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Ronnie Simpson


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It was 91 years ago, on October 11, 1930 that Ronnie Simpson was born in Glasgow, and, practically a full 37 years later when the Lisbon Lions ruled supreme in 1967.

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Ronnie Simpson. Arrived at Celtic in 1964 aged 34 and was thought to be at the end of his career. Then won 4 Leagues, a Scottish Cup, 2 League Cups, the European Cup and played for Scotland. Could have been more but an injury ended his career at 40.  A real legend.

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16 minutes ago, Clown Job said:

Fell out with Jock Stein while both had been at Hibs aswell before signing him for Celtic 

Stein sold Simpson to Celtic. Stein was apparently known to have a bit of disdain for goalkeepers and even felt they should be part time apparently.

Edited by gannonball
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1 hour ago, Charles Stiles said:

Over 36 years old, almost 500 senior games, 2 FA Cup winners medals and he only gets capped after he joins Celtic. I'm stunned.

Have a look at some of the Lisbon lions and see how little caps they have between them for an all conquering side before you start spouting shite.

Edited by gannonball
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Not sure if both still stand today: but he was the youngest-ever debutant goalkeeper in the Scottish League (aged 14) and yet went on to be the oldest debutant 'keeper for Scotland (aged 36).

He basically had 3 international careers.

As a teenager in the 1940s with Queen's Park he played for Scotland Youths, Scotland Amateurs and most famously Great Britain, including the 1948 Olympics in London. He also played for the British Army against Scotland, England, Belgian Army, etc. and represented Glasgow and the Northern Command.

In his prime with Newcastle during the 1950s he was often tipped to take-over for Scotland but never got the nod. He played in our first-ever home B international and again 4 years later. Also played for Newcastle v Edinburgh.

At the twilight of his career in the 1960s with Celtic he was first-choice for Scotland for about 12 months including "Champions of the World" win at Wembley and Yashin's visit to Hampden. He was also capped by the Scottish League in 1968 against the League of Ireland at Parkhead.

Edited by HibeeJibee
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On 11/10/2021 at 19:54, HibeeJibee said:



In his prime with Newcastle during the 1950s he was often tipped to take-over for Scotland but never got the nod. He played in our first-ever home B international and again 4 years later. Also played for Newcastle v Edinburgh.

 

A few very good Scottish goalkeepers at that time including George Farm and not least of all the great Bill Brown who is considered by many to be in the top 5 Scotland no 1's of all time

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On 11/10/2021 at 19:53, gannonball said:

Have a look at some of the Lisbon lions and see how little caps they have between them for an all conquering side before you start spouting shite.

Every single one of them was capped..not too shabby for a side that won the European Cup half as many times as Nottingham Forest .

 

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On 11/10/2021 at 19:53, gannonball said:

Have a look at some of the Lisbon lions and see how little caps they have between them for an all conquering side before you start spouting shite.

Strange in some ways but not others. I do not think Chalmers , Wallace and McBride were quite as good as Denis Law , and maybe not quite as good as Alan Gilzean

Was Bertie Auld better than Billy Bremner ?

Bobby Murdoch had problems with his fitness.

Bobby Lennox a totally brilliant player but was he our best left winger ? e.g. Davy Wilson , Willie Johnstone , Eddie Gray , Charlie Cook.

Billy McNeill , not that quick. Jock Stein preferred McKinnon to him for the 1965 game against Italy at Hampden.

John Clark and Jim Craig , I so not know enough about them.

Tommy Gemmil - got himself sent off against West Germany

 

 

 

 

 

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3 hours ago, ScottyDee1893 said:

A few very good Scottish goalkeepers at that time including George Farm and not least of all the great Bill Brown who is considered by many to be in the top 5 Scotland no 1's of all time

and Tommy Lawrence , the flying pig ? , at Liverpool

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John McGovern didn't win a single Scottish cap despite being a European Cup winning captain.  And what did McGovern 's Forest do the season after becoming European champions ? They won it again.  What did the Lisbon Lions do the season after becoming European champions ? Got pumped out in the preliminary round. So they were fallible, we're not demi-gods and probably won about the right number of international caps but to a certain breed of paranoid Celtic supporter to suggest such a thing is tantamount to "spouting shite". 

 

Edited by kennie makevin
Typo
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2 hours ago, Ewan8472 said:

IIRC there was one international game that featured many of the Lisbon Lions , maybe USSR

We lost !

Wednesday 10th May 1967
SCOTLAND - USSR  0-2  (0-2)
SCOTLAND:  (Manager:  Robert Brown/2)
Ronald Campbell Simpson		     (Celtic)
Thomas Gemmell			     (Celtic)
Edward Graham McCreadie		     (Chelsea)
John Clark			     (Celtic)
William McNeill			     (Celtic)
James Curran Baxter [c] 	     (Sunderland) -
James Connelly Johnstone	     (Celtic)
Francis McLintock		     (Arsenal)
James McCalliog			     (Sheffield Wednesday)
Denis Law			     (Manchester United)
Robert Lennox			     (Celtic) 

Subs: William Semple Brown Wallace	     (5/Celtic)  for Denis Law (HT)

USSR:  (Coach:  Mikhail Jakushin)
Lev Jashin - Valentin Afonin, Albert Shesternev [c] - Murtaz Khurtsilava, 
Vasilij Danilov, Valerij Voronin - Igor Chislenko, Jozsef Sabo, Fedor Medvid, 
Eduard Streltsov, Eduard Malofeev

Referee: Laurens van Ravens (Netherlands)
Crowd: 53.497, Hampden Park, Glasgow
Goals: 0-1 Gemmell (17) own goal, 0-2 Medvid (41)


Traditional end-of-season friendly at Hampden. USSR were World Cup semi-finalists and Euros runners-up. Scotland had just become "Unofficial World Champions" after the famous win at Wembley the previous month which had also secured Home Nations title (and doubled-up as opening half of Euro 68 qualifying). Celtic was awaiting European Cup Final... Rangers the Cup-Winners' Cup Final... Kilmarnock the Fairs Cup SFs. Representative squad was about to embark on world tour of Israel, Hong Kong, Australia, NZ and Canada.

Tartan Army booed team off at FT.

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36 minutes ago, kennie makevin said:

John McGovern didn't win a single Scottish cap despite being a European Cup winning captain.  And what did McGovern 's Forest do the season after becoming European champions ? They won it again.  What did the Lisbon Lions do the season after becoming European champions ? Got pumped out in the preliminary round. So they were fallible, we're not demi-gods and probably won about the right number of international caps but to a certain breed of paranoid Celtic supporter to suggest such a thing is tantamount to "spouting shite". 

 

1968 they got beaten in contraversial circumstances by Dynamo Kiev , hardly a diddy team

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On 11/10/2021 at 12:54, Richey Edwards said:

I met Ronnie Simpson at a charity event once.

He was surprisingly down to earth and VERY funny.

I sat beside him at hospitality at Tynecastle and he was very good company with loads of good stories. A really nice bloke.

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