DUNFERMLINE Athletic great Tommy Callaghan was "one of these guys who lit up the dressing room" as well as being a "terrific player".

Roy Barry, who captained the club to Scottish Cup glory in 1968, has paid tribute to his former team-mate, who passed away at the age of 78 on Friday.

Tommy, who was born in Cowdenbeath, joined the Pars in 1962, under the management of Jock Stein, from Lochore Welfare, going on to play alongside his brother, Willie.

He spent six years at East End Park as a player, making 204 appearances, and played in 14 European ties for the club, in which he scored five goals.

Despite suffering a broken leg in 1966, which sidelined him for three months, Tommy returned to play a major role in Athletic's second Scottish Cup triumph.

Both he and Willie starred as the Pars defeated Heart of Midlothian 3-1 at Hampden, and Barry, the iconic skipper of the side, told the Press: "Tid was one of these guys who lit up the dressing room.

"There was always a bit of banter with him. I mean, he was a terrific player, very serious when he got on the park, but off the park, he was just one of these guys who was terrific company and always lit up the dressing room because of his humour and his good nature.

"That sums him up, really. He was just a lovely guy and he brought happiness to the dressing room. That's the real truth.

"He was always a person whose company you would enjoy being in, and I think that was so important, especially in a dressing room. You know, he lit the place up, even some times he would be really annoying sometimes if we were getting beat. He could be jolly sometimes, and I didn't like that bit!

"But that was the nature of the man, wasn't it? He went out there and played his football with a smile on his face, always, and that's the big thing I remember about him.

"He was just a happy, happy individual that got on with his job. And, apart from that, he was a terrific footballer.

"Everybody had a good word to say about Tid."

Barry, a centre back, said that Tommy's ability on the park was highlighted by the fact that Stein, who had gone on to manage Celtic after leaving Dunfermline, via Hibernian, famously made him the only player he signed twice.

"The other thing about Tid was that he always tried to play football," Barry recalled.

"He was never somebody to get the ball and hump it. He was the one that would take control of the ball and start the passing going.

"He had a nice touch and he was a good passer of the ball. His major contribution was that he was a terrific passing footballer and a good footballer. Seriously, that's the bottom line I can say about him - great personality, terrific footballer.

"Consequently, he left Dunfermline and that speaks for itself, doesn't it?

"That speaks volumes for him, that someone of Jock Stein's history, to come in and buy Tid, speaks for itself."

"From my point of view, my game's basic. Win it and give it. That was the two things how I played my game. When I won it, it was Tid that I'd look for, and I'd give it to Tid.

"Tid would tell me off at half-time that I wasn't giving him enough of the ball!

"To me, that sums it up. There's no more I can say about him."

The Pars, who held a minute's silence in Tommy's memory before Tuesday night's match with Livingston, said: "Everyone at Dunfermline Athletic was hugely saddened to learn of the passing of a true club great, Tommy Callaghan.

"Alongside his brother, Willie, the pair became regulars in the side. Tom`s influence on the side grew, particularly in European matches. He was a player who seemed suited to these games, as his record of five goals in fourteen European ties shows.

"Tommy was also famously part of the 1968 Scottish Cup winning side, immortalising himself among the greats of the club."

A-then record fee of £35,000 was paid by Celtic to Dunfermline for Tommy's services in November 1968, where he went on to win included six Scottish league titles, five Scottish Cups, and three League Cups.

He played 264 times for the Hoops, scoring 34 goals, before moving to Clydebank in 1976, and then ending his career with Galway Rovers.

Tommy continued to be regular visitor to Celtic Park, where he was a match day host, and the club's manager, Brendan Rodgers, said: "I think any player that’s been signed twice by Jock Stein tells you how good a player he was and it’s always sad. I bumped into Tommy only a few weeks back.

"A sad day but a real legend of the club and all our thoughts are with his family."

Celtic added: "His heart was always at Celtic Park and he was still a regular at every game as a matchday host with the club.

"The thoughts and prayers of everyone at Celtic Football Club are with Tommy’s friends and family at this sad time."