LION’S MEDAL TO GO UNDER HAMMER
THE 1967 European Cup winner’s medal belonging to the late Lisbon Lions legend Stevie Chalmers will be auctioned in Glasgow. The former Celtic player, who died last April, aged 83, following a battle with dementia, was responsible for the 85th-minute winning goal in the 2-1 win against Inter Milan that helped the Hoops become the first British team in history to lift the European trophy.
McTear’s auctioneers say the medal is considered one of the most important pieces of British football memorabilia ever to come to auction. It will be sold alongside other items that have been put to auction on March 13 by the Chalmers family.
Those items include five other winner’s medals from Celtic’s triumphant 1966/67 season and Pele’s match-worn jersey, which he swapped with Chalmers (the Scotland goal scorer) at the end of Scotland’s 1-1 draw with Brazil at Hampden Park in 1966.
The six medals, which include the European Cup, Scottish First Division, League Cup, Scottish Cup, Glasgow Cup, and Commemoration Medal, will be sold as one lot.
Speaking on behalf of the family, the late footballer’s son Paul Chalmers, said: “I was too young to go to Lisbon but I remember the house being really crowded as we all gathered to watch the game.
“It was a tight match and when dad scored the winner the house erupted.
“The team were all good friends and the Lions remained very close after they all retired.
“Bobby Lennox lived along the road in Saltcoats and for as long as dad was able, he would stop by to take him to Celtic Park.
“He also visited dad faithfully after he was diagnosed with dementia in 2013 and the two of them would talk about family and friends and share a few songs too.
“The Brazil game was a real highlight for my dad. He was surprised, but very proud when Pele came over to swap jerseys at the end of the 1-1 draw at Hampden.
“Although he scored Scotland’s goal, the jersey should have gone to Billy Bremner as he was nearest when the final whistle blew, but apparently Billy had been a bit rough with the tackling so Pele turned to dad and gave it to him.
“My niece, Vicki, was dad’s biggest fan and they spent a lot of time together in Troon.
“When she passed away in 2016 dad was devastated and his condition started to deteriorate.
“From 2016 to his passing in 2019 was a very difficult time for the family and the experience put a lot of things into perspective.
“Dad’s medals and other memorabilia are with his six children and their families and with mum’s blessing we all decided that the time was right to let another football fan become custodian of the archive. We will still have a million memories to share and that is what’s important.”
Brian Clements, managing director at McTear’s, added: “This is an incredibly important archive that tells a fascinating story of one of Scotland’s most famous footballers.
“It is extremely rare to find anything associated with the 1967 final appear at auction, but to see the match winner’s medal is quite remarkable.”