A football legend’s memory is uniting fans and families in a powerful show of support.
Celtic icon Jimmy Johnstone, affectionately known as “Jinky,” passed away in 2006 at the age of 61 after a five-year battle with motor neuron disease (MND).
Now, 20 years after his death, his legacy will be honoured through a special fundraising event, Jinky’s Journey, taking place on Monday, May 4.
The event, organised by MND Scotland and Celtic FC Foundation, will see supporters walk seven miles from the Jimmy Johnstone Memorial Garden in Viewpark to Celtic Park.
Ahead of the event, Jimmy’s son James Johnstone has spoken about his dad’s experience with MND and what the fundraiser means to him.
He said: "Jinky’s Journey is about more than football.
"It’s about bringing people together: Celtic fans, Rangers fans, people who don’t even follow football.
"MND doesn’t care who you support.
"It can affect every family, every background."
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Jimmy, born in Viewpark, signed for Celtic on November 8, 1961, at just 17 years old.
He made 515 appearances, scored 130 goals, and earned 23 caps for Scotland.
His achievements include nine league titles, four Scottish Cups, five League Cups, and the iconic 1967 European Cup win.
Now, a statue stands outside Celtic Park in his honour.
James Johnstone said: "My dad was always on the move. Even after retiring, he was always training.
"When I was young, he’d take me to places like Wooddean Park in Bothwell during pre-season.
"The Celtic players would sneak off the main pitch to have a kickabout with us kids.
"As a wee boy, standing on that pitch with professional players is something I’ll never forget.
"Dad loved those moments.
"He loved people.
"He loved making folk happy.
"People think of him as this superstar, but to me, he was just my dad.
"Funny, stubborn, always up for a laugh.
"He could turn any dull day into a story.
"I miss those wee things more than anything."
Jimmy, who was diagnosed with MND in 2001, first experienced pins and needles in his arms, a gradual loss of balance, and then increasing weakness that made daily tasks difficult.
James said: "He’d fall and couldn’t get back up.
"Then his speech started to go.
"Watching him lose the ability to speak, walk, or even drink without help was heartbreaking.
"He was just a shadow of himself, and that was hard to see.
"One minute, he was still doing light training, still trying to keep fit.
"Then suddenly, there were specialists involved, tests, and referrals.
"We didn’t know how serious it was until we were told the truth.
"And you’re sitting there thinking, how can someone so strong, so full of life, have something like this?
"It didn’t feel real.”
MND is a rapidly progressing terminal neurological illness, which stops signals from the brain reaching the muscles.
This causes muscle weakness and wasting and can rob someone of the ability to walk, talk, swallow and breathe.
The average life expectancy of someone with MND is just 18 months from diagnosis.
James said one of the hardest parts was watching his father lose his independence.
He said: "My dad hated being a burden.
"He hated asking for help.
"Even when he needed someone to hold a cup to his mouth, he’d apologise.
"That’s the thing people don’t see – the emotional part.
"He wasn’t just losing strength.
"He was losing independence, and that crushed him more than anything.
"He stopped going to events because he didn’t want people seeing him like that.
"He didn’t want people feeling sorry for him.”
He said the support from friends, the football community, and strangers meant a great deal to the family.
He said: "The community was unbelievable.
"When we needed a stairlift and equipment, everyone rallied together, from neighbours, pals, and people from the pub, people we didn’t even know.
"It showed us how much dad meant to people."
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Jinky’s Journey will raise money for both MND Scotland and Celtic FC Foundation.
Funds will go towards MND research and services, and will also support the Foundation’s Lions Lunch Breaks project for people with dementia and their carers.
James will take part in the walk alongside his mother, sister, son, and daughters.
He said: "Events like this remind us that he’s still here in a way - through the stories, the memories, the people who still love him.
"That’s what keeps us going.
"For us, seeing people walk in my dad’s name means everything.
"It gives hope to families going through what we went through."
The family has expressed heartfelt thanks to everyone supporting the event.
James said: "From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.
"This isn’t about Celtic or Rangers, it’s about motor neuron disease and remembering my dad.
"We’re so grateful for every single person supporting this."
To register for the event, visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/jinkys-journey tickets-1981310444876
Donations can be made via James’ JustGiving page at www.justgiving.com/page/james-johnstone-number-7
