On August 30, 1943, one of Celtic's most legendary players, as well as the club's second-highest goalscorer of all time, was born.
As Bobby Lennox celebrates his 80th birthday, the entire Celtic Family extends their warmest wishes to him and his family.
Here's a brief overview of the remarkable Celtic career of this esteemed individual:
SALTCOATS CELT
Bobby Lennox titled his book "Thirty Miles from Paradise," reflecting his connection to Saltcoats. He stood as the sole member of the Lions team hailing from outside the city boundaries and remains a true Saltcoats Bhoy. In his book, Bobby describes his idyllic childhood by the sea, and aside from a brief six-month stint with the Houston Hurricane in 1978, he has spent his entire life in the town. Notably, there's now a statue commemorating the town's most illustrious son. "I had a wonderful upbringing," he shared with the Celtic View. "We weren't the wealthiest family, but I lacked for nothing. All I ever wanted was a ball at my feet."
GOAL MACHINE
Bobby Lennox recorded a remarkable 277 goals in his 586 appearances for the club, a count only surpassed by the legendary Jimmy McGrory. This figure exemplifies his innate goal-scoring ability, despite numerous incorrect offside calls that might have otherwise boosted his record. Lennox's speed was his hallmark; while it occasionally earned him penalties from officials, his swiftness always benefited the team. Selfless and relentless in his pursuit of victory, he epitomized one of the eleven 'jersey players' in the Lions' starting lineup. As his captain, Billy McNeill, stated, "Bobby knows the significance of donning a Celtic jersey." His teammate Bertie Auld added humorously, "Bobby would chase a paper bag on a windy day."
CUP CAPERS
In 51 Scottish Cup appearances, Bobby Lennox scored an impressive 31 goals, securing victory in the competition on a remarkable eight occasions. These victories span three different decades, with his initial Scottish Cup medal earned in 1965 and the last in 1980. His personal favorite was the 1969 triumph over Rangers, a match where Celtic emerged as underdogs before a sold-out crowd of 132,870. Interestingly, Rangers had planned a victory parade at Ibrox on the morning of the game. Lennox contributed a goal as Celtic clinched a resounding 4-0 victory, leaving their opponents stunned.
MAGNIFICENT 11
Bobby holds a total of 11 championship medals from his two spells at Celtic Park. He participated in every championship win during Celtic's record-breaking nine consecutive titles under Jock Stein. After a brief stint in Houston, he returned to contribute to an additional two championships. Bobby Lennox remains Celtic's most decorated player, with an impressive haul of 25 major honors: 11 league titles, eight Scottish Cups, five League Cups, and, notably, a European Cup medal.
CAP CAPERS
Despite his limited number of international caps, Bobby Lennox is now recognized as one of Scottish football's true greats, having secured a place in the Scottish Football Hall of Fame at Hampden. Over his 19-year playing career, which included European finals and numerous trophies, he earned just ten caps. He remains gracious about his low cap count, despite his pivotal role in a Scotland side that defeated World Cup holders England at Wembley in 1967. Regrettably, the rest of the Lions faced similar oversight.
BIG YIN FOR THE WEE MEN
In 1976, Bobby Lennox and his close friend and away-day roommate, Jimmy Johnstone, organized a testimonial match against Manchester United. The English giants journeyed north on May 17 that year to face a select side featuring 'Lemon' and 'Jinky.' The select side triumphed 4-0 before a nearly full crowd. Predictably, Lennox found the net, while Kenny Dalglish secured a hat-trick that night. The event is also notable for featuring a match between a Manchester United select and a group of Celtic 'old Bhoys' at halftime, refereed by none other than Billy Connolly. The Celtic-supporting comedian sported an old pair of wellies and a Rangers hat and shirt, earning himself jeers from the Jungle until he brandished a red card!
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