When dad home to
Hoops hero Johnnie was terrified of losing precious trophy, but wife told him: ‘Och, just stick it under the bed’
THEY queued up in Drumover Drive to do what Big Billy McNeill had done – get their hands on the European Cup.
And Hoops legend Johnnie Bonnar, who’d been allowed to borrow the giant trophy from Celtic Park, was proud as punch to show it off to his neighbours.
But the following night, the former goalie realised he had a wee problem.
He’d been trusted by his club to look after club football’s greatest prize but he’d also promised to take the kids to Troon the next day – and he couldn’t just leave the 24lb solid silver cup in the house.
Wife Betty told him: “We can stick it under the bed.”
But Johnnie would have none of that. He knew how terrified Celtic chairman Bob Kelly was that someone would nick it and melt it down.
So he put the precious prize in protective custody at Tobago Street police station in Glasgow’s east end – after waking up the divisional commander to get permission.
Now Johnnie’s son John has told the amazing story for the first time ever, to mark today’s 50th anniversary of the Lisbon Lions triumph.
After his playing career, Johnnie became boss of Celtic Pools. And in 1968, he laid on a thank you concert for his agents – with the cup as guest of honour.
The night before the show, he proudly brought the cup home to 95 Drumover Drive in Parkhead. And he just couldn’t resist telling the neighbours about it.
“It got totally out of hand,” said John, a schoolboy at the time.
“Everybody and their cat and dug wanted their photo taken with the European Cup.”
A family photo of the “real, genuine European Cup” with a crowd of admrers outside their house is one of the family’s most precious possessions to this day.
The following night, Johnnie took the cup to the concert at the Odeon in Renfield Street and “everything went to perfection”.
But then, on the drive home, his heart sank as he remembered that trip to Troon. John said: “We were driving along the Gallowgate and dad said to mum: ‘Betty, what are we going to do with this cup?’ “Mum said we could leave it in the house. Dad said, ‘I can’t. I thought we were going down to Troon tomorrow with the kids.’ “Mum said: ‘Aye we are, John. We can stick it under the bed. It’s only a cup.’ “Dad said: ‘Only a cup? It’s the European Cup! What are you talking about?’ “Bob Kelly was petrified about that cup getting stolen. There were a lot of scrap men in the Gallowgate in those days, and they weren’t all of Celtic persuasion.” Then Johnnie remembered the police station and thought of a solution. John said: “Dad told the sergeant on the desk, ‘I want you to look after the cup. I’ll come back and pick it up.’ “The sergeant said, ‘John, it’s not our responsibility, it’s yours.’ But after a bit of to-ing and fro-ing he agreed to phone the divisional commander, who was in his kip. “The commander took the same line but after a bit of persuading he told the sergeant to stick the cup in a cell. He added, ‘Make sure it’s under lock and key. I don’t want the responsibility if it’s stolen.’” John went on: “The story goes that there wasn’t a single officer on the beat in the east end that night. They were all in Tobago Street with their wee Kodak cameras, getting their photos taken. “The story also goes that when the divisional commander got in and went looking for the cup, he found it in the kitchen where the boys have their tea, with everyone having a kiss and a cuddle.” John has many fond memories of his dad, who died aged 80 in 2004. But he’ll never forget the night he brought Billy’s Big Cup home. He said: “There’s not many boys in the east end of Glasgow that had the European Cup in their house.” ●DO YOU have a photo of the cup in Tobago Street police station? Call our newsdesk on 0141 309 3256.