John Fallon dead aged 84 as Celtic mourn loss of another legendary Lisbon Lion

Daily Record

6 days ago

His death means that Jim Craig, Bobby Lennox, and Willie Wallace are the only players from the Lisbon Lions squad still living
Lisbon Lion and former Celtic goalkeeper John Fallon has passed away aged 84.
Remembered as the only member of the famous 1967 side not to play in the final, Fallon was the unused substitute goalkeeper as Jock Stein 's team famously beat Inter Milan in the final in Portugal.
He is nonetheless recognised by the club as one of the Lions and remains a legend at Parkhead, where he made almost 200 appearances from 1958 to 1971.
His death means that Jim Craig, Bobby Lennox, and Willie Wallace are the only players from the Lions squad still living.
It comes less than a month after the sad death of John Clark.
A Celtic statement reads: "Everyone at Celtic Football Club is deeply saddened at the news that former Celtic goalkeeper and Lisbon Lion, John Fallon, has passed away at the age of 84.
"John joined Celtic in 1958 and went on to make almost 200 appearances for the club over a 14-year period.
"He was part of the Celtic side that clinched the 1965 Scottish Cup, Jock Stein's first trophy win as manager, and he is well remembered for his acrobatic and joyous celebration that day as Billy McNeill's late winner ended an eight-year trophy drought for the Celts.
"Throughout his time with Celtic, John helped the club to six league titles, five League Cups, two Scottish Cups and the European Cup, which was won in the heat of Lisbon in 1967.
"John was Celtic's only substitute on that famous May evening in Portugal, when he and his team-mates entered in to football folklore by reaching the pinnacle of European football.
"After leaving Celtic, John went on to play for Motherwell and Greenock Morton before retiring from the sport in the mid-1970s.
"His love for Celtic, however, was a constant throughout the years, and he followed the club at home and away for the rest of life.
"His passing comes as a great sadness to us all, and the thoughts and prayers of everyone connected with Celtic Football Club are with his family and friends at this sad time."