Farewell to the greatest

Tommy Breslin made a final poignant visit to Solitude today as the Cliftonville family joined the Breslin family in saying goodbye to our legendary former player and Manager.

Following funeral mass at St Gerard’s Church on the Antrim Road – where Reds players past and present formed a guard of honour for the man who made 288 appearances for the Club prior to his glorious reign in the dugout – Tommy’s funeral cortege passed down the Cliftonville Road before making a commemorative stop outside the ground he loved so much.

There, fans, players and officials alike paid an emotional tribute and said their own personal goodbyes before the cortege continued to the burial at Roselawn Cemetery.

Cliftonville FC once again places on record our gratitude to everyone who has made contact to pay their respects in recent weeks and also extends thanks to our many fellow Football Clubs who staged their own tributes to Tommy, as well as the players who dedicated goals and winning performances to our most successful ever Manager.

Thank you, too, to Linfield FC for their generous donation of the Gibson Cup for today’s service and for granting permission for its blue ribbons to be replaced by red ones for the occasion.

Our sympathies naturally lie with the Breslin family circle and his many friends during what has been and remains a very difficult time for them and, amid our grief and sadness, we express appreciation for the privilege of having known the man and for having been lucky enough to be his Football Club.

Thank you for everything, Tommy. You were the greatest. Rest in peace.