FIFTY years ago, Celtic fans came together to celebrate the careers of two club legends. It ended up being an even more poignant and significant moment than had been planned…
Jimmy Johnstone, Billy Connolly and Kenny Dalglish
Jimmy Johnstone, Billy Connolly and Kenny Dalglish enjoying a joke. Photo The Celtic Wiki
On 17 May 1976, Manchester United travelled north to Glasgow. They did so as Celtic’s opponents in a testimonial game being held for Jimmy Johnstone and Bobby Lennox.
To say the least, Johnstone and Lennox are revered as two of the most important names in Celtic’s history.
Jimmy Johnstone in Lisbon
Jimmy Johnstone (Celtic Glasgow) European Cup Final 1967, 25.05.1967. Photo: imago/Kicker
Metelmann
Jimmy Johnstone spent 13 years in the Hoops and became one of the club’s most influential players. As a member of the Lisbon Lions, he scored 130 goals in 515 appearances and contributed to the team’s record of nine consecutive league titles.
Born in Viewpark in 1944, Johnstone joined Celtic in November 1961, shortly after turning 17. He made his senior debut on 27 March 1963 in a 6–0 defeat to Kilmarnock but quickly responded by scoring his first goal a month later against Hearts.
His progress earned him a place in the 1963 Scottish Cup Final, where he impressed in a 1–1 draw with Rangers, although Celtic went on to lose the replay.
Jimmy Johnstone
Jimmy Johnstone Glasgow Celtic. 17 May 1967. Photo: TopFoto
Johnstone’s career advanced significantly after Jock Stein became manager in March 1965. Under Stein’s leadership, he became central to Celtic’s domestic and European success.
In Celtic’s Lisbon season, Johnstone was at the top of his game. He scored twice at Ibrox in Celtic’s league-winning game. And in Europe he was just as important, particularly in matches against Nantes and in the semi-final against Dukla Prague, where he got the opening goal.
Jimmy Johnstone (Celtic)
Jimmy Johnstone (Celtic). 01.09.1967 Photo imago/Kicker/
Metelmann
Arguably his most famed European performance came in 1968. Red Star Belgrade came to Celtic Park and were destroyed 5-1 by the Celts. Johnstone was the star man – and he had an obvious motivation for this. He was afraid of flying and Stein promised him he did not have to go to the away leg if the game was over after the Glasgow leg!
Domestically, Johnstone remained a key contributor throughout Celtic’s nine consecutive league championships from 1966 to 1974. His total of 130 goals in all competitions placed him among the club’s leading scorers.
Before Henrik Larsson, Johnstone held the record for the most European goals scored by a Celtic player. His final league goals came in December 1974, when he scored twice in a 6–0 victory over Dundee.
Jimmy Johnstone (Celtic)
Jimmy Johnstone (Celtic). 01.09.1967. Photo: imago/Kicker
Metelmann
Johnstone left Celtic in 1975 and later played in the United States as well as for several English and Scottish clubs. However, Celtic remained the team with which he was most closely associated and celebrated.
In 2002, Celtic fans voted him the club’s greatest-ever player and a statue outside Celtic Park commemorates him at his jinking best.
Bobby Lennox (Celtic)
Bobby Lennox (Celtic); 01.09.1967. Photo: imago/Kicker Metelmann
Bobby Lennox was also a key figure for Celtic and one of the club’s longest-serving players, representing the team in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.
Born in Saltcoats on 30 August 1943, Lennox joined Celtic in September 1961 and made his first-team debut in March 1962. He performed well but, like Johnstone, it was after Jock Stein’s arrival that his time in green-and-white truly blossomed.
Celtic winger Bobby Lennox
Celtic winger Bobby Lennox in action during a friendly match against Tottenham Hotspur at Hampden Park on August 5, 1967. Photo by Don Morley Allsport Getty Images
Playing mainly on the left wing, Lennox was recognised for his speed, direct approach, and precise finishing. His pace earned him the nickname “Buzz Bomb.” Across his Celtic career, he scored 277 goals in 586 matches, ranking as the club’s second-highest goalscorer.
Lennox’s greatest moment came as part of victory in Lisbon in 1967. He also played in Milan in 1970 when Celtic lost. This makes him – and also Jimmy Johnstone – part of the seven Celts who have played in two European Cup Finals.
Bobby Lennox, 1965
Scottish League Cup Final Celtic v Rangers Ritchie, Rangers goalkeeper, punches clear over the heads of team mate, McKinnon and Lennox (Celtic) during the match at Hampden Park. Celtic won the match by 2-1. 28th October 1965 Scottish League Cup Final Celtic v Rangers Ritchie Rangers Goalkeeper punches clear over the heads of team mate McKinnon and Lennox Celtic during The match at Hampden. Celtic Won The Match by 2-1 28th October 1965 . Photo IMAGO
Domestically, Lennox was central to Celtic’s long period of success. He won 11 league titles and contributed to the team’s dominance of Scottish football for over a decade. His reliability was remarkable: he scored in 17 consecutive seasons from 1963–64 to 1979–80, placing him second in Celtic’s all-time records.
