JUST look at the big lad second from the right. You just know he has had a good time, and has seen no sleep in the last 24 hours.
These are Celtic fans returning from Lisbon in May, 1967, the day after Celtic became the first British team to win the European Cup. The Herald’s match report of the final, which the Lisbon Lions won 2-1, concluded the final score was a “travesty of the facts” and Celtic should have won by five or six goals. “Celtic’s performance is beyond praise” it stated.
So these fans at Abbotsinch Airport are trying to look cheerful, although they must have been exhausted.
The Herald’s story on the returning fans quoted one of them, a Tommy Burns from Renfrew, who explained that he had flown from Prestwick Airport, where he had left his car, but due to confusion at Lisbon Airport, he flew back to Abbotsinch. Nonplussed he merely stated: “I’ll collect my car sometime. All I’m worried about is getting some shut-eye.”
Interestingly, The Herald also sent an observer to the pubs of the east end where Celtic fans watched the game on the TV. The writer said he could see that those buying drink to celebrate the win had a hint of sadness in their eyes as they wished they had used the money in their pockets to have gone to Lisbon instead.
Oh and I love the big rattle the lad on the left has. How did he not lose that? Must have been murder sitting next to him on the plane though.
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