Echoes of Lisbon in inspiring rise of Anfield everyman

In the tunnel underneath the Estadio Nacional in Lisbon moments before the 1967 European Cup final, Celtic’s players lined up alongside their opposition, Inter Milan.

Captain Billy McNeill takes up the story. “The contrast was incredible. They had all these lovely, lyrical names like Alessandro Mazzola, Giacinto Facchetti. We had Murdoch and Auld. They had tanned legs and faces, like models. We were all gums and pale skin.

Out of nowhere Bertie Auld, a real character, started singing The Celtic Song — ‘It’s a grand old team to play for…’ — and we all joined in. You should have seen the expressions on the faces of the Italians.