John Fallon
Encyclopedia
John Fallon is a Scottish
former professional footballer and member of the Celtic
squad that won the European Cup in 1967, which came to be known as the Lisbon Lions
.
Fallon signed for Celtic from junior football team Fauldhouse United in 1959 to understudy for Frank Haffey
and made his debut that same year against Clyde
. He replaced Haffey as first choice goalkeeper in 1963 and played his part in the European Cup
run of 1964, where they lost out to the Hungarian
team MTK Budapest 4–3 in the semi-finals, after holding a 3–0 lead from the first leg at Celtic Park
. He remained first choice goalkeeper until the signing of veteran keeper Ronnie Simpson
from Hibernian
in 1965.
Fallon became the only Lisbon Lion not to play in Celtic's win in the 1967 European Cup Final
against Inter Milan, as he was the (unused) substitute goalkeeper. At that time the only substitute permitted was for the goalkeeping position. As a result of winning the European Cup, Celtic entered the Intercontinental Cup later that year, a two-leg match against Racing Club
of Argentina. While warming up for the second leg, a brick (Sir Robert Kelly says it was a "flat iron bar") thrown or catapulted by a member of the crowd, struck Ronnie Simpson
on the head.
With Simpson unable to play, Fallon was called on to keep goal in a bad-tempered second leg, and an even more bad-tempered play-off. Although Celtic lost the return leg, and the subsequent play-off in Uruguay, amid accusations of extreme foul play from the Racing players, Fallon distinguished himself with a string of saves which caused one commentator to remark: "If that's the reserve keeper, what must the other guy be like?" According to Sir Robert Kelly in his book Celtic, when Celtic tried to get the second leg declared void because of the Simpson incident, Racing Club used Fallon's heroic performance as their counter argument, and the result stood. Fallon also played in the team that won the Alfredo di Stefano Trophy, a testimonial for the Real Madrid
player.
After Simpson's retirement, Fallon took over as first choice at Celtic, but lost his place to Evan Williams due to a long illness, sitting out the 1970 European Cup Final
. He moved to Motherwell
in 1972, and moved on to Greenock Morton
, and retired from active play shortly after.now he lives in Blantyre.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
former professional footballer and member of the Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
squad that won the European Cup in 1967, which came to be known as the Lisbon Lions
Lisbon Lions
The Lisbon Lions is the nickname given to the Celtic team that won the European Cup at the Estádio Nacional in Lisbon, Portugal on 25 May 1967, defeating Internazionale 2–1. All the members of this team were born within 30 miles of Glasgow, Scotland. Celtic's style was the antithesis of the...
.
Fallon signed for Celtic from junior football team Fauldhouse United in 1959 to understudy for Frank Haffey
Frank Haffey
Francis Haffey was a football goalkeeper for Glasgow's Celtic F.C. and for the Scottish national team.Haffey, remembered as one of Celtic's great and more eccentric keepers, played more than two hundred matches for his club....
and made his debut that same year against Clyde
Clyde F.C.
Clyde Football Club are a Scottish professional football team currently playing in the Third Division of the Scottish Football League. Although based for the last fifteen years in the new town of Cumbernauld, they are traditionally associated with an area that covers Rutherglen in South...
. He replaced Haffey as first choice goalkeeper in 1963 and played his part in the European Cup
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
run of 1964, where they lost out to the Hungarian
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
team MTK Budapest 4–3 in the semi-finals, after holding a 3–0 lead from the first leg at Celtic Park
Celtic Park
Celtic Park is a football stadium in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which is the home ground of Celtic FC. Celtic Park, an all-seater stadium with a capacity of 60,832, is the largest football stadium in Scotland and the sixth-largest stadium in the United Kingdom, after Murrayfield, Old Trafford,...
. He remained first choice goalkeeper until the signing of veteran keeper Ronnie Simpson
Ronnie Simpson
Ronald "Ronnie" Campbell Simpson was a Scottish football goalkeeper. He is mainly remembered for his time with Celtic, where he was one of the Lisbon Lions, the first British team to win the European Cup in 1967....
from Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
in 1965.
Fallon became the only Lisbon Lion not to play in Celtic's win in the 1967 European Cup Final
1967 European Cup Final
The 1967 European Cup Final was a football match between Italian team Inter Milan and Scottish team Celtic. It took place at the Estádio Nacional in Lