As Inter Milan walked onto the Estadio Nacional that Thursday evening in May 1967, they were strong favourites to win their third European Cup in four seasons. They had been denied in 1966 by eventual winners, Real Madrid, in controversial circumstances. Revenge would be extracted in the 1967 semi-final, where Inter beat Real home and away.
That team, immortalised as La Grande Inter, were top of the league and expected to win their fourth Italian title in five seasons, their only loss in that period coming after a play-off.
Real Madrid dominated the European Cup for its first five seasons, but they won only two domestic titles in that period. No team had been such a formidable force at La Grande Inter. Real of the 50s were Continental celebrities, Inter were dominant on a whole new level. Not only were they feared, they were disliked for their oppressive defensive style of play, known as catenaccio.
Across Europe, no one gave Celtic a chance, but thousands in Scotland knew better. Celtic fans knew theirs was a special team. The previous two years were remarkable. Celtic won only three titles in 40 years. They were a novelty team winning little more than novelty titles.
Jock Stein arrived from Hibernian and the world changed. The league was won, then retained for the first time in 50 years, as the club won their first treble. After a long period of desolation, it seemed anything was possible for Celtic. There were no limits.
Celtic didn’t just win the European Cup, they destroyed Inter, ripping apart their imperious reputation. Catenaccio, the belief that the most effective way to play the game was to defend, was dead. Instead, pure, beautiful, football, played by a team born entirely in the Glasgow urban area, saved the game as a spectator sport.
You and I know our founding story well, but there is another founding story. Modern Celtic, the confident football club, which wins trophies and builds structures for its future, was born on 25 May 1967. Without Jock and the Lisbon Lions, nothing that we currently know about Celtic would have happened.
They inspired you and me. They also inspired Brendan Rodgers, Neil Lennon and Martin O’Neill. Without them, Fergus McCann would not have imagined what the right management could achieve.
Brother Walfrid put food on the table of impoverished children, but the hundreds of thousands helped by the Celtic FC Foundation in recent decades are a direct product of the Lisbon Lions. They laid foundations for a modern football club which can fulfil its mission.
I was lucky enough to meet them all. Their humility is overwhelming. Unlike imposters who have followed them since, they have time for their generations of fans. They understand the importance of representing Celtic, even now.
It wasn’t all humility, though. On the field, they were hard. This was a team who took care of themselves and each other. They were (and are still) also funny, cheeky, guys. Devilment donned the hoops. Their success will be celebrated for as long as football is played.
Your life is better for them and it will remain better until the day you die. You are a child of the Lisbon Lions. Thank God for each of them.
Real Betis congratulates @celticfc for their amazing achievement!
Hail, Hail! #inVIncibles#GreenAndWhite pic.twitter.com/2RLg3bfk6a— Real Betis Balompié (@RealBetis_en) May 24, 2017
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Naps finished? I’m guessing so. If not, Alpha Delphini 4-05.
If yes, thanks Fleagle for your hard work and congrats to our winner. I’ve been away and not caught updates.
Mon the immortals…
Mont Kiara 3:50 York.
Fleagle.. once again thanks for all your hard work,
yer a star.
TNT 6.39am
I think today is the last day, Fleagle many thanks as others have said cheers for running this competition it’s a joy to pick a donkey every week, your hard work is much appreciated
Brendan might have had an invincible season but not picking one winner all season takes some doing as well…… Today as I hope the Griff notches a wee cup final hattrick my pick
4.55 Goodwood – He’s My Bhoy
Very best of luck to all today
Cheers GFTB
CQN Saturday Naps Competition
for those in the CQN Naps Competition, please post your final week selection here.
All the latest results are updated here :
http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/partick-thistle-0-5-celtic/comment-page-8/#comments
All the best, fleagle1888
–NZ Auckland CSC–
CQN Saturday Naps Competition : WEEK 41 Standings (May 13th)
Hmmm… not too many winners over the last fortnight, as a few of the CQN napsters look to be throwing in their hail mary selections in an effort to try and make up some late ground on our current runaway leader – Gweedore Celt
Week 40 – Dim Sam (John Constable) @5/1
Week 41 – fleagle1888 (Withernsea) @12/1
However, it’s not quite over yet… and some of the chasing pack will be searching out for that elusive 12/1 or 20/1+ winner next weekend to poke their noses in front on the line.
WEEK 41 – NAPS TABLE
+28.00 > Gweedore Celt (7)
+15.00 > Nye Bevans RS (10)
+6.68 > Bull67 (9)
+6.58 > WWW(GBWO) (15)
+0.50 > twists n turns (5)
-0.25 > Fin 15 (5)
-0.68 > fleagle1888 (8)
-2.00 > Cosy Corner Bhoy (8)
-3.50 > 16 roads (8)
-4.88 > BMCUWP (5)
-5.08 > Dim Sam (9)
-6.50 > TheBarcaMole (4)
-18.00 > Cathal (2)
-18.50 > green T (5)
-18.75 > Fastbhoy (4)
-19.00 > leftclicktic (6)
-20.38 > Onemalloy (4)
-23.00 > Rockon (4)
-24.50 > Som mes que un club (3)
-25.67 > 21-5-79 (2)
-26.25 > Zihuatanejo (3)
-26.50 > hashadenough (3)
-31.00 > voguepunter (1)
-31.50 > Graffitionthewall (2)
-32.25 > ohits (2)
-41.00 > Gerryfaethebrig (0)
Cheers… and good luck to everyone !
fleagle1888
Out Do in the 3.50 York.
