JOHN FALLON, known as the twelfth Lisbon Lion, has passed away at the age of 84.
The keeper was understudy to the legendary Ronnie Simpson all the way through the historic and victorious run to the Portuguese capital and the European Cup Final success over Inter Milan on May 25 1967.
Amazingly, Fallon’s medal to mark the occasion was lost following the presentation in the aftermath of the Hoops becoming the first British club to conquer Europe.
The special badge was missing for FIFTY-TWO years before the Celt was reunited with it in April 2019.
Chairman Peter Lawwell, who was then the club’s chief executive, was the man who tracked down the lost memento.
SWINGING ON A BAR…John Fallon celebrates Celtic’s 3-2 Scottish Cup Final victory over Dunfermline at Hampden in April 1965.
Fallon, who signed for the Hoops from Junior side Fauldhouse United in December 1959, was the back-up shotstopper on the glory run against Zurich (5-0 agg), Nantes (6-2), Vojvodina (2-1) and Dukla Prague (3-1).
He was on the bench again in Lisbon when goals from Tommy Gemmell and Stevie Chalmers brought the trophy to Parkhead on an unforgettable evening.
Afterwards at the presentation dinner, Fallon’s medal went AWOL, but has since been donated back to the club and returned to its rightful owner – after a delay of over five decades.
LISBON, HERE WE COME…John Fallon celebrates as Jock Stein shares the joy with backroom team Bob Rooney, Sean Fallon and Neilly Mochan after the goalless draw against Dukla Prague in April 1967 that earned Celtic a 3-1 aggregate win – and a place in the European Cup Final.
Back then, a delighted Fallon said: “It feels great to be reunited with my medal. I’ve got to thank Peter Lawwell and everyone at Celtic for going to all this effort and finding the medal that was lost.
“I did get a replica one at one point, but it didn’t seem the same.
“It was such a surprise, I got a phone call about a month ago from John Clark telling me that Peter wished to see me. He told me the story of how the medal had been found, so I was very proud to receive it and it adds to the collection.”
A statement from the club this evening read: “Everyone at Celtic Football Club is deeply saddened at the news that former Celtic goalkeeper and Lisbon Lion, John Fallon, has passed away at the age of 84.
“John joined Celtic in 1958 and went on to make almost 200 appearances for the club over a 14-year period.
“He was part of the Celtic side that clinched the 1965 Scottish Cup, Jock Stein’s first trophy win as manager, and he is well remembered for his acrobatic and joyous celebration that day as Billy McNeill’s late winner ended an eight-year trophy drought for the Celts.
I’M IN CHARGE…John Fallon grabs the ball safely to deny Rangers’ Alex Ferguson in Celtic’s 4-0 Scottish Cup Final win in 1969. John Clark looks on.
“Throughout his time with Celtic, John helped the club to six league titles, five League Cups, two Scottish Cups and the European Cup, which was won in the heat of Lisbon in 1967.
“John was Celtic’s only substitute on that famous May evening in Portugal, when he and his team-mates entered in to football folklore by reaching the pinnacle of European football.
“After leaving Celtic, John went on to play for Motherwell and Greenock Morton before retiring from the sport in the mid-1970s.
“His love for Celtic, however, was a constant throughout the years, and he followed the club at home and away for the rest of life.
“His passing comes as a great sadness to us all, and the thoughts and prayers of everyone connected with Celtic Football Club are with his family and friends at this sad time.”
