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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
Sport
Adam Miller

How Celtic legend Billy McNeill fought his way to the dressing room after Lisbon triumph

Fans and players have been paying tribute to Celtic legends on the 53rd anniversary of their European Cup triumph.

On this day in 1967, Billy McNeill became the first British footballer to put his hands on the European Cup. Jock Stein's Celtic side had beaten Inter Milan 2-1, and would forever be known as the Lisbon Lions.

To mark the occasion, former Celtic Park star Chris Sutton shared a photo with a t-shirt bearing the message 'Cesar - where you went others followed'.

His former team-mate John Hartson shared an image of himself wearing the same t-shirt.

Speaking in the Daily Record following the match, McNeill relived the pitch invasion that greeted his side's victory. He said: "It was the most frightening thing I've known. I realised at the end of the game that I could not go to receive the cup because of the field invasion.

"But they came to the dressing room for me. It was terrible trying to fight our way through the crowds to the other side of the stadium.

(Daily Record)

"Luckily they realised that I could not go back the same way. A police car was laid on to take me round the outside of the stadium to the dressing rooms...Just me and the cup."

Describing McNeill as "Celtic's magnificent European Cup skipper", the Record's Ken Gallacher wrote: "The gauntlet of glory is not smooth to run for Celtic skipper Billy McNeill.

"Exhausted, stripped of his green and white jersey, battered by the wildly enthusiastic fans...but he is still smiling.

"Tears of joy are there. No wonder. For it's a moment of magic. McNeill knows it...Europe knows it...the world knows it . Celtic are kings of Europe. And one man - and his fans - capture a moment which will live forever in Scottish history."

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