Celtic fans were delivered some sad news on Tuesday, with the death of Dixie Deans aged 79.
One of the most prolific Celtic strikers of his generation, Deans scored 125 goals in 186 games after joining the Hoops from Motherwell in 1971.
The Johnstone-born forward was nicknamed ‘Dixie’ after the legendary English striker who played four decades prior, and remained a popular figure after his playing career.
Alongside the great Kenny Dalglish, he led the Hoops’ attack in the first half of the 1970s, winning three league titles, two Scottish Cups and one League Cup.
Also in that Celtic team was Tommy Callaghan, whose son has a fitting story from meeting Deans in Australia.
Tam Callaghan’s tribute to Celtic hero Dixie Deans
Highlights of Deans’ career include scoring six goals in one game against Partick Thistle, as well as hat-tricks in both the 1972 Scottish Cup final and the 1974 League Cup final.
But off the pitch, there was an unlikely interaction with Bob Marley.
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Speaking to the Daily Record about the close family friend, Callaghan paid a brilliant tribute to the ex-Celtic hero.
He said: “Dixie was a brilliant man, I loved him. He was my dad’s best pal along with George McCluskey.
“I saw loads of him through my life and I’m just off the phone to my son Thomas who lives in Adelaide. Dixie played in Adelaide for a year and Thomas would meet Dixie for a coffee.
“He was a funny, funny man and his patter was brilliant.
“Dixie used to tell a story about when he was in Adelaide and Bob Marley was in the city at the same time.
“Dixie kept a picture of the two of them together in his wallet for the rest of his life. But, in true Dixie style, he always claimed it was Bob who wanted a picture with him, not the other way round!”
“There’s a lot of doom and gloom about that generation of Celtic players we are now losing. But there is also so much humour and joy to celebrate.
“When my dad Tommy senior was diagnosed with dementia, Dixie was very supportive, he would come all the time to the house and visit. Before that my dad would pick him and George up on their way to work in the hospitality at Celtic together.
“They were some threesome. Dixie’s patter might have been brilliant but his legacy will always be as a brilliant goal scorer.
“My dad spoke about him being a great man to have inside the Celtic dressing room.
“He may have been only five foot eight inches but you wouldn’t want to fight him as he was tough as nails.
“He will go down in history as one of the all-time Celtic greats. Some players are handed the title of Celtic greats and some of them in my opinion don’t deserve it. But Dixie is a true legend of the club.”
Celtic legend Dixie Deans passes away
The career of Celtic great Dixie Deans
Deans is also a legend at Motherwell, who signed him for just £100 in 1965.
His 89 goals in 189 appearances over six years, which also saw him set a post-war record for the most goals in a season for the Steelmen, earned him his move to Celtic.
After his days in Glasgow, he saw out his career in England, Scotland and eventually Australia.
He only received two Scotland caps in his career, in a golden era of talent for the national side. His two appearances came against Spain and West Germany.
Rest in Peace, Dixie.
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