26/3/2008Tributes to ex-celtic star John
THE Lisbon Lions today led tributes to former Celtic player John Cushley who died from the same disease that claimed the life of Lisbon Lion Jimmy Johnstone.
Cushley, 65, who was diagnosed last year with motor neurone disease, passed away peacefully in the early hours of yesterday.
Born in Hamilton, Lanarkshire, in January 1943, he was stand-in for legendary club captain Billy McNeill and made 41 appearances before his £30,000 transfer to West Ham in July 1967 - two months after Celtic became the first British side to win the European Cup.
Cushley joined Celtic from Lanarkshire junior side Blantyre Celtic in July 1960.
He made his debut against Kilmarnock three years later.
He moved to West Ham to partner England's World Cup-winning captain Bobby Moore in central defence.
He also had spells as a player at Dunfermline and Dumbarton and as a coach with Dumbarton and Clyde.
A modern languages graduate of Glasgow University, Cushley famously acted as an interpreter in 1964 when he and former Celtic manager Jimmy McGrory travelled to Spain to try and persuade Alfredo Di Stefano to sign for Celtic.
After hanging up his boots, Cushley enjoyed a successful career in teaching and in recent years returned to Celtic as the club's education officer.
He retired last summer through ill-health after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease.
Yesterday, some of his former Celtic team-mates and surviving members of the Lisbon Lions paid tribute to Cushley. Bertie Auld said: "John would have been a regular in any other side if it hadn't been for Billy (McNeill).
"He was a lovely man and will be sorely missed.
"John never complained about his lack of first team games. He accepted that Billy was one of the best centre-halves in the world at the time and he was just happy to do his best when he got the call.
"It was a real tragedy to see how the illness affected him.
"He will always be remembered as a fine human being and a guy you would be proud to call a friend and colleague."
Another Lisbon Lion, Tommy Gemmell, added: "John was a first-class defender and made sure Billy McNeill was always on his toes.
"He never let down the team any time he played."
In its statement, Celtic said: "The thoughts and prayers of everyone at Celtic Football Club are with John's wife, Mary, his family and friends at this very sad time."
Motor neurone disease is an incurable condition caused by the breakdown of the nerve cells in the brain that control the muscles.
Johnstone was 61 when he died from the disease in March 2006 after a five-year illness.
Cushley, 65, who was diagnosed last year with motor neurone disease, passed away peacefully in the early hours of yesterday.
Born in Hamilton, Lanarkshire, in January 1943, he was stand-in for legendary club captain Billy McNeill and made 41 appearances before his £30,000 transfer to West Ham in July 1967 - two months after Celtic became the first British side to win the European Cup.
Cushley joined Celtic from Lanarkshire junior side Blantyre Celtic in July 1960.
He made his debut against Kilmarnock three years later.
He moved to West Ham to partner England's World Cup-winning captain Bobby Moore in central defence.
He also had spells as a player at Dunfermline and Dumbarton and as a coach with Dumbarton and Clyde.
A modern languages graduate of Glasgow University, Cushley famously acted as an interpreter in 1964 when he and former Celtic manager Jimmy McGrory travelled to Spain to try and persuade Alfredo Di Stefano to sign for Celtic.
After hanging up his boots, Cushley enjoyed a successful career in teaching and in recent years returned to Celtic as the club's education officer.
He retired last summer through ill-health after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease.
Yesterday, some of his former Celtic team-mates and surviving members of the Lisbon Lions paid tribute to Cushley. Bertie Auld said: "John would have been a regular in any other side if it hadn't been for Billy (McNeill).
"He was a lovely man and will be sorely missed.
"John never complained about his lack of first team games. He accepted that Billy was one of the best centre-halves in the world at the time and he was just happy to do his best when he got the call.
"It was a real tragedy to see how the illness affected him.
"He will always be remembered as a fine human being and a guy you would be proud to call a friend and colleague."
Another Lisbon Lion, Tommy Gemmell, added: "John was a first-class defender and made sure Billy McNeill was always on his toes.
"He never let down the team any time he played."
In its statement, Celtic said: "The thoughts and prayers of everyone at Celtic Football Club are with John's wife, Mary, his family and friends at this very sad time."
Motor neurone disease is an incurable condition caused by the breakdown of the nerve cells in the brain that control the muscles.
Johnstone was 61 when he died from the disease in March 2006 after a five-year illness.