Thanks again fleagle for all your hard work
Morning all ,my nap (?) a wee plea to the Bhoys….BE PERFECT 3.15 York.hh
Good luck all.
A very good day to all on this beautiful May morning.
Oh Hampden in the sun…let’s hope for a day of
Celebration!
Haydock. 4:05
Alpha Delphini
Thanks again Fleagle1888 for all your time and effort in running the CQN naps comp this and every year. It’s much appreciated by everyone on here!
I’m going for Private mission @Haydock 2.55 good luck and happy punting Bhoys!
Come on the Hoops!
Morning all
Washington D C 16.05 haydock
Good luck
Many thanks fleagle
Thanks once again,Fleagle. Great job,bud.
Kachy 405 Haydock
Fleagle …..n/r so I’ll go for Glaring 4:20 Goodwood.
Thanks for your efforts once again Fleagle, hopefully the hoops reward you with a treble.. my throw of the dice is Watchable in the 350 at York please. Hail Hail and c’mon the hoops
Best Trip in the 5:30 York for me
Good luck to all
Hail Hail.
I had already decided this morning/(or evening in NZ) to back Alpha Delphini (@16/1) and Watchable (@25/1), but in an attempt to overhaul Gweedore Celt, today’s nap is :
Lyrical Pursuit (16:25 York)
Happy punting everyone!
fleagle1888
Caspian Prince. 3 50. York.
Private Mission 2.55 York
Good luck to all
HH
Harry angel 3.30 hay.
Thanks again fleagle! !
Come on the celtic! !!
Mon. The tic…go go Griff..
Four to nil for me Griff and Armstrong to score…
Braw braw braw went the cald sheep!
Braw
Well done once again Fleagle for both seasonal Naps and not forgetting Cheltenham Naps too. Been a pleasure.
Copper Night
York 1550.
All the best. HH
19:15 @ Salisbury – Going Up – NAP!
Congratulations to Gweedore Celt – phenomenal.
Thanks a million to Fleagle the genuis legend.
God bless The Rebel Treble!
:)
Hail Hail the Celts are here.
CQN Saturday Naps Competition : WEEK 42 results (May 27th)
WINNERS:
Som mes que un club (Copper Knight) @5/1
green T (Harry Angel) @5/6
Losers :
16 roads (Going Up)
21-5-79 (No Selection)
BMCUWP (Kachy)
Bull67 (Watchable)
Cathal (No Selection)
Cosy Corner Bhoy (No Selection)
Dim Sam (Out Do)
Fastbhoy (Caspian Prince)
Fin 15 (Alpha Delphini)
fleagle1888 (Lyrical Pursuit)
Gerryfaethebrig (He’s my Bhoy)
Graffitionthewall (No Selection)
Gweedore Celt (Private Mission)
hashadenough (No Selection)
leftclicktic (No Selection)
Nye Bevans RS (Glaring)
ohits (No Selection)
Onemalloy (Private Mission)
Rockon (No Selection)
twists n turns (Alpha Delphini)
voguepunter (Be Perfect)
WWW(GBWO) (Washington DC)
Zihuatanejo (Best Trip)
Cheers, fleagle1888
CQN Saturday Naps Competition : FINAL standings (May 27th)
Lads,
there were no serious challenges in the final weekend of the competition, so our long time leader – Gweedore Celt wins the CQN Saturday Naps by a comfortable margin…
… a huge well done to him!
Commiserations to those who pushed him all the way to the end, especially those who remained profitable over the course of the season – Nye Bevans Rebel Soldier, Bull67, and WWW (GBWO).
For the remainder, our report cards will say – “MUST TRY HARDER”
Finally, a special mention to WWW (GBWO) who selected the most winners (15) during the 42 weeks of the competition and also to… ahem… our other notable achiever – Gerryfaethebrig – who may wish to purchase a Racing Post subscription for next year.
I hope you all enjoyed the craic…
Hail Hail, fleagle1888
2017 – FINAL NAPS TABLE
+27.00 > Gweedore Celt (7)
+14.00 > Nye Bevans RS (10)
+5.68 > Bull67 (9)
+5.58 > WWW(GBWO) (15)
-0.50 > twists n turns (5)
-1.25 > Fin 15 (5)
-1.68 > fleagle1888 (8)
-3.00 > Cosy Corner Bhoy (8)
-4.50 > 16 roads (8)
-5.88 > BMCUWP (5)
-6.08 > Dim Sam (9)
-17.67 > green T (6)
-19.00 > Cathal (2)
-19.50 > Som mes que un club (4)
-19.75 > Fastbhoy (4)
-20.00 > leftclicktic (6)
-21.38 > Onemalloy (4)
-24.00 > Rockon (4)
-26.67 > 21-5-79 (2)
-27.25 > Zihuatanejo (3)
-27.50 > hashadenough (3)
-32.00 > voguepunter (1)
-32.50 > Graffitionthewall (2)
-33.25 > ohits (2)
-42.00 > Gerryfaethebrig (0)