Football Poets

40 Years Ago In Lisbon

¶ 1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 It is the day of days
that our fathers remember fondly,
When a team from dear old Glasgow
challenged Inter Milan of Italy,
And for the fans who witnessed
that miraculous, historic night,
Saw history being made
by the Bhoys in green and white.

¶ 2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 Jock Stein’s Celtic men
left Glasgow’s old east end
And traveled to the Azores,
to the city of Lisbon,
Were the Portuguese locals
took to the young Scots,
As their local team also sported
the blessed, green and white hoops.

¶ 3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 On the feast of Corpus Christi,
the Celtic fans traveled by car, sea and air,
With their rent money spent
on the traveling fare,
And when they were greeted
by the warmth of the Lisbon sun,
They knew that the European Cup
was there to be won.

¶ 4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 On the day of the match,
nerves were frantic and buzzing,
As Jock Stein’s men listened
to his fatherly instructions.
Then when Billy McNeill
led the players out for the game,
Songs of the Glasgow Celtic
echoed out from the Estoril End

¶ 5 Leave a comment on verse 5 0 Nerves were increased as Inter Milan
came out and went on the attack,
As they were awarded a very tame penalty
in the 7th minute of the first half.
But the Celts, they played with pride;
their heads never went down,
As they fought to win and secure,
Europe’s footballing crown.

¶ 6 Leave a comment on verse 6 0 When Tschescher blew his whistle
to end the first half,
Milan thought they could add to
the goal scored by Sandro Mazzola.
Thinking the second half would provide them
with no pressure or no danger,
The Nerazzurri had not yet been introduced to
Tommy Gemmell and Stevie Chalmers.

¶ 7 Leave a comment on verse 7 0 At the resume of the second half,
Inter Milan played deep and retreated
To their own 18 yard box
where Sarti could be defended.
Then raced Celtic’s Jim Craig,
overlapping down the right wing,
Who rolled the ball to Tommy Gemmell,
how Lisbon heard all the angels in heaven sing.

¶ 8 Leave a comment on verse 8 0 The roar of the traveling Celtic supporters
soared through the Lisbon air
As God and the Saints had answered
their novenas and their prayers.
With five minutes remaining,
and with the guidance of Brother Walfrid’s spirit,
Stevie Chalmers scored the winner
that brought victory for the Celtic.

¶ 9 Leave a comment on verse 9 0 The fans sang of victory,
while other wept and cried,
As Billy McNeill held the European cup,
high up to the sky
For those who remained in Glasgow,
they wore their green, white and gold
As children ran through the streets,
singing Celtic’s name out loud

¶ 10 Leave a comment on verse 10 0 It is the day, May 25th,
that our fathers will never forget
As they reminisce when the European cup
was paraded around Parkhead
We were raised on the Jock Stein’s Celtic,
were the story of Lisbon will never grow old,
When Celtic were crowned European Cup champions,
Forty years ago.

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