RIP Billy McNeill

[Frazerbob]

Just heard he died this morning.

[LustForLeith]

The picture of him holding aloft the European Cup with a look of reserved pride is one of my favourite football photos.

RIP

[The 90+2]

RIP Billy.

[Hibby Gav]

rip Billy ....
all the best to your family from the Hibs family

[Pretty Boy]

Scottish football legend and appears to be respected across the board.

The late 60s and early 70s must have been a great time to be a football fan in Scotland.

RIP.

[BroxburnHibee]

A true one club man.

RIP

[The Harp]

Sad news. Legendary player and manager for celtic and also did a stint for us. Seemed a true gentleman by all accounts.
Sincere condolences to Billy's family and friends.

[Mick O'Rourke]

Hail Cesar
Many years ago i traveled to a game at Celtic Park on an Edinburgh CS bus.
Stopped at Billy's pub on the way.
As this supporters bus did regularly.

It was i recall either Billy or his mums birthday.
A bottle of whisky was placed on each table for fans to raise a glass..

A gent and truly one of the Bhoys


A long time servant, captain and ambassador of Celtic FC

A legendary footballer in the true sense of that phrase.

RIP
Billy McNeill

[DarlingtonHibee]

Rip Billy.

Wasn't he with hibs for a bit in a dof role.

[MartinfaePorty]

Rip Billy.

Wasn't he with hibs for a bit in a dof role.

Yep, under Jim Duffy. Believe he was caretaker for 1 game - a 0-3 loss at Pittodrie - before leaving the post when McLeish took charge. Always remember he had nothing but good things to say about Hibs at that time. RIP.

[Onion]

Really sorry to hear of his passing. Celtic Legend, a true gentleman, and first British player to lift the European Cup.

Sad day for his family, friends, and for football.

[J-C]

RIP Billy McNeil, condolences to his family. One of the players to elevate Scottish football in the 60's and 70's and a true gent in th game.

[GIBBY NEWTON]

A true club man & legend,a lovely man off the park as well ! Condolences to all his family may he Rest in Peace.

[Bostonhibby]

RIP. Hard as nails and mostly fair defender and a proper leader on and off the pitch.

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[oldbiker]

RIP a football legend in the real sense of the word:flag: huge round of applause deserved across Scottish football

[wpj]

Dementia is a horrible illness, wishing his family well.

[Keith_M]

From one McNeill to another, a very sad day.

[crash]

Met him when he was dof here. A gentleman and a football legend.
RIP Billy.

[JeMeSouviens]

The word legend is much overused for footballers, but in this case there's no argument. RIP.

[Baader]

A nice guy and a footballing legend. RIP Billy.

[Bill Milne]

One of the genuine greats of Scottish football, he'll be sorely missed!! He often spoke of his affection for Hibs, long before he arrived to help out Jim Duffy.

[hibbyfraelibby]

Presumably there will be a minutes applause on Sunday to mark his passing.

Although he was with Hibernian for a relatively short period he made a valuable contribution at a difficult time for the club. A genuinely nice guy and gentlement he was one of the true legends of Scottish football and all fans of the game will recognise him as such.

RIP Billy.

[matty_f]

RIP Billy.

[JXM73]

Legend is used far too often these days, it should be reserved for players like McNeill, RIP

[Jones28]

Dementia is a horrible illness, wishing his family well.

It is, RIP Billy.

[theonlywayisup]

Legend is used far too often these days, it should be reserved for players like McNeill, RIP

:agree:

One of football's good guys.

[theonlywayisup]

Scottish Football unites in their sorrow at such sad news.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/48020446

[Hibrandenburg]

A Celtic player I couldn't hate. Old school player and gentleman on and off the park. My thoughts are with his family, RIP Billy.

[marinello59]

A true giant of our game during a period when Scottish clubs were capable of beating the best teams in Europe on a regular basis.
RIP

[scuttle]

Very sad, RIP Billy

[kaimendhibs]

RIP Billy.
He was on same flight to Spain as me a few years ago. Passed up and down the aisle taking time to speak to anyone who wanted a chat.

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[Hibernia&Alba]

A giant of the Scottish game - the only man to lift the biggest prize in club football for a Scottish club. The most successful captain in Scottish football.

RIP big man.

[Besties Debut]

Sorry to hear that. It's frightening how many players from the 50s and 60s have ended up with dementia

[PeeJay]

Sad to hear of the passing of a fine club captain and ambassador for the Scottish game -

[JimBHibees]

A true Giant of the game in Scotland in that wonderful Celtic team. Can remember being heartbroken by that team as a kid when Hibs were competing under Eddie with the Tornadoes, think he scored in the first minute when we lost 6-1 in the Scottish cup final. Always spoke very well and came over as a true gent.

RIP Billy.

[Seveno]

One of the true greats of Scottish football. Magnificent player and true gentleman.

Very sad news.

[Speedway]

We were the first club in Scotland to go down the DOF route when Billy joined us or had Rangers already done it by then?

[Bangkok Hibby]

Its all been said here. All the accolades apply. No matter your team you should mourn the passing, and celebrate the life of a Scottish footballing great.

[lyonhibs]

An absolute collosus. Before my time but his medal count and unique achievement in Lisbon set him apart.

And oh how Scottish football could do with some players of his ilk in our teams these days. Tough as teak, not a wind up merchant with an iron will to win during the match and showed absolute respect to his opponents after it.

