With the Celtic community still in mourning after the sad loss of all-time Celtic great Bertie Auld, tributes have been flooding in from all corners of the world in respect of not just a fantastic football player, but a wonderfully charismatic man who brought a smile to the face of everyone who ever met him.
Having met him myself a couple of times i can attest that the man had a unique aura around him. It was a peculiar feeling to be in the company of an absolute Celtic legend, with all the admiration I had for him, yet be made to feel like I was in the company of an old friend. A proper humble man who had time to have a chat and a laugh with everyone he met.
In a function in Belfast, where he attended with fellow Lion Joe McBride, I watched on as Bertie literally held the crowd in the palm of his hand. Taking questions from the crowd he mixed in plenty of fantastic anecdotes along with truly hilarious quips and everyone left the place grinning from ear to ear and recalling some of his perfectly delivered jokes.
Replying to a question about whether Henrik Larsson would have been good enough to get into the Lions team was one in particular that had the crowd erupting with laughter, and leaving the young man who asked the question particularly red faced!
The Celtic family have been remembering Bertie with some truly wonderful words being said about the man so many have fond memories of. The current club manager Ange Postecoglou and club captain Callum McGregor have joined the outpouring of emotion with their own words on the sad death of the club great.
Speaking to the club website Postecoglou said: “With Bertie’s passing a family and a Club has lost a true legend and a great man. All our heartfelt thoughts and prayers go sincerely to Bertie’s family for their tremendous loss of someone so dear to them.
“I know Bertie was one of the true Celtic greats, leaving his mark indelibly on the club and our supporters by reaching the very summit of footballing achievement, but also through his unique personality.
“Big, special football clubs are built on major figures like Bertie and we should all forever be grateful to him for all he achieved and all he was. I know his spirit will flow through Celtic forever.”
McGregor added: “On behalf of all the players at the Club, I send our thoughts and prayers to Bertie’s family. I know they will miss him terribly.
“I will always feel really lucky to have known Bertie. Coming through the ranks at Celtic, it is people like Bertie you look up to and not only for his achievements on the pitch but just for the way he was.
“It was so humbling to be in his company, to know what he had achieved for Celtic, but also just to spend time with a brilliant man and a proper legend.
“He just always had huge drive, passion and energy and a tremendous love for the Club.
“He loved the fun that football could bring to people and he had that infectious warmth and spirit which gave so much to anyone that met him.
“We will remember Bertie with such love and affection, we are privileged to have known him and today we are all thinking of Bertie’s family.”
R.I.P Bertie. You will never be forgotten by Celtic fans for all the joy you gave us both on and off the pitch.
Conall McGinty
