Bobby Lennox, who until recently ran a
pub in Saltcoats called Bobby's Bar, was
one of the 'Lisbon Lions' who played for
Celtic Football Club in the European Cup
Final when they became the first club in
Britain to win it in 1967 when they beat
Inter Milan 2-1 at the Lisbon National
Stadium.
Bobby, born in Saltcoats in 1943, joined Celtic in September 1961 from Ayrshire junior side Ardeer Recreation. From the outset he was a man in a hurry. After only four reserve team matches he made his debut for the club against Dundee at Celtic Park in March 1962. He was an extremely fast winger and he was known by fans as 'Buzz Bomb' or 'Lemon' since he made defenders look like 'suckers'.
Recognised as one of the fastest and sharpest forwards in Britain, a goalscorer of note - 571 appearances with 273 goals for Celtic - and a man who kept defenders on the back foot for every one of the 90 minutes. A classic moment in his career was his goal for Scotland against the world champions, England, at Wembley in 1966-7. He won ten full caps for Scotland in all.
Lennox left Celtic in the late 70's and moved to the US to play for the 'Houston Hurricanes'. During the 1978 season, he scored 15 goals in 36 games, before returning to Celtic in 1979. It was a worthwhile move as Celtic took the League Championship that year and the Scottish Cup in 1980. Bobby retired in November 1980 and in 1981 was awarded the MBE.
In all Bobby won a European Cup winners' medal, nine Championship badges, eight Cup winners' medals, four League Cup winners' medals and the season after Lisbon he won the European Bronze Boot, for scoring an thirty-two league goals.
A few years after leaving Celtic Jock Stein speaking about Lennox noted "He was the kind of player who epitomised what every manager looks for in a professional". No words of praise could have been more accurate. For the player himself surely it is the accolade he would have enjoyed most.
