Billy Stark summed up in one phrase the passions of his close friend Tommy Burns - "family, faith and football, particularly Celtic".Former Celtic player, manager and coach Burns was laid to rest on Tuesday after he lost his battle against cancer at the age of 51.

Stark, who played with Burns at Parkhead before acting as his number two at Kilmarnock and Celtic, read an emotional eulogy at St Mary's Church in Calton, Glasgow, where Burns was brought up dreaming of playing for the Hoops.

"He made people feel important - all people," Stark said.

"The list of Tommy's qualities is endless - a dignified man of principle with a generosity of spirit that knew no boundaries.

"He considered himself a privileged and fortunate man in all areas of his life and showed great compassion for those less fortunate than himself.

"He had a marvellous sense of humour, a master of the one-liner."

Stark spoke more about Burns' faith - the daily visits to chapel that transformed him from a "driven" coach with a temper to a "serene" individual.

He spoke of Burns' few faults - his lack of DIY skills, which led him to saw off a bannister rather than unscrew it - and his lack of timekeeping skills, which got him into strife at home.

Stark said: "He once invited Jorge Cadete and his wife for Christmas dinner rather than have them sit alone in a foreign country.

"Trouble was, he didn't tell Rosemary (his wife) until one hour before."

Burns the footballer was "graceful and elegant" but Stark gave an insight into the attitude that made him one of Celtic's most popular figures.

"Back in the centenary year, Billy McNeill knew all about the traditions of Celtic and he made sure that players attended Celtic supporters' club functions the length and breadth of the country," the former Aberdeen player said.

"Picture the scene in the dressing room as we all sat there trying to avoid eye contact with each other as he looked for volunteers to go to some far-flung destination.

"Bluff, counter-bluff, it was all going on. It was going to a ballot but inevitably Tommy Burns would put his hand up and volunteer him and Rosemary to go."

Burns himself had always claimed he was a "fan who got lucky".

As the 20,000 fans who flocked to Celtic Park to pay their final respects would testify, they also felt fortunate that he was one of them.

More Football News from TEAMtalk