Celtic to honor Jinky in statue form

By: Matt | July 7th, 2008

I’ve certainly had my fair share of bones to pick with the board and corporation that is Celtic. However, some uplifting news has come front Celtic Park today. Celtic have decided to construct a permanent memorial in the form of a bronze statue on a granite base of James “Jinky” Johnstone, which will cost the club £60,000. Johnstone was voted by Celtic fans as the Greatest Player in Celtic history by the fans in 2002. Jinky was a Celtic legend and this is a fitting tribute for the impact that he has had on the club. Of course the “Lord of the Wing” was part of the infamous “Lisbon Lions” team of 1967 that won the European Cup against Internazionale in Lisbon. From 1962-1975 Jinky appeared 515 times and scored 130 goals.
While I was not yet on this earth for Jinky’s playing days, one needs only to be born yesterday to understand the everlasting impact that Jinky Johnstone has on the Celtic Football Club. With great sites such as CelticUnderground and LordOfTheWing to see old videos of Jinky during his heyday and read great accounts of his playing days, it is possible to see Jinky’s brillance on your computer screen. Yet, even if you’ve never seen any of this, one only needs to look at Johnstone’s funeral procession down into Celtic Park to see the throngs of well wishers there to honor the Bhoy and pay their respects.

This moving tribute just shows that Johnstone will be forever remembered in the hearts and minds of Celtic supporters young and old and this statue in his honor is a great gesture by Celtic. How could you not love a man who, with Bobby Lennox started singing the “Celtic Song” in the tunnel of the European Cup final or said “There they were, Facchetti, Domenghini, Mazzola, Cappellini; all six-footers wi’ Ambre Solaire suntans, Colgate smiles and sleek-backed hair. Each and every wan o’ them looked like yon film star Cesar Romero. They even smelt beautiful. And there’s us lot – midgets. Ah’ve got nae teeth, Bobby Lennox hasnae any, and old Ronnie Simpson’s got the full monty, nae teeth top an’ bottom. The Italians are staring doon at us an’ we’re grinnin’ back up at ‘em wi’ our great gumsy grins. We must have looked like something out o’ the circus.” when talking about facing Inter in Lisbon. It was not only his play, but his sometimes dry humor that fans loved and everyone will now be able to remember Jinky every weekend at Celtic Park. Good in you, Celtic.

TAL