The Football [Soccer] World is saddened by the death of Tommy Burns to Cancer of the Skin at the age of Fifty One. The sad mood is palpable in Scotland especially in the Celtic FC where he played the majority of his games and had many triumphs. I could only express the fact that I feel sad because of this loss and have decided to write about this great person who was an institution in Celtic FC and Scotland.

Tommy Burns came into the world in Glasgow Scotland on the Sixteenth of December in the year 1956. At an early age in 1973, he signed with the youth club Mayhill before beginning his career with Celtic. It was in Celtic that his career took off. From 1975 to 1989, Tommy Burns scored fifty two goals in three hundred and fifty two league appearances. I remember hearing one of the Celtic Games with Tommy Burns making an appearance on my Shortwave Radio and almost had to feel bad since I was in the University during my Final Exams. Regardless, it was great hearing the Celtic Game. It was also during this period that he made eight appearances for the Scottish National Team from 1981 to 1988.

In 1989, Tommy Burns transferred to Kilmarnock where he scored sixteen goals in one hundred and fifty one appearances. During his time in Kilmarnock, the team was promoted from the Scottish First Division. It was in Kilmarnock where he excelled as a player and manager until events in 1994 which lead to a dispute between Celtic and Kilmarnock lead to his return to Celtic as a Manager. During his tenure at Celtic, he was able to win the Scottish Cup for Celtic and the Runner up Position for the same team in the Scottish Premier Division and Scottish League Cup. Unfortunately, Celtic sacked Burns and he ended up working with Newcastle United and Reading before returning to the Scottish National Team and Celtic in the 2000’s.

He managed to work in various positions with the Scottish National Team and Celtic before retiring from the Scottish National Team in order to focus all of his energy for Celtic. Unfortunately, his body was tired and he had to face the struggle of skin cancer. He faced this last battle with Skin Cancer with the utmost dignity until he departed from our world. Tommy Burns, we will miss you and thank you for giving us the best in Celtic Football.