Lisbon Lions Trophy

The Lisbon Lions Trophy final has once again taken place at Lennoxtown Training Centre, commemorating Scotland’s finest ever team.

 

Over 250 pupils from 16 schools across Glasgow and the West have competed in the Lisbon Lions Trophy organised by Celtic Football Club and the Glasgow Schools’ Football Association.

Initial rounds of the annual tournament took place at the Toryglen Football Centre on May 30, with four schools progressing to Monday’s semi finals at Celtic’s Training Centre.

St Ninians, from Kirkintilloch came out on top, lifting the trophy after their victory over St Peter the Apostle from Clydebank. St Andrew's Secondary came third, with Holyrood Secondary also qualifying for the finals.

One of the most remarkable aspects of the Lisbon Lions' success in becoming the first British team to lift the European Cup, was the fact that they were all born within a 30-mile radius of Celtic Park, local boys no different to any of the school teams playing in the tournament.

Indeed, the Lions themselves grew up playing schools’ football, with iconic captain Billy McNeill notably playing in the Scottish Schools’ Shield final at Hampden - a game which was watched from the stand by his future manager, Jock Stein.

 

The tournament, which includes schools who have performed well over the course of the Under-14s’ season, also invites the former schools of Lisbon Lions to take part.

 

Paul Downie, Teacher & Lisbon Lions Trophy Convenor, Glasgow Schools Football Association said: "Over 1200 young people have now been involved in the Lisbon Lions Trophy since we established it to mark the 50th anniversary of 11 local boys lifting the European Cup, which to this day remains the biggest success in Scottish football history.

“As always, we are very grateful to Celtic and all involved in the Glasgow Schools’ Football Association for their support in providing this opportunity for young people across Glasgow and the West to be involved in this tournament.

Schools football would not be possible without the commitment of the Glasgow Schools' Football Association committee, our referees and teaching colleagues across the city who all give up their time to take teams and provide our young people with the excitement of schools' football”

 

“We were really pleased to establish this tournament and are delighted that it goes from strength to strength. It is fantastic that so many young players have become involved in the Trophy, young people who continue to take huge motivation from the magnificent efforts of the Lions.

 

“It was an honour to have one such Lion, the great John Clark, present medals and the trophy to our winners and runners-up, something I am sure will stay with them forever and act as a real inspiration to them in their own futures.”