Celtic team who won the European Cup against Inter Milan in 1967. They are back row (left to right) Jim Craig, Tommy Gemmell, Billy McNeill, Ronnie Simpson, Bobby Murdoch and John Clark. Front row (left to right) Jimmy Johnstone, Willie Wallace, Stevie Chalmers, Bertie Auld and Bobby Lennox. Two of the players later had connections with Dumbarton FC, Bertie Auld, who was the manager at Boghead, and Willie Wallace.
Celtic’s European Cup victory recalled by goalkeeper Ronnie Simpson
In what promises to be a big weekend in European football, with England playing Spain in the final of the European Championship in Berlin, Celtic goalkeeper Ronnie Simpson recalled his club’s victory over Inter Milan in 1967.
Ronnie wrote: “I knew the team Celtic were putting together then was going to be a good one. Jock knew how to blend individuals. We had a great rapport, but I never once thought in terms of winning European trophies.
Bertie Auld was brought back and was a craftsman in his midfield role, Billy McNeill was a solid centre-half, Tommy Gemmell had great shooting ability, wee Jinky Johnstone was his brilliant individual self, Bobby Lennox would run all day for you, Bobby Murdoch was a great passer of the ball, and John Clark was a wonderful sweeper.
“We had a lot of talent throughout that side and a great defence, as well, that didn’t lose many goals. We had our differences on the park, but we always put it behind us when we got off the pitch. We all got on well together.
“When we got to the European Cup Final in 1967, it was just something that happened. The games we played in the run-up to the match with Inter Milan were just regular games for us. When we got to the Final, it was just another match.
“We were all over them and thoroughly deserved to win 2-1. The second picture shows the penalty they scored early on. Mazzola put the ball to my right and there was nothing I could do about it. But my team-mates came good in the end, as I knew they would.
“At one point, I got caught about 30 yards off my line when they played a ball through the middle. I back-heeled it and John Clark collected it. It all turned out fine, but if it had gone wrong I have no idea what would have happened.
“The only worry I had out there in the Lisbon final was the danger of sunstroke.”
Ronnie Simpson
Top of page picture: Celtic captain Billy McNeill with one of their oldest supporters, the late Frank Meehan, a Clydebank man who was a US diplomat who was born in New York, served in the US Army and became US ambassador in a number of European countries, including Poland and Germany, post the Second World War. Picture by Bill Heaney
Like this:
Like Loading...
