I was proud to call John Fallon a friend.
He was another example of the falsity of the statement that you should never meet your heroes.
John was in goal for the first Scottish Cup Final I attended in 1969.
Eleven-year-old me was rather pleased with the result as the Hoops battered their nativist rivals four-nil.
I recounted this tale when John and I were guests of the folks of the Tir Eoghain No.1 CSC in 2013.
If my memory serves me correctly, I was the big man’s warm-up act that night.
I was grateful for this as he was an impossible act to follow.
When I learned of his passing yesterday, I went to the study and reacquainted myself with his voice.
Authors are immortal in that way.
These words in particular are authentically John’s.
He always wanted to be among the fans, because he was one of them.
On many occasions, I would travel from Ireland with an agreement to meet him at his “office”.
It is no idle boast that he did indeed “hold court” there.
I attended Celtic games and supporters nights with him, and it was plain to see that he was a supporter who played for the club he loved.
It was a delight to be in his company at his favourite haunt in Blantyre to see him among his own tribe.
In a way too scripted for one of my novels, that page in his autobiography was marked by this.
We were sitting together at the far end of the national stadium when Josh Meekings, performed heroics in the ICT goal, except, of course, that he wasn’t their goalie.
Big Fallon’s response to the officiating non-decision was…well…authentic!
John signed for Celtic the year I was born.
Consequently, as my Paradise attending debut loomed, I was truly blessed at eight years old in 1966 to see Celtic’s greatest generation in their prime.
Yet another has gone to his rest eternal.
My thoughts are with the Fallon family today.
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A great Celtic man. I was at the SC Final in 1965 with John in goal and boy did he celebrate. Much loved. R.I.P. Lisbon Lion.
What a beautiful tribute, Phil.
My thoughts are with John and his family.
May he Rest In Peace 🇮🇪🙏
John Fallon was a real gentleman. And a fantastic Celtic daft goalkeeper for Celtic. What a generation the Lisbon Lions were. 😔🇮🇪
Lovely tribute Phil.
John was my fathers youngest brother, in his book he dedicates it to my father Patrick, and grandfather Patrick.
My earliest Celtic memories involved getting picked up at Halfway Cambuslang along with my 2 brothers and father by uncle John, circa 1965.
We would drive the few miles to Paradise and pull up near the front door where what seemed like dozen of young guys surrounded the car wanting his autograph.
He spent 14 years at Celtic Park, during the greatest period in our clubs history, such loyalty is very rare these days.
Like Tommy Burns, his passions were family, faith and football, as well as a love of Ireland, particular Sligo and Geevagh.
Hail Hail. YNWA
Many thanks Vince.
Please accept my condolences.
Another hero of my youth ,may his family rest in the knowledge that he was loved by thousands