A sod-cutting ceremony has been held in Wishaw ahead of a project to honour football legend Tommy Gemmell.
The event marked the start of work on a permanent statue of the Craigneuk-born hero, famed for scoring in two European Cup finals for Celtic Football Club and representing Scotland 18 times.
The project is being driven by the Tommy Gemmell Community Project with support from North Lanarkshire Council’s community partnership team, with it estimated to complete in early 2026.
The sod-cutting ceremony was led by North Lanarkshire provost, Kenneth Duffy, and Tommy’s wife, Mary. Provost Duffy commended, “It was a privilege to mark the start of this fitting tribute to a local and national sporting icon. This would not be possible without the outstanding work and dedication of the Tommy Gemmell Project Committee, and the support from our council’s Community Partnership Team. Together, they are ensuring Lisbon Lion Tommy’s incredible legacy will be remembered for generations to come.”
Mary Gemmell added, “I am so looking forward to seeing the statue completed. From the artist’s impressions, I couldn’t believe how much it looked like Tommy, it’s just wonderful. This is a truly special way to honour his memory in the community he loved. and I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who has made this possible.”
