Celtic Player of the Day – Ronnie Simpson, ‘Faither’ in the Lisbon Lions

The Celtic Star

·1 May 2025

Celtic Player of the Day – Ronnie Simpson, ‘Faither’ in the Lisbon Lions

The career of Ronnie Simpson defied belief…

Ronnie Simpson (Celtic) Date: 1st September 1967. Photo imago/Kicker/Metelmann Torwart.

The son of Jimmy Simpson of Rangers, he started off playing for Queen’s Park at the end of World War Two before he reached his 15th birthday.

OneFootball Videos

While still an amateur he played in the 1948 Olympic Games, then turned professional and moved to Third Lanark, then on to Newcastle United for whom he won two FA Cup medals and played in the same team as Jackie Milburn and Bobby Mitchell.

IMAGO / ColorsportRon Batty (right) and Ronnie Simpson in the bath with the trophy. Charlie Crowe (raincoat) missed the final through injury. FA Cup Final 1955 at Wembley Manchester City v Newcastle United on 07/05/1955

He then at the end of his career (as it seemed) moved to Hibs, but by the time Jock Stein arrived in 1964 he was struggling to keep his place and moved on to Celtic in autumn 1964. This was a surprise and could only really be seen as a cover for injuries. But then he was given his debut (against Barcelona!) in November 1964 and gained his place on a permanent basis a year later.

He played a significant part in Lisbon (a few weeks after he had won his first Scotland international cap in the famous 3-2 game at Wembley) and subsequent triumphs and it was only a bad shoulder injury in 1969 which compelled him to retire.

30th May 1967: Celtic’s goalkeeper, Ronnie Simpson, jumps to catch a high ball from Inter Milan during the European Cup final in Lisbon. Tommy Gemmell and Stevie Chalmers scored for Celtic which ensured a surprise 2-1 victory for the Scottish team. Celtic became the first British side to win the trophy and remain the only Scottish side to reach the final. (Photo by Central Press/Getty Images)

He was Manager of Hamilton Accies and became the goalkeeper coach for Dunfermline. He also was a Conservative Councillor in Edinburgh! He died in 2004 after a barely credible life.

Billy McNeill protects Ronnie Simpson from the Hibs attacker

David Potter

*Article from by the late, great David Potter from The Celtic Star archives.

Ronnie Simpson leads out the Lisbon Lions for the final time on 1st May 1971. Photo The Celtic Wiki

READ THIS…Mystery of Ronnie Simpson’s jersey from a special afternoon

Ronnie Simpson and the rest of the Lisbon Lions take the applause for the final time on 1st May 1971. Photo The Celtic Wiki

Support The Celtic Star telling Celtic’s wonderful history – Celtic in the Thirties

Celtic in the Thirties by Celtic Historian Matt Corr is published in two volumes by Celtic Star Books. ORDER NOW!

Both volumes of Celtic in the Thirties are also available on Amazon Kindle, with the links to order below. Signed copies of both volumes are still available on hardback from Celtic Star Books and if you would like author Matt Corr to add a special dedication to your copies please let us know. Order hardback copies HERE or for Amazon Kindle click by clicking on the images below…

Click to order Volume One

Click to order Volume Two