Charlie Nicholas was reduced to tears as he recalled a memory he has of Billy McNeill .
Nicholas was a trainee striker at Celtic when McNeill approached him in the late 70s and urged the then teenager to sign a professional contract.
But it was the fact McNeill took time to phone his mother that will never be forgotten by Nicholas.
The former goalscorer had to momentarily stop the interview as he struggled with the emotion.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Nicholas said: "We had this lovely relationship where we understood each other.
"There was one lovely moment in my life when he took time to phone my mum. Excuse me (Nicholas takes a moment to compose himself).
"I was working as a car mechanic and Billy said, 'I’m going to phone your mum because I want you to turn professional'.
"And my mum hated the prospect of that but Billy phoned her. 'Don’t worry,' he said, 'It will be fine, you’ll play for the first team and you’ll make a career'.
"It’s just that time that he took. It still sits in there.
"I don’t mind crying for Billy because it sums up what he was."
