Joint farewell for legend Burns May 20 2008
Famous faces from the world of football were joined by ordinary fans to say farewell to Celtic legend Tommy Burns at his funeral on Tuesday.
Thousands of mourners turned out to pay their last respects to the former manager of the Glasgow club, who died at home last Thursday aged 51.
The former Scotland international, who was also a long-serving Celtic player and most recently the team's first-team coach and head of youth, died after losing a battle with cancer.
Mourners began arriving two hours before the requiem mass at St Mary's church in the Calton area of Glasgow.
Hundreds of fans were in the street outside the church from early morning and up to 3,000 had gathered by midday at Celtic Park where the service was being broadcast.
Stars of the football world arrived at the church throughout the morning.
Celtic boss Gordon Strachan arrived with the first-team squad to loud applause from those outside the church.
Others arriving included Rangers boss Walter Smith and captain Barry Ferguson.
Former Scotland and Rangers manager Alex McLeish also attended along with SFA chief executive Gordon Smith.
There were also a host of former Celtic players, including Roy Keane, Kenny Dalglish and Pierre van Hooijdonk.
Even before guests began arriving, the street outside the church turned green and white as hundreds of fans turned out to pay their respects.
Floral tributes were laid outside the entrance to the church and Celtic scarves hung from the railings.
The coffin was carried into St Mary's by Burns' former Celtic team-mates Danny McGrain, Peter Grant, Pat Bonnar and George McCluskey.
Rangers manager Smith and his assistant Ally McCoist, who were part of the Scotland international coaching set-up with Burns, were also among the pall-bearers.
Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond also attended the funeral.
Other figures from the football world who arrived to pay their respects included Everton manager David Moyes, Motherwell boss Mark McGhee and former Celtic manager Martin O'Neill.
In a eulogy, former Celtic team-mate Billy Stark described Burns as a "unique and special man".
Stark, his assistant manager at Kilmarnock and Celtic, said: "A list of Tommy's wonderful qualities is endless - a dignified man of principle, his generosity of spirit knew no bounds. He showed great compassion for those less fortunate than himself.
"Tommy Burns treasured three things in life above all others - family, faith and football, particularly Celtic Football Club.
"You would see him on the training ground in the morning, demanding and driven. When he returned from the lunchtime visit to the chapel, he turned into a calm and serene man."
At Celtic Park, a tearful crowd half-a-dozen deep listened to the mass on giant speakers outside the main entrance.
Many wore the club's strip, while others were dressed in black suits and ties as a mark of respect.
The area outside the ground was awash with the club's green and white colours.
Thousands of scarves, strips and flags were left by fans of Celtic and other clubs, including Glasgow rivals Rangers, in tribute.
One tribute read: "A true legend, thanks for the memories."
Another said simply: "God bless you Mr Celtic."
One mourner, 37-year-old Paul Farrell, said Burns' values in life set him apart.
The psychiatric nurse, from Stevenson in Ayrshire, said: "I think he epitomised everything that a Celtic fan should be.
"His family was always his first priority.
"After that you have his faith, which was very important to him and I think that gave him a lot of strength especially with his illness.
"He was a great man and that's why he had the respect of all fans.
"I think he brought a lot of people together and I think it shows today with the crowds here."
Mr Farrell said he had followed Burns' career since he was a teenager and today was an emotional day for him.
He said: "If you're a Celtic fan, it's in your heart.
"Tommy kind of understood our joy and our pain.
"It's quite emotional for a lot of people."
Monsignor Tom Monaghan, a priest at Burns' local church, said: "The ordinary people of Glasgow have joined with the fans of Celtic Football Club and indeed, other teams to express their regard and appreciation for Tommy.
"It may be that better footballers and better managers have passed through the gates of Celtic Park but there really can't be anyone more loved."
He went on: "You can't say anything bad about this extraordinary man. There can be few families who have received the number of condolences upon the death of a treasured member of the family as the Burns family."
Mourners continued to flood to Celtic Park as the mass progressed.
By 1.30pm police estimated that the crowd at the ground had grown up to 10,000 people.
Two women even fainted with the heat and had to be taken to the first aid room for treatment, a police spokeswoman confirmed.