I woke this morning very much looking forward to spending the day with my youngest son Harvey. With his Kindergarten pausing for the Easter holidays it meant I could enjoy quality father-and-son time as I planned our day ahead over breakfast. With his big brother Lennox safely tucked up in school and his mum on her way to the office, Harvey and I spent the best part of the morning building his Lego train set and playing ‘aeroplanes’ It was a blissful morning filled with giggles and laughter. During a pause in our proceedings I quickly skimmed through ‘Twitter’ and learned with great sadness the passing of Billy McNeill. My heart sank. I picked Harvey up, held him tight and shed a wee tear.

Throughout my broadcasting career I have been extremely lucky and somewhat blessed to have met some great people from the game, Billy is right up there with the best of them. I first met him in the canteen at the old Scottish Television studios in Cowcaddens, Glasgow. I was chewing the fat with Lisbon Lion Jim Craig over a game of pool and in walked this callosal man. I was immediately in awe. Jim placed his cue on the table mid-shot and greeted his old pal with a firm hug and a huge smile. It was then that I knew that football sometimes goes beyond just the game on the park, these guys were brothers. Billy offered his hand and introduced himself – as if he needed to do that, a class act! We hit it off right from the start. Over the years I have always used my Grandpa’s name to break the ice with ex-players, journalists and managers. If you have regularly dipped into my blogs you will know my Grandpa, John Begg, was a well-known and hugely respected football journalist who was loved by all. As soon as Billy learned of my Grandpa, he, like Jim, took me under his wing.

During our first meeting I asked about his time at Aberdeen, much to Jim’s amusement. Billy had nothing but the highest regard for the club and his time there. Billy joined the Dons after Ally MacLeod left to take up the Scotland manager’s job in the summer of 1977. For his first game in charge Billy orchestrated a fine 3-1 win over Rangers at Pittodrie; the Dons started the season by only dropping one point in the first six games. Billy was off to a very solid start. In November of that year Billy signed a player who would go on to have a huge influence at the club, Gordon Strachan. Just a few months later he made another momentous signing with Stevie Archibald joining from Clyde. Significantly Billy left a lasting impression on the club in ways that may not be appreciated; he gave Alex McLeish his debut against Dundee United in January 1978, he signed a certain youngster by the name of Neil Simpson and not long after persuaded Willie Miller to sign a new contract with the club for just an extra five quid a week. Billy’s powers of persuasion plus legendary aura left Willie with not much of a decision to make, he gladly put pen-to-paper soon afterwards and went on to become our greatest ever captain and player.

In his one and only season in the gaffer’s office at Pittodrie Billy finished runners-up in the League and Scottish Cup Final. Aberdeen only lost five League games all season but came unstuck on the final day of the season; we lost the League by only two points. Just a week later, in the Cup Final, for whatever reason Aberdeen froze on the day despite coming into the game undefeated in twenty-three games since December. At the season end the lure of Celtic was too good to turn down for Billy. After Scotland’s calamitous showing in Argentina Ally MacLeod found his position untenable and in-stepped Jock Stein. Despite Chris Anderson and Chairman Dick Donald’s strenuous efforts to keep Billy in the Aberdeen hot-seat Billy’s spiritual home was calling. It’s great tribute to all that Billy agonized over his move back to Celtic Park. His void was soon filled by the great Sir Alex Ferguson who inherited a team and foundation that very much is credited to the great work done by Billy and his right-hand man, John Clark. His contribution will always be remembered by all at Pittodrie, he does after all have the highest winning percentage of any Aberdeen manager in the history of the club!

Billy wasn’t just a great football man but an incredibly nice, warm-hearted guy who had time for everybody. During a particularly difficult spell in the early days of Celtic TV Billy sensed I was down one afternoon after receiving an extremely unflattering letter from a Celtic fan who was critical of my presenting style. The fan basically said I was unwelcome due to the fact I was an Aberdeen fan. I showed Billy the letter and he told me to do one of two things – to either allow the words to eat away at me or to use the letter as a means of inspiration to show that particular person I was worthy of the position. He told me that being a fan of Aberdeen was completely irrelevant and that I should never allow my professionalism to waver. I took the second option and became a better person for it. Billy helped me, he guided me and he encouraged me throughout my three years with Setanta Sports. Whenever he stepped into our office, he greeted everybody, no matter their position, with the warmest of smiles. Eventually he would make his way over to our team and after concluding his greetings would walk behind my chair, place his hands on my shoulders, very much like my own father used to do whenever I sat in his office and say the words “alrightie sheepie’ and proceed to gleefully make fun of Aberdeen’s result that particular weekend. It was clear back then that Billy was struggling with his knees and his hip and always looked in pain but that never stopped his sense of fun. I always looked forward to seeing him!

When my father sadly died in June 2007 Billy was one of the first to call me to offer his condolences. He was a tremendous source of strength during that very dark period in my life. When I was presented with the opportunity to move to Singapore, he encouraged me to take the job as he knew it would open many new doors for me not just professionally but personally too – he was so right! I met my wife there after all and started my own family.

To conclude I am lucky and privileged to have known such an incredible man. Eventually this ‘Lion’ was tamed by the worst of diseases. Upon hearing of his struggles with dementia I was left heartbroken. My own mother suffers from this terrible disease so I fully appreciate the daily struggles that was faced by Billy and his adoring family. I have nothing but the utmost respect for his amazing wife Liz and Billy’s wonderful children. I will always remember and be grateful for his kindness and generosity. Our loss is very much heavens gain. RIP Cesar!