Fifty-two years ago Billy McNeill and the Lions were greeted by incredible crowds as they turned off London Road into Kerrydale Street the day after winning the European Cup.
The Holy Ground and it’s surroundings are virtually unrecognisable these days but the passion and emotion of the Celtic support is unaltered as the cortège from Cesar’s funeral drove down the new look Celtic Way.
Unbelievable turn out for the legend billy McNeil ???????? pic.twitter.com/wNAJBZn8kb
— James English (@jamesenglish0) May 3, 2019
A final farewell to a legend ???? #RIPCesar pic.twitter.com/iNLFoZkIQj
— A Bit of An Animal (@leemullin1) May 3, 2019
Behind them stood the monument to the glory that McNeill and Jock Stein created for Celtic in the late sixties. Without those men it’s scary to think what may have happened to a club that had gone seven years without a trophy with the dwindling faithful doubtful doubting if they would ever get to see a repeat of past glories.
McNeill’s statue at the bottom of the Celtic Way has become a shrine to the club’s greatest captain with shirts, scarves and flowers left in tribute.
Tomorrow Celtic can win the Scottish title for the eighth season running by taking a point from Aberdeen. McNeill’s side achieved that in 1973 with one more title to follow creating a legacy that has never been beaten.
