Three years after his death a statue of Billy McNeill has been unveiled in Bellshill.
The striking image is from shortly before Celtic’s greatest 90 minutes as the Lanarkshire man led the Lisbon Lions out to face Inter Milan in the 1967 European Cup Final.
Jim Craig, John Fallon and John Clark were among the former team-mates that attended today’s ceremony that was conducted by Tom Boyd.
Billy McNeill is unveiled at Bellshill Part 3 @CelticFC #cesar #billymcneill #CelticFC @celticrumours @celticfanzone pic.twitter.com/gbiYZ4Iiby
— Sancta Familia Media (@SanctaFamiliaTV) November 26, 2022
A statue of McNeill was unveiled at Celtic Park in 2015 but the Bellshill statue goes deeper than football, celebrating the success and acclaim given on the world stage to a local of Lithuanian descent.
After making his Celtic debut in 1958 McNeill had to wait seven years for his first winners medal, fittingly he scored the winning goal in the Scottish Cup Final win over Dunfermline that set the club towards their most successful ever period.
By the time he retired in 1975 his legendary status was set, in two spells as manager he was involved in more famous successes including the Centenary double of 1988.
