LISBON LION’S FLAG DAY

The ceremony will mark the club’s four-in-a-row triumph last season and takes place before the 12.45pm kick-off against Ross County.

And the Hoops legend, who first signed for the club in 1958, will receive a rapturous reception from the Celtic supporters.

Clark, an extraordinary defender who formed a remarkable partnership with Billy McNeill, played for the team for 13 years, making a total of 318 appearances and scoring three goals.

As well as winning every domestic honour several times over, he was part of the legendary Celtic side which lifted the European Cup on May 25, 1967.

Clark and McNeill teamed up again on the management side at the club in 1978. By then, John had already been working for the club as a coach before a brief spell alongside Caesar at Aberdeen and he later returned to the club as kit controller.

He remains at the club to this day, having worked with the club in every decade since the 1950s and he is not only a reminder to each generation of the incredible heights the club achieved both in Scotland and in Europe, but as an example of the standards required to be a Celtic player.

It is a fitting and well-deserved honour for John to unfurl the league flag at Celtic Park on Saturday.

Chairman Bankier said: “There can be very few men more deserving of this magnificent honour. John is someone who has served the club with absolute distinction over so many years and in so many roles.

“John was a formidable player and, of course, was an integral part of the club’s greatest-ever team, reaching such heights in Lisbon in 1967. Since those great days he has been an important part of the club over so many decades.

“I’m sure John and his family will enjoy this day and I’m sure all our supporters will join me in warmly welcoming John on to the pitch and congratulating him once again on such wonderful service to our great club.

“It is great times such as Saturday which I know we all cherish as Celtic supporters and raising the Premiership Flag for the fourth consecutive time at Celtic Park is something I know we will all enjoy.

“I congratulate Ronny, his backroom team and all our players for all their efforts last season and hope we can look forward to many more days of success and celebration in the years ahead.”

Clark added: “I am very humbled and surprised to be asked to perform this honour, but it is something I am really looking forward to.

“Ronny and the team have done a brilliant job in making it four-in-a-row for the club and I hope we can go on to make it many more.

“Celtic has been everything to me and my family over so many years and this will be a tremendous honour to be part of this ceremony.

 “Over the years, I have been privileged to have been part of so many great Celtic occasions and I am sure Saturday will be another one of these great days.”