Yesterday I departed Lisbon after a short break away. A lovely City and of course the sun was always shining! Naturally no visit to the Portuguese capital would be complete without a trip to the famous Estadio Nacoinale, the stadium where the greatest moment in the history of Celtic football club was achieved in 1967. The crowning of the Lisbon lions.
When we arrived at the stadium it didn’t look like anything special. You wouldn’t have thought that this old stadia hosted a major European final, but you could sense the history by just looking through the metal fencing and seeing the famous old stand and the floodlights standing tall amongst all those trees. It might not be the most impressive stadium, but it’s second only to Celtic park in our hearts.
A short walk to the reception area will allow you, thanks to the kind guard a chance to visit the changing rooms and wow, that’s when the feeling of nostalgia hits you. Simpson, Craig, Gemmell, Murdoch, McNeill, Clark, Johnstone, Wallace, Chalmers, Auld, Lennox and Fallon would all have been present here on that night on the 25th of May 1967. Getting words of encouragement from Jock Stein on their quest for glory. Truly amazing.
It gets even better as you walk up that famous tunnel, if you shut your eyes you can hear the players singing the Celtic song as they stood beside the confused Italians. Walking up that tunnel and onto the famous pitch with the sun shining down on you is a real goosebump moment. Of course it’s an empty stadium, but we all know the importance of these surroundings. For a brief second you can see and hear the joyous supporters in the old stands.
Looking towards the goal where Tommy Gemmell and Stevie Chalmers scored gives you an even warmer feeling than the blistering Lisbon sun. The same feeling embraces you when you look up at the stand where Billy McNeill made history by lifting the big cup. It’s a truly special moment.
We were only on the pitch for a fleeting moment, but it was amazing to be present at such an arena, the setting of the most talked about and historic event in our football clubs wonderful unbroken history. It was a privilege, a true spine tingling moment.
We were there with another group of Celtic supporters and the guard says it’s a daily occurrence, but it doesn’t bother him, most likely because of the tips he receives! In fact when we were leaving another group of Celtic supporters turned up. This is our Graceland The Mecca.
As we left in the back of the taxi I felt a sense of joy visiting this truly historic stadium, a real heartfelt moment.
I’ve been lucky enough to visit places like the Colosseum, the Vatican, and Pompeii, but this place tops them all. It really is a must visit for any Celtic supporter. One I’ve now had the privilege to experience. Amazing. One off the bucket list indeed.
Just An Ordinary Bhoy
