Exclusive: Fury as sick thieves steal banner tribute to Tommy Burns

[ian1964 10,761]

SICK thieves have stolen a fans' memorial to Celtic legend Tommy Burns, a fortnight before the first anniversary of his death.

 

The "God Bless Tommy Burns" banner has been torn down from outside the Glasgow church where his funeral was held.

 

We can reveal that the green and white sign - put up by fans after the 51-year-old lost his battle with cancer on May 15 last year - is being hawked around east end pubs.

 

The poignant tribute had been fitted to a billboard next to St Mary's RC church in Abercromby Street in Calton, where thousands of fans joined football heroes at Burns's funeral.

 

It's understood it was paid for by a local supporters' group. All that remains now are the severed ropes used to hang it and a tattered corner from where it was ripped down.

 

The Record has been passed a photograph of it being shown off in a Gallowgate bar.

 

An underworld source who watched it being passed around one pub said: "The guys who nicked the sign have been parading it around several bars over the last few days as some kind of trophy.

 

"But it's not going down well with the fans.

 

To see the sign being hawked around pubs is heartbreaking. Anyone with a shred of decency would put the sign back where it belongs, at the chapel.

 

"Apparently, some people in the Blackpool area wanted it but it looks like the deal has fallen through because of the bad reaction." Burns had a lifelong connection to the Calton area and regularly attended St Mary's.

 

To mark the first anniversary of his death, the club have just launched a tribute DVD, Faithful Through And Through, featuring footage of the star's glittering career and his life as a dedicated family man.

 

And on May 31, a team of former Parkhead stars will take on the current first team in a benefit match to celebrate Burns's life.

 

It will feature ex-players such as Pierre Van Hooijdonk, Stilian Petrov, Paul McStay, Murdo MacLeod, George McCluskey, Neil Lennon, John Hartson, Paul Lambert and Alan Stubbs, with more to be confirmed.

 

On the day of the match, Burns's widow Rosemary will unveil a bronze statue of him outside Celtic Park.

 

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/2009/05/02/exclusive-fury-as-sick-thieves-steal-banner-tribute-to-tommy-burns-86908-21325609/

[CammyF 8,385]

Sickening.

 

Cammy F

Edited May 2, 2009 by CammyF

[Gazza_8 233]

Sad to hear that.

 

No doubt we'll be blamed for it.

[CammyF 8,385]

Sad to hear that.

 

No doubt we'll be blamed for it.

 

Nah, I believe that it is well known that the pubs this was being hawked round were Celtc pubs and it was celtc fans who were photographed with it.

 

Cammy F

[Gazza_8 233]

Nah, I believe that it is well known that the pubs this was being hawked round were Celtc pubs and it was celtc fans who were photographed with it.

 

Cammy F

 

I'm sure we'll be named somewhere down the line even if the papers know it's not true. They can't miss the opportunity to shit stir especially at this time in the season when things are so tight.