The long arduous road to the city of lights in Portugal started on the 28th October 1966 at Celtic Park. The opponents that evening were FC Zurich, the un-fancied Swiss champions.
The journey from Scottish under-achievers to Champions of Europe really got underway though when Sir Robert Kelly elected to bring a successful former son back to the hallowed grounds of Parkhead. When, on the 9th March 1965 John 'Jock' Stein was brought back to the club with which he had lifted the Coronation Cup, League Cup and Scottish Cup in a 5 year playing spell with the Club.
This was to be the catalyst that saw a miners son from Burnbank, South Lanarkshire take on the might of Inter Milan and their famous manager Helenio Herrera. Stein had to conquer Herrera's famous squad of players and his rigidly robust 'Catenachio' style of play. All of this had to be achieved with a group of men all born within a 30 Mile radius of Celtic Park who had not won their domestic League title in over a decade!
"Mon the Hoops" feature writer Clydebuilt will remember the road to Lisbon and the key men who got them their, from the Alps of Switzerland to the Estadio National Lisboa this will prove to be a trip down memory lane every Celtic fan wont want to miss.