An ode to Celtic's European triumph by the Lisbon Lions

Now I have been a football fan.
For 20 years and more.
With Pelé, Cruyff and Beckenbauer.
I thought I knew the score.
But back in 1967.
Eleven boys from out of town.
Representing Glasgow Celtic.
Turned the football world upside down.

It happened out in Lisbon.
On a hot and sunny day.
The European Cup Final.
The 25th of May.
The Italians had seen it all before.
They were relaxed and calm.
The humble champions of Scotland.
Against the mighty Inter Milan.

Inter’s stripes were blue and black.
The Celts Hoops were green and white.
They were just from Scotland.
So they’re bound to be pure shite.
When running out the tunnel.
Bertie starts the Celtic song.
Mazzola glances at McNeill.
‘Hey Billy, is-a-something wrong’?

The game had barely started.
And the Celts were doing fine.
When Jim Craig raced in for the ball.
And tripped the number nine.
The ref blows for a penalty.
Mazzola scored with ease.
The Celts do their best to lift the team.
And so do the Portuguese.

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A lesser team than Celtic.
Might have crumbled out of fear.
They were from the wrong side.
Of footballs Western Hemisphere.
But Celtic were determined.
To give the world a show.
By playing attacking football.
They’d smash the ‘catenaccio’.

The half-time whistle came & went.
The Celts still trailed one-nil.
To lose to a dodgy penalty.
Was indeed a bitter pill.
Then up popped Tommy Gemmell.
Some 20 yards from goal.
And he hit an ‘effin’ screamer.
Check the nets for a bigger hole.

The Estadio Nacional went crazy.
The Celtic fans leapt to their feet.
Inter players shoulders slumped.
They knew that they were beat.
The Celts has gained the upper hand.
And something had to go.
The catwalk kings had blown it.
Capisce Helenio

The score was tied at 1-1.
With five minutes left to play.
When up stepped Stevie Chalmers.
A side-footer! A goal! Easy!
2-1 to the Celtic.
No way back for Inter now.
They’d played the Italians off the park.
It was time to take a bow.

Then the final whistle went.
Amidst tears of glee and joy.
The fans screamed for the Celtic.
The team they call - ‘The Bhoys’.
Back home they danced in front of TV sets.
And raised a toast to the boys in white and green.
Who’d won a famous victory.
Masterminded by the big man.
The one they call Jock Stein.

The Celts had won the trophy.
At the very first time of trying.
The first British club to do so.
Hail, Hail, The Lisbon Lions.
There was Simpson, Craig and Gemmell.
Clark, McNeill, Murdoch and Auld.
Chalmers, Wallace, Johnstone, Lennox.
The team that broke the mould.

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So stuff Europe’s sophisticates.
And Herrera’s mighty Inter Milan crew.
A group of boys who’d spun round clothes poles.
Had done a number on you.
It’s not a question of ability.
Rather on the day which team hits form.
The watching world will never forget.
The day Glasgow Celtic took the football world by storm.

Now every 25th May anniversary.
The Celtic fans walk tall.
They remember the team who won the cup with the big ears.
Playing “pure, beautiful inventive football.”