And they gave us... Bobby Lennox - From Saltcoats to Celtic, 30 Miles to Paradise

And they gave us...
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Bobby Lennox
From Saltcoats to Celtic, 30 Miles to Paradise


Bobby "Buzzbomb" Lennox​

The most successful Celtic player of all time. Quite a statement. But the facts are that Bobby Lennox, "Buzzbomb" won more trophies than any other Celtic player. At a time when the average footballer played till he was around 30, Bobby played on at the highest level till he was 37. He is the second highest goalscorer in Celtic's history. He was awarded an MBE in 1981 and was the last of the Lisbon Lions to retire from the game. In 2002 he was also selected into Celtic's greatest ever team. This unassuming, impish player, who would go about his job in the most professional and uncomplicated manner had a golden career that spanned 3 decades and enjoyed unparalleled club success.

"If I'd had Lennox in my team, I could have played forever. He was one of the best strikers I have ever seen." - Bobby Charlton

"He was the kind of player who epitomised what every manager looks for in a professional footballer." Jock Stein





Born in Saltcoats in 1943, this future Lisbon Lion started off his career in the most westerly of places. 30 miles from Paradise, Bobby Lennox was the closest thing Jock Stein got to having a foreigner in his European Cup winning side.

Prior to that heady day on the 25th May 1967, Bobby Lennox grew up in a loving and encouraging family where Football was revered by his father. A love affair of the game was nurtured early and this young talent was given the freedom to grow and instill the virtues and discipline that would hold him steady throughtout his career.

Early performances for local sides soon attracted attention of scouts from far and wide and there was a long list of suitors lined up, even at a young age. Indeed, Lennox was invited down to trial at Chelsea. A side that at that time was as glamourous as they come and had the prolific Jimmy Greaves in his pomp. Bobby was a home boy though, and his future was to lay elsewhere.

In 1961 it was fitting that the legendary Jimmy McGrory was to hand Bobby Lennox the contract that was to be the start of a long love affair between player and fans through the most successful period in the club's history. However, though it was a Celtic legend that signed the young star, it was to be the appointment of a man a few years later that was to have a bigger impact. Not only on Bobby Lennox, but on Celtic, Scottish Football and the whole of Europe.

Making his debut against Dundee in 1962, Bobby made an inauspicious start to his career and was happy to learn his trade alongside such future luminaries as Jimmy Johnstone and Bobby Murdoch; both of whom he forged a lifelong and lasting relationship with. Alongside Billy McNeil as a guiding force at the club, Bobby decided that this was a career that he was going to do his utmost to succeed in. During the next few seasons this exciting prospect worked on his game, listened to his peers and looked after himself in the right way. All traits that would benefit both him and his clubs in the future.

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By 1965 the speedy midfielder had established himself in the side, just at the beginning of what was to become the most important era in the club's history. In January of that year it was announced that Jock Stein was to become the manager of Glasgow Celtic. The forward thinking former player was coming back as manager to deliver the success that had eluded them for so long. Indeed it had been twelve years since they had last won the league. By May of that year Celtic, under the tutelage of Jock Stein and with the blossoming talent of Lennox amongst the squad, the quest for silverware was over. A 3-2 victory over Dunfermline saw Billy McNeill lift the first trophy in what was to be a procession of unequalled success in Scottish Football history.

Over the next 9 seasons Lennox was to be a pivotal player in what was to become the famous "9 in a row" haul of league titles. A record for the time, and one that has been equalled but never surpassed. Lennox's part in this was a major factor. His haul of goals for Celtic stands second only to the tally achieved by the manager who signed him, Jimmy McGrory. A truly astonishing statistic for someone who typifies humbleness and understatement of his achievements.

In 1967 Bobby Lennox helped spearhead Celtic's European campaign, culminating in lifting the trophy on the 25th May 1967 in Lisbon with the mighty Inter Milan of Italy put to the sword. The Lisbon Lions were born that night and a career full of highlights that in the modern game almost verge on the ridiculous.

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The Lisbon Lions​

In a bizarre twist, Lennox had also won the World Cup a month earlier, though this was unofficial. Playing against England in April 1967, Scotland defeated the World Cup Champions to cheekily take on the mantle themselves. Something that the Scottish public still revel in to this day. And he scored!!

