The devastating news broke this evening that Celtic great and Lison Lion, Bertie Auld has passed away. Bertie was a member of the European Cup winning team in 1967 under Jock Stein. He became and integral part of that Celtic team of the sixties and was popular amongst both his teammates and the Celtic Support.

Bertie always wore a smile and embodied the way in which Celtic Football Club played their football, with sheer entertainment. In a sombre day for Celtic and Scottish Football, social media has saw an outpouring of love and affection for a truly great Celt and a gentleman of the highest class.

Bertie Auld had a unique way of connecting the past with the present for young and old Celtic fans to adore their club and its history, in a shared ethos and tradition. His memory will be ingrained in the fabric of Celtic FC for years to come. It is with a heavy heart that this article is posted tonight, but rest assured, we will all do our best to eulogise a man that stands as one of the true pillars of our institution this evening and in the coming days.

I’m sure I speak for everyone at The Celtic Star when I say we have lost a man that we could least afford to lose.

All of our deepest and most sincere condolences are with the Auld family during this most difficult of times.

Requiescat in pace, Bertie.