Oddly, it felt like a matchday at Celtic Park on Friday afternoon as you approached the ground, with a sea of green and white moving down from the Gallowgate.
More than a week on from the death of Billy McNeill, the mood amongst the thousands who surrounded the stadium was reflective.
There were tears, there was sadness, but most of all, people had turned out in their droves to remember the great man they have now lost.
People travelled from far and wide to be with their fellow Celtic fans for the occasion - England, Ireland, even Australia was not too far. Others had come from closer to Celtic Park, just like the Lisbon Lions before them.
Some were even worried of being spotted by their bosses or co-workers, having taken an unauthorised day off, or a very long lunch break. "My boss wouldn’t be happy if he knew I was here, but I had to pay my respects,” one said.
Approaching 80, Tommy Gegley, stood alone in the throng of mourners, his head bowed and eyes front. He still vividly remembers that day in 1967, saying it meant everything to him. “There have been plenty of tears today,” he added. “He was Celtic, wasn’t he? A lovely man, great footballer - what more can you say?"
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You could hear the funeral cortege's approach before you could see it. Rapturous applause moved through the crowd like a Mexican wave as Hoops welcomed their captain home for the final time. The hearse led the way as rows of cars pulled up alongside the famous statue of McNeill with the European Cup aloft before the crowd went silent.
Billy's family members moved forward to pay their respects while a single shout of "we love you" rang out, putting into the words the complete admiration felt by everyone else in attendance.
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As the funeral cars left, songs rung out around the ground, with Billy's family rolling down the windows, emotionally waving and thanking the many faces in the crowd who shared their love and grief.
After the cars had left and fans started to disperse, long-lost friends and relatives embraced before going back to their daily lives, just like any family funeral. For the Celtic family, this may be their greatest loss of all.
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