55 years ago today was a momentous moment in Celtic’s history. On 1 May 1971, the Lisbon Lions completed their final collective Celtic appearance…
For the last time in a competitive match, the legendary Celtic XI that had won the European Cup four years earlier strode out onto the Parkhead turf. It was a day of nostalgia and celebration — a fitting festival for one of football’s most notable teams.
This is the story of Celtic’s farewell to the Lisbon Lions…
To fully appreciate the significance of that final match in May 1971, it’s important to understand what came before this. In the years leading up to 1965, Celtic were a shadow of the side they would become. The Bhoys had not won a major trophy since 1957, but that changed with the arrival of Jock Stein as manager.
Within weeks, Stein’s team had claimed the 1965 Scottish Cup. The following season, they won the title for the first time since 1954 and the League Cup. They also reached the semi-finals of the European Cup-Winners’ Cup.
The rise of the club was remarkable. But it was only the starter course; 1966-67 would be the main meal, a season revered above all in Celtic’s history.
Celtic’s first ever Treble was won by The Lisbon Lions
The Celts claimed their first ever Scottish Treble, securing the League title, Scottish Cup and also League Cup. For good measure, they also won the Glasgow Cup.
However, the season’s highlight involved a trip to Portugal. On 25 May 1967, the Bhoys lined up against Italian giants Inter Milan. The Nerazzurri had won two of out the previous three European Cups and were strong favourites to do so again.
Instead, they met a side unlike anything they had before faced. Celtic’s energy and skill on that sunny day in Lisbon meant there could only be one winner. Despite falling behind, it was the men in green-and-white who soon cheered.
A thunderous strike by Tommy Gemmell and a decisive goal from Stevie Chalmers meant that the Bhoys sat at the pinnacle of European football. They were the first British team to ever achieve this.
This was more than just a team; it was a group of local heroes. Every member of the starting XI was born within 30 miles of Celtic Park in Glasgow — a feat unheard of in the modern game. Their attacking style of play won them fans across Scotland, Ireland and beyond.
Thanks to their achievements, they became immortalised as the Lisbon Lions.
In the following years, domestic dominance continued; Celtic would eventually celebrate nine successive league titles. In addition, the club continued to make its mark in Europe, including reaching a second European Cup Final in 1970.
However, by the spring of 1971, the era of the Lisbon Lions was drawing to a close. The emergence of younger talent within the ranks, dubbed the ‘Quality Street Gang’, signalled a change. It was clear that the Lions XI would not play together for much longer.
Jock Stein recognised the importance of properly honouring the team’s contribution to Celtic’s history.
On 1 May 1971, Clyde came to Celtic Park for the final league game of the season. In their previous match, Celtic had beat Ayr United to effectively secure their sixth title in a row, although they were not officially yet champions.
Stein and Celtic marketed the game as the Lisbon Lions’ final appearance together at Celtic Park. This announcement led to a massively increased crowd in a Celtic Park that was undergoing major redevelopment work to build the main stand.
Jock Stein watched his legendary XI line up together for the last time
On that spring afternoon, around 35,000 supporters packed into the east end ground. For the last time, Stein watched his legendary XI line up together:
Ronnie Simpson, Jim Craig, Tommy Gemmell, Bobby Murdoch, Billy McNeill, John Clark, Jimmy Johnstone, Willie Wallace, Stevie Chalmers, Bertie Auld, and Bobby Lennox.
The Lions XI walked out onto the pitch – applauded by their opponents, Clyde – and took the acclaim of the supporters, who sang songs which celebrated Celtic and the men who achieved European glory in 1967.
Ronnie Simpson’s place in goal was taken by Evan Williams
Although the Lions stepped onto the park together, only ten of them played. Ronnie Simpson’s place in goal was taken by Evan Williams, the one other goalkeeper who has appeared for Celtic in the European Cup Final.
From the opening whistle, the Hoops displayed the flair and attacking verve that had defined the Lions’ era. It was a final gift to the supporters who had followed them through triumph and challenge.