In 1978, Lennox briefly moved to the USA to join joined the Houston Hurricane before returning to Celtic later that year. He continued to play until his retirement in 1980. His final match was the 1980 Scottish Cup Final, a 1–0 victory over Rangers, and his last goal came in the semi-final against Hibernian.
Willie Wallace and Bobby Lennox of Celtic celebrate
Willie Wallace and Bobby Lennox of Celtic celebrate winning the 1966/1967
European Cup Final in Lisbon against Inter Milan. 25.05.1967: imago/VI Images
At international level, Lennox earned 10 caps for Scotland and scored three goals, including one in the 3–2 win over England at Wembley in 1967.
Lennox’s contributions were recognised through several honours: he was awarded an MBE in 1981, inducted into the Scottish Football Museum Hall of Fame in 2005, and commemorated with a statue in Saltcoats in 2018.
Celtic 4-0 Man Utd – Testimonial Match for Jinky and Buzzbomb
Celtic v Man Utd, Jimmy Johnstone and Bobby Lennox testimonial, May 1976.
Celtic v Man Utd, Jimmy Johnstone and Bobby Lennox testimonial, May 1976.
Photo The Celtic Wiki
As such, these are two men well deserving of celebration by the club. So in 1976, the visit of the Red Devils gave the chance to cheer on two club legends. It attracted almost 50,000 supporters to Glasgow’s east end, despite a miserable and rainy night in the city, thus earning the two men around £50,000 each.
And there was another hugely significant aspect to the game as well.
Season 1975-76 had been an unusual one. In July 1975, Jock Stein was in a horrific car crash which almost cost him his life. Although he survived, Stein was unable to act as manager for the season and so assistant boss Sean Fallon stepped up.
Celtic’s greatest manager was back in the Celtic dugout
The Lennox and Johnstone testimonial was the first time that Celtic’s greatest manager was back in the Celtic dugout, a fact that was loudly cheered by all those present in Celtic Park.
In advance of the game, one newspaper headline summed up the issue: “Mr Celtic is back” it read, and another included a quote from the ‘Big Man’ confirming that this was not just a one-off. In the end, Stein remained as boss until 1978, having won the 1977 title.
‘Referee’ appeared in Rangers colours and confronted the Jungle
Jimmy Johnstone, Billy Connolly and Kenny Dalglish
Jimmy Johnstone, Billy Connolly and Kenny Dalglish enjoying a joke. Photo The Celtic Wiki
Before the match, there was some alternative entertainment. A game of former professionals was refereed by comedian Billy Connolly – who jokingly wore a Rangers shirt, scarf and tammy! He even had to be stretchered off only ten minutes into the match.
The Bhoys’ team included a guest appearance from David Hay, who was by then a Chelsea player.
However, the two most important players were of course Johnstone and Lennox. Their team went on to have a great night.
Bobby Lennox opened the scoring
After 32 minutes, the opening goal of the game was scored. Fittingly, it came from one of the men who was being celebrated; Bobby Lennox put his team in front. By the time the interval arrived, this remained the only goal.
In the second half, one name stood out above all others – but it was not Johnstone or Lennox.
The star of the show was Kenny Dalglish with a second half hat-trick
Bobby Lennox in action against Manchester United
Bobby Lennox in action against Manchester United. Photo The Celtic Wiki
Instead, the star of the show was Kenny Dalglish, a man who would later go on to torment United and other English teams when he made the move to Liverpool.
Daglish got his first of the night four minutes after the restart. 22 minutes later, he doubled his tally for the night and put the Celts three goals to the good. With ten minutes remaining, the hat-trick was completed – as was the scoring for the night.
The two Lisbon Lions led the lap of honour
Kenny Dalglish, 1976
Kenny Dalglish at the testimonial match for Jimmy Johnstone and Bobby Lennox. May 1976. Photo The Celtic Wiki
Four goals, lots of entertainment – but most importantly – Celtic supporters were able to truly celebrate the phenomenal contributions of Johnstone and Lennox. The two men were acclaimed as they carried out a lap of honour in front of the cheering fans.
Lennox was still a Celt but Johnstone had moved on, so the little winger was then given his own individual walk, which culminated in him throwing his boots into the terracing.
Jimmy Johnstone and Bobby Lennox at their testimonial
Jimmy Johnstone and Bobby Lennox at their testimonial at Celtic Park against Man Utd in May 1976. Photo The Celtic Wiki
Celtic’s greatest XI is of course the men who triumphed in Portugal in 1967. Two of those figures – Bobby Lennox and Jimmy Johnstone – are rightly revered. One night in 1976, the Celtic fans were able to show just how much they meant to the club.
Matthew Marr
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