John Clark – A life worth remembering, the key to immortality

John was of course a Lisbon Lion, and to borrow a quote ‘The key to immortality is first living a life worth remembering’. Few would argue John Clark lived a life worth remembering.

John’s Celtic career started in Arbroath in October 1958 with a 5-0 win and ended against Clyde in 1971 with a 6-1 victory. In between he would win every domestic trophy and the pinnacle – the European Cup in Lisbon.

He replaced club captain and legend Bertie Peacock in Celtic’s first team, no easy task for a young footballer to handle. He also missed a penalty in a Cup winners Cup tie with Valencia, which saw him left out the team for a while.

However, as with many young men who were to become immortal at Celtic, it was the arrival of Jock Stein that would see every ounce of John Clark’s football ability fully wrung from those sweat soaked green and white hoops.

Stein moved John from his previous wing half and left half positions to that of sweeper. As imperious as his defensive partner Billy McNeill was in the air, Clark was the man who could equally be relied upon on the ground.

The Scottish Cup Final of 1965 was the start of Stein’s Celtic revolution; the skill and tactical advancements would be fully recognised two years later in Lisbon, but that was allied to the strength and bravery those young Celts brought to Celtic.

And Clark, in that Cup Final, was left bloodied by a facial injury five minutes into the second half. With a red soaked shirt Clark played on to the end as Celtic defeated Dunfermline by the odd goal in five.

Between April 1965 and September 1967 Clark played 140 consecutive games for Celtic, the only player to do so. And in season 1966/67, alongside Tommy Gemmell, was one of only two players played by Jock Stein in every single game, in every tournament, as Celtic won every trophy they entered.

By 1968 the grind of being an ever present eventually took its toll as a cartilage injury eventually saw Jim Brogan take John’s place in the Celtic team, although he would continue to contribute to Stein’s Celtic side until he left for Morton, alongside fellow Lion Stevie Chalmers in 1971.

He returned to Celtic with his new club later that year and scored…an own goal for Celtic. Old habits and all that.

He returned to Celtic in 1973 in a coaching capacity with the youth players and then the reserves. He eventually joined his old partner Cesar as an assistant boss in McNeill’s time with Aberdeen and was with him on Billy’s return to Celtic as manager.

In the 1980’s and 90’s John delved into management himself, with Cowdenbeath, Stranraer and Clyde and whilst manager of Shotts Bon Accord he was even a driver for the Fire Brigade.

From there he also served as Celtic’s kitman, ensuring that only the legendary Willie Maley, exceeded John Clark for time spent in the service of Celtic.

John Clark passed away today, but, like his fellow Lisbon Lions, he will live on in the hearts of every Celtic supporter, their achievements passed down in story and song to every generation to come.

A life worth remembering, the key to immortality.