy Callaghan attended the service as did the likes of Frank McGarvey, Frank McAvennie and Roy Aitken plus many others.
The glittering prize in the place where the Celtic story began.
A stunning and emotional day.
God rest you Bertie, you’ll never be equalled 💚 pic.twitter.com/xQtPXZw7gP— Matthew (@23MatthewC) November 26, 2021
When the funeral cortege arrived at Celtic Park after making the short journey from St Mary’s the inevitable sound of The Celtic Song began as the fans knew how Bertie would want them to react in this act moment. And as usual the Celtic Support did not disappoint.
“For it’s a grand old team to play for”
Thousands of fans break out in song as Bertie Auld’s funeral cortège passes by Celtic Park. pic.twitter.com/nssf4bKPbv
— Alan Zycinski (@AlanJZycinski) November 26, 2021
As the family stopped for a few moments outside the stadium to lay their own wreaths to add to the supporters tributes from Bertie’s wider Celtic Family, the fans sang In the Heat of Lisbon, the Fans Came in Their Thousands, To See The Bhoys Become The Champions of 67…
💚🤍 ‘They never die who live in the hearts they leave behind.’
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) November 26, 2021
Back in the Calton the European Cup had been positioned prominently in the corner for all to see, next to that incredible portrait of Brother Walfrid. Hanging from the galleries were Portuguese flags, Willie Haughey spoke as did Lisbon Lion Jim Craig, Willie incidentally went out of his way to thank The Green Brigade for their two brilliant tributes at Hampden on Saturday.
Fitting send off to the Legend Mr Celtic and our Lisbon Lion Bertie Auld YNWA🍀💚🦁😢 Thanks to @CelticFC for showing the service today🍀💚 pic.twitter.com/T5LguJZDkD
— Kim McCormick (@Kimmccormick34) November 26, 2021
Partick Thistle, where Bertie was manager for a few years, and of course the club nearest to Bertie’s family home as a boy in Maryhill, would like us all to raise a wee glass this evening at 10.30 to remember Bertie and to celebrate his life and what a wonderful life it was and what a remarkable, funny, intelligent, charismatic, talented man Bertie was. Mr Celtic, you will be missed by us all.
Rest in Peace Bertie, YNWA.
The final farewell to Bertie Auld at Celtic Park 🍀💚, You’ll Never Walk Alone 🙏 pic.twitter.com/snsnUO2Gks
— Jim Devine 🚩☮️ (@devinejames1967) November 26, 2021
God Bless Bertie Auld 💚 pic.twitter.com/nUKQHAYTAf
— Lee Wardhaugh (@LeeWardhaugh) November 26, 2021