[CMurdoch]

Mr Celtic (Played over 800 games).
An icon of Scottish, British and European football.
True leader of men who was never drawn into any classless behaviour.
Most importantly of all, a generous and humble man who was respected by all Scottish football supporters.

[Sir David Gray]

Sorry to hear this, way before my time but I think everyone is aware of the achievements he had in Lisbon. It's something that is highly unlikely to ever be achieved again by another captain of a Scottish club.

[Squealing pig]

Just seen the pictures on the news of what a great player / manager he was , rip billy a true legend of the game .

[NAE NOOKIE]

A true football great … RIP Billy.

[hfc rd]

R.I.P.

Never seen him play as was well before my time but told he was one of the Scottish football’s all time greats and no wonder. A European cup winning captain.

[hughio]

Remember that Lisbon game in black and white grainy telly and seeing him lift that Cup.

Made us all so proud to be Scottish.

Mind you our Hibs team of that era gave them many a good game.That is for another thread.

RIP.

[Sylar]

It's been nice to see that the tributes paid across Scottish football have been pretty much unanimous today.

As with many others on here, he was well before my time, but an undoubted success and proud ambassador for the game and his club.

I hope one day we find a cure to this absolute ******* of a disease.

[offshorehibby]

Drank in his pub at Queens Park many a time. A proper Scottish legend.

RIP Billy

[cwilliamson85]

Drank in his pub at Queens Park many a time. A proper Scottish legend.

RIP Billy

What’s his pub at Queens Park?

[Jim44]

RIP, Billy. Respect!!!

[Since452]

One of the rare occasions i think there should be a minutes applause across the fixtures this weekend. Forget club rivalries, the image of McNeil lifting the European Cup is a true iconic moment of Scottish sport, perhaps the most. RIP Billy.

[HUTCHYHIBBY]

What’s his pub at Queens Park?

McNeill's, just off Victoria Road.

[Besties Debut]

You forget that he was director of football at Hibs in 98 with Jim Duffy.....anyone remember what other Lisbon Lion we had as a manager?

[green day]

You forget that he was director of football at Hibs in 98 with Jim Duffy.....anyone remember what other Lisbon Lion we had as a manager?

Auld

[JeMeSouviens]

It's been nice to see that the tributes paid across Scottish football have been pretty much unanimous today.

As with many others on here, he was well before my time, but an undoubted success and proud ambassador for the game and his club.

I hope one day we find a cure to this absolute ******* of a disease.

The "Bears" being the predictable exception (although the FF thread is mostly respectful). :rolleyes:

[Here’s Lucy!]

Sad, sad news, but perhaps a wee blessing for him to escape that horrible illness.

RIP Cesar

[Greentinted]

Had occasion to meet him, first as a daft fan at our SC Semi at Ibrox in 95. He was as immense as his reputation and was happy to chew the fat with a group of us young slightly pissed Hibbies. Still have the programme he signed.
A few years later I found myself sharing an office with him at ER and he was, again, magnanimous, gregarious and no little helpful as I had a bit of a ticketing problem to solve. Massive personality with no sense of arrogance or ego. Just a good guy who happened to be a giant among men.
RIP Billy McNeill - a proper legend, in his lifetime and beyond.

[The Green Goblin]

One of the last legendary Scottish players. Rest in Peace.

[Hiber-nation]

My earliest recollection was back in the late 60s in a game at ER and being awestruck at how high he towered above everyone as he cleared another cross.

Tried to get his autograph after the game but I'll let him off with his quick "sorry lads" as he breezed past us!

RIP Billy, a true legend.

[Hibees1973]

Remember watching a recording of the Hibs v Dunfermline 1991 League/Skol Cup final. Billy was the co-commenter at the game for the BBC. Prior to the game starting he was asked for his views and confessed to having a soft spot for Hibs.

True legend of the Scottish game. Condolences to his family and sympathies in dealing with an horrendous illness.

RIP Billy McNeill.

[judas]

A truly good man and one deserving of great praise.

His memory will live on.

[Lago]

Scottish football legend and appears to be respected across the board.

The late 60s and early 70s must have been a great time to be a football fan in Scotland.

RIP.

It truly was, loved those days.

[EI255]

Very sad news indeed. He was a great football man and a proper gent. He will be missed. Not many left like him. RIP.

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[Kato]

Remember watching a recording of the Hibs v Dunfermline 1991 League/Skol Cup final. Billy was the co-commenter at the game for the BBC. Prior to the game starting he was asked for his views and confessed to having a soft spot for Hibs.

True legend of the Scottish game. Condolences to his family and sympathies in dealing with an horrendous illness.

RIP Billy McNeill.

He spoke in a Radio interview about that. He played a lot of youth football but his Dad made him go and see the Famous Five whenever he could "as part of his education".

[CathroMustStay]

RIP Billy.

[Eyrie]

A giant of Scottish football in every way. RIP.

[penihibs]

RIP Big Man..

[offshorehibby]

What’s his pub at Queens Park?

Just down the lane at Queens Park station.

[monktonharp]

R.I.P Billy McNeill. a true gent, a one club man but a Scottish legend after he lifted that cup!. put Scotland on the football map.

[cwilliamson85]

McNeill's, just off Victoria Road.

Been in many a times over the years. Will pop in tomorrow for one to give him a proper sendoff.

[The Harp Awakes]

A big guy and a big character.

RIP Billy

[Since452]

Minutes applause planned before kick off tomorrow.

[monktonharp]

sounds right for a man like him