John Clark’s rise coincided with the most successful era in Celtic’s history. Between 1965 and 1967, during Celtic’s most dominant period, he played an extraordinary 140 consecutive matches in major competitions. This was evidence not simply of his fitness but also his crucial importance to the team.
Celtic and Clark’s greatest day came one sunny afternoon in Lisbon. As the Celts defeated Inter Milan to claim the European Cup, Clark and his teammates became immortalised as the Lisbon Lions. Along with Tommy Gemmell, John played in all the Bhoys’ games that season.
John Clark, the week before Lisbon…Photo Imago, The Celtic Star
Although a quiet man, he had one notable on-pitch moment in 1967 which defied this. In the so-called Battle of Montevideo when Celtic played Racing Club for the Inter-Continental Cup, Clark was incensed by an Argentinian player’s foul and raised his fists boxing-style to challenge him.
Surprisingly, Clark was not sent off at this point, although Bobby Lennox was. It seemed that the referee mixed up the two players.
It was not simply in Celtic’s green-and-white where John Clark excelled. He also turned out for Scotland on four occasions, making his debut in a 1-1 draw against Brazil in 1966. This let him face legends such as Pele and Jairzinho.
Clark also played against Wales, Northern Ireland and the USSR, the latter being the only time he lost when wearing dark blue.
Celtic players Jim Craig left and John Clark right about to take the ball off Tommy Rae the Partick Thistle forward, during the Scottish League Division 1 match here on Saturday. Celtic were bang on form again, defeating their opponents by 5 goals to 1. 16 October 1967 Photo TopFoto IMAGO
By 1971, John Clark’s time playing in green-and-white was coming to a close. Injuries had long afflicted him, and he was struggling to compete with many of the younger ‘Quality Street Gang’ players that were coming through the Celts’ ranks.
John Clark’s final Celtic match was a notable one for the entire club. On 1 May 1971, the Bhoys played Clyde at a Celtic Park that was undergoing significant renovation.
John Clark in Lisbon during the 1967 European Cup Final, Celtic 2 Inter Milan 1. Photo The Celtic Wiki
This was the final match in which the Lisbon Lions XI walked out onto the park, although Ronnie Simpson was injured and did not play. Celtic won 6-1 to officially confirm their sixth successive championship, and it was the farewell match for Clark as well as Bertie Auld and Stevie Chalmers.