Lennox scores against the Auld Enemy​

With Jock Stein now calling all the shots in the Scottish game, Bobby Lennox was to be a constant throughout this golden era and in 1970 he took part in his second European final. Sadly this was to result in a reversal of the 1967 result with the unfancied Feynoord taking the title. During this spell though, Celtic were truly giants of European Football and were regular visitors to the continental arenas to ply their trade of attacking football and Scottish grit.

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Bobby Lennox, Jimmy Johnstone and Billy McNeil celebrate winning the 1970 Scottish Cup​

The 70's continued where the 60's left off with Celtic winning the remaining titles in the "9 in a row" series, followed by two more later in the decade. Age proved to be no barrier to this intelligent and lightening quick goalscorer. The Buzzbomb was still an integral part of the side and would play alongside a new generation of Celtic greats, including Kenny Dalglish and Danny McGrain. Though a golden period, there was a disappointment in the 1974/75 season when Celtic, being 11 points ahead at Christmas, ended up losing the league to their rivals. And so ended the magnificent run of 9 league titles unbroken.

On 6th September 1975 Bobby Lennox was wearing the captain's armband into what was to be Celtic's first Premier Division tie at home. Fittingly, for the club's second greatest goalscorer, he was to be the first player to score a hat-trick in the new league format.

A broken leg in 1976 curtailed Bobby's Celtic appearances and a brief stint to newly formed Houston Hurricane sent him across the Ocean to the North American Soccer League in 1978. His time there, though enjoyable for him and his family, was brief.

When Billy McNeil took over the managerial rein from Jock Stein in 1978 Bobby was asked to come back to his home club. And this time he was to bring his wealth of experience to a new set of players coming through the ranks, future stars such as Tommy Burns, Murdo McLeod and Davie Provan.

On the 10th May 1980 the prolific goalscorer played in the Scottish Cup Final at Hampden Park. A match that was to prove memorable. A deserved victory gave Celtic the trophy when a rare effort on goal by Danny McGrain was redirected by George McCluskey and a fitting end to Bobby Lennox's career.

On his way to winning the Scottish Cup in 1980​

Where his club career could stand scrutiny with the best there has ever been, Bobby Lennox's international career was not so glittering. There may be any number of reasons for this, though throughout this period the number of caps that players in the greatest club side this country has ever produced were afforded were very few. Bobby Lennox who was the clubs second top scorer of all time and had played in two European Cup finals received a paltry 10 caps. Within those though he played, and scored, in what is generally considered the greatest result in Scottish International history with the 3-2 victory over England.

With a short spell in America to ply his trade Bobby was requested back at Celtic Park by Billy McNeil where he fittingly finished his glittering career. Upon retiring from the game he continued to work behind the scenes with the reserves where he stayed till the mid 90's.

Bobby continued to attend matches and followed the club's up and down fortunes during the Fergus McCann era. Fergus rebuilt the famed Celtic Stadium that Lennox used to terrorise teams from all over the globe in though at this time the Lisbon Lions were more of an anachronism out of sync with the new era. It was to be the United States that was to rekindle a love for the remaining Lions that had been lying dormant in Glasgow. The North American Celtic Supporters Association started inviting the Lions over to Las Vegas and over the coming decade the superstars of the 60's were brought back into the fold at Celtic Park and revered by supporters all over the world.

In 1981 Bobby was awarded an MBE and in 2002 was voted into the Greatest Celtic team of all time. An honour he accepted with his usual graciousness.

Nowadays Bobby can be seen at Celtic Park greeting and meeting fans who warm to his charm and pleasant manner. He takes great pride in his family and spends his time playing golf at Largs.

Bobby now lives in Saltcoats.

Famously to all Celtic fans as being 30 miles from Celtic Park.

Career Statistics

Born Saltcoats 30th August 1943

Clubs: Celtic 1961 - 1978, Houston Hurricane 1978 - 1978, Celtic 1978 - 1980

Awarded MBE in 1981

Honours

11 Scottish League Championships
8 Scottish Cups
4 Scottish League Cups
1 European Cup

10 International Caps

273 Goals scored in 571 Appearances (Celtic's 2nd top goalscorer of all time)