[Official TC Thread] 25th may 1967

IN just three weeks time, the 50th anniversary celebrations of Celtic’s European Cup triumph will kick off in earnest as we enter the week of the Lisbon final and the countdown to May 25.

And in the run-up that special anniversary, the official Celtic website is highlighting the 11 men who defeated Inter Milan 2-1 on that sunny afternoon in the Portuguese capital to become the Kings of Europe.

This week we feature the player who wore the No.3 shorts on that momentous day, the man who scored the equaliser in Lisbon, the legendary Tommy Gemmell, who sadly passed away in March this year.

PRELUDE TO PARADISE
Before settling as a right-back, Tommy Gemmell originally played on the right wing when he was at school. He then moved to the back where he tried out on the left side of defence at his * club, Meadow Thistle – mainly because they were short in players for that position. It was late October 1961 when 17-year-old Gemmell eventually signed for Celtic, and he did so from Junior club, Coltness United. His arrival was also marked that day by the signing of Jimmy Johnstone.

FIRST START
A lot of hard work finally paid off two years later when Gemmell was eventually handed the chance to make his debut in the green and white Hoops. It came on January 5, 1963 in a league match against Aberdeen at Pittodrie. The trip north was a successful one at that, as Celtic wrapped up a 5-1 win against the Dons thanks to a John Hughes hat-trick and a Bobby Craig brace. In fact, the tie was already over by half-time, as the Hoops went into the break enjoying a comfortable 4-0 lead.

HIGHS
The most obvious highlight from Gemmell's career goes without debate. The 1967 European Cup win was special to every Celtic supporter, but for Gemmell it was even more than a club achievement, it was a personal honour as well. He scored the equalising strike on 62 minutes, which brought Celtic back into the match. Stevie Chalmers then added a second five minutes from the end, and the rest they say, is history. It wasn’t the only high of this legend's Celtic career either, as he went on to lift six titles and six domestic cups during his time in Paradise. He was also one of only two British players to score in two European finals, having also netted against Feyenoord in the 1970 final. Gemmell was known for having a powerful drive so he was the prime penalty taker for a period, in fact, 31 of his 64 goals came from the spot. And not only could he strike his own sweet long-range shots, he was also a master in starting attacks from defence, something Jock Stein really pushed him on to do. In addition to this, Gemmell was also the first Celtic player to score in the European Cup – hitting home against FC Zurich in September 1966.



LAST START
Tommy Gemmell's last run out came on November 3, 1971 when the Hoops beat Sliema Wanderers 2-1 in the second round of the European Cup. They had previously knocked BK 1903 Copenhagen out, and breezed their way past the Maltese side 5-0 in the first leg. Harry Hood had netted a double to hand them a comfortable lead going into the second leg. Jim Brogan and Lou Macari struck as well, but most fittingly, Gemmell had opened the scoring that evening after just four minutes. His last run out came in the away leg where the Hoops won a little less comfortably, but nonetheless progressed with a 7-1 aggregate score. Celtic went on to face Uijpest Dosza and Inter Milan without Gemmell.

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?
Tommy left Celtic two months after the Sliema Wanderers win and joined Nottingham Forrest where he would spend the next two years of his career. It was there he played with future Celtic manager, Martin O'Neill, and coach, John Robertson. After a short and unsuccessful spell at Miami Toros, he then joined Dundee for three years, and ironically captained them to League Cup glory, beating Celtic 1-0 in the 1973 final. He hung his boots up in 1977 and went straight into management at Dundee, staying there for three seasons. It was there he signed Jimmy Johnstone. He would then go on and manage Albion Rovers for two individual seasons, six years apart.

AND ANOTHER THING...
Tommy Gemmell has 18 caps in his collection and one goal to his name, after representing Scotland between the years of 1966-1971. His debut came against England when they suffered a 4-3 defeat to the Auld Enemy. Probably his most memorable moment in a Scotland jersey, though, was when was sent off against West Germany in October 1969. He chased Helmut Haller up the pitch in reaction to a bad tackle and showed him how unhappy he was with the challenge. Gemmell was then dropped from Celtic's League Cup final three days after, and admitted in a later interview it was the reason he asked for a transfer – although it would be two years before he eventually left.

 

I am off to Portugal (Albufeira) next week so hope to get to the Estádio Nacional on the 25th

 

AS part of the series of special events taking place to mark the 50th anniversary of Celtic’s European Cup triumph in Lisbon back in 1967, a Mass will be celebrated by the Archbishop of Glasgow at 11am on Saturday, May 20 in St Mary’s Church, Calton – the parish out of which Celtic were founded back in 1887.

This initiative was proposed by the Church, and Archbishop Philip Tartaglia will be the principal celebrant, assisted by Father Tom White, parish priest at St Mary’s.