Within two minutes, Stevie Chalmers came close to opening the scoring but was thwarted by a good save. The Celts would not be denied for long. After 11 minutes, Bobby Lennox got his first of the afternoon, and the cheers had been barely stopped when Willie Wallace had made it two.
By 19 minutes, it was game over; Lennox’s second of the day made it 3-0. Things would get much worse for the visitors. By half-time, Wallace’s own double meant it was 4-0. In the second half, Clyde showed some fighting spirit by pulling one back.
However, the Celts were not finished. Just after the hour mark, Bobby Lennox completed his hat-trick and made it 5-1. There was still time for one more goal, and it was very fitting given the day’s events.
Celtic 6, Clyde 1 — a resounding win befitting the occasion
In Lisbon, Stevie Chalmers’ goal had given the Celts the famous big trophy. Now he scored the final goal of the game to seal victory for the men in green-and-white. The scoreline tells the story: Celtic 6, Clyde 1 — a resounding win befitting the occasion.
The scale of this gave the fans something to cherish. There were celebratory cheers but also some sadness as supporters saw their heroes together for the final time.
And, of course, victory ensured that Celtic were indeed the league champions, which was a fitting ending for the Lions XI. Even better, a few days later – but with a different line-up and after a replay – Celtic celebrated a double by beating Rangers to lift the Scottish Cup.
For several of the Lions, the Clyde match was their farewell match at Celtic. Ronnie Simpson did not even play due to injury whilst Bertie Auld and Stevie Chalmers took their curtain call in green-and-white. John Clark would appear once more in the Glasgow Cup but never again in a national tournament.
The Celtic XI that won in Lisbon started only 11 games together
Perhaps surprisingly, the Celtic XI that won in Lisbon started only 11 games together, all of which came in 1967. The first time was in January, a 4-0 victory in Perth against St Johnstone. The last was a 2-1 defeat to Dynamo Kiev in September that year.
The last competitive game that Lisbon Lions played came in February 1968 in 1-0 win at Fir Park. On that occasion, ten of the team started, excluding Stevie Chalmers. Later in the match, Chalmers came on a substitute for John Hughes. For the last time, the Lions finished a game together.
Whilst May 1971 marked the end of the Lisbon Lions’ time at Celtic, it was more a case of ‘Au revoir’ than ‘Goodbye’. Over the years, this famous team would be reunited at Celtic Park for club events and sometimes even friendlies too. This includes a 1993 game between the Lions and Manchester United’s 1968 European Cup-winning team which was held to mark the end of terracing on the Jungle.
Many of the Lions kept significant links with Celtic beyond their playing days
And of course, many of the Lions kept significant links with Celtic beyond their playing days. Billy McNeill was a two-time manager who brought moments of glory including a centenary double. John Clark was his deputy manager during the first spell and had another other Celtic jobs too.
Other Lions found employment at the club in the coaching side of things, including Bobby Lennox. Others in later time have become club ambassadors, including Jim Craig.
The legacy of the Lisbon Lions extends far beyond one single match. The European Cup win in Lisbon remains Celtic’s greatest achievement, and it stands as a milestone in British football history.
They are commemorated in statues that welcome fans to Celtic Park. Bronze figures celebrate captain Billy McNeill, manager Jock Stein, and Jimmy Johnstone, voted the club’s greatest player.
This is also true for the stadium too. Although the modern venue looks very different from the one where the Lions entertained, the stands behind each goal are named after Jock Stein and the collective Lisbon Lions, including those men that helped Celtic reach the final but did not feature that day.
A remarkable era that changed the club and football forever
For as long as there is a Celtic, the XI men who led the club to glory in Lisbon will always be celebrated. The final walk-out on 1 May 1971 is an important moment in Celtic’s history — a testament to a remarkable era that changed the club and football forever.
Matthew Marr
Follow Matthew on x @hailhailhistory