The Mass will not only mark the Lisbon Lions’ footballing achievement but also reinforce Celtic’s values as a club open to all, which have been an integral part of the club’s character since its inception. The Reverend Ian Miller will represent the Moderator of the Church of Scotland and representatives from other faiths will also be in attendance.

Some of the Lions will be at the Mass, along with other invited guests, and supporters are invited to attend what will be another special Celtic occasion.

 

Celtic in the European Cup winning season played against the 6 times European cup winners Real Madrid in Alfredo Di Stefano's testimonial

 

IN just two weeks time, the 50th anniversary celebrations of Celtic’s European Cup triumph will kick off in earnest as we enter the week of the Lisbon final and the countdown to May 25.

And in the run-up that special anniversary, the official Celtic website is highlighting the 11 men who defeated Inter Milan 2-1 on that sunny afternoon in the Portuguese capital to become the Kings of Europe.

This week we feature the man who teed up Tommy Gemmell for Celtic’s equaliser, Jim Craig.

What are your memories of standing in the tunnel and what are your recollections of that famous story of Bertie singing The Celtic Song?

I think we all got a boost from coming up the steps from darkness down below into the sunshine to see this mass of green and white. I’ve never walked on a stage but I can imagine that is what it feels like. But the story about Bertie is very true. I think he recognised a bit of nerves among one or two and he’s quite an astute fella so I think he knew something needed to be done to break the nerves at that point. We all joined in and it did something to us. We actually approached from different steps and I remember standing in the tunnel and thinking how tall they looked when in actual fact it was the stripes making them look taller whereas the Hoops make you look smaller. In fact throughout my years as a Celtic player and the years that followed, supporters used to often speak to me and say that they never realised I was this tall. So I can only put it down to the Hoops.

Can you describe that feeling when you heard the final whistle?

By the time we got to walk up the steps of the stadium, we could not believe the number of Celtic supporters there. We had no idea that so many had made it because we’d only been from Estoril to the national stadium which were both just on the outskirts of Lisbon, we hadn’t been to Lisbon itself so we had no idea of the numbers who turned up there. Just to see the masses of green and white was amazing. So when we won, you can imagine the reaction. We knew the support was there and thereafter it was up to us. We were back in the dressing room and I don’t think Billy wanted to go up and get the cup. The crowds were everywhere and we were all inside the dressing room and Billy had to go out. In fact they got a car to take him around the other side of the stadium to allow him to get up and get the cup. It was only after the game when we went for a meal and we were sitting there for a good hour until an official from UEFA turned up and placed what looked like a shoe box in front of Jock and inside were the medals, and they were then passed around the players.

What do you think is the football legacy of the Lions?

What delighted me was not only that we won, which was a big deal for me because I’d given away the penalty, but that we won it playing attacking football. But just at that moment for us when we’d won, it was simply wonderful for all of us. We reacted in the way anyone would and then the fans came on and celebrated with us. The only unfortunate thing was that we were deprived of doing a lap of honour. Many a football authority has said since that we won it with such style and I think that is really important. I think if the Italians had won it, it would have been another triumph for a defensive-minded team and this time a team had chosen to challenge that system and had shown how football could be played. What followed was Manchester United, Ajax, Bayern Munich who were all attack-minded teams so maybe that day sparked off a change in football. What else can you say that has not been said before? It was an amazing day in my life, reaching the European Cup final, one of the biggest occasions in football. To put on the performance as we did over there and win it was absolutely amazing. I don’t need to repeat what I have said before. It was an incredible day and everything went well. And when I came back the following day, I met my future wife, Elizabeth for the first time – so it was a good couple of days! There was just the euphoria of having done it and the context it was put in came later on. We had surprised the whole of Europe as everyone felt Inter would be too strong for this wee team from Scotland but we showed them and world football that you can win and play attractive, attacking football at the same time, as Inter had won it previously using the defensive ‘Catenaccio’ system.


http://www.celticfc.net/news/12588

 

Trophy ready for tonights lisbon night.

 

Class mate worth every penny

 

Belter.

 

All the lions been invited, Brendan and Neil Lennon also got tickets, doubt any them will turn up to be fair.


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Decent night so far and i just won the raffle




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Great picture have to say I'm a tad jealous right now.

 

Got a cracking video but do not no how to upload it


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Click the Upload file next to Post reply that should work.

 

Only lets me upload pictures.


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Should let you upload videos.


ah well never mind get the pictures added.

 

Posted here but Wimbledon CSC showing the game on the 25th. Full match..

I imagine loads of Csc's will be doing similar or around the weekend of the Scottish cup even..

 

I guess that answers the question of whether Catholicism still features as part of the club. It doesn't define us but it's certainly an important part of our history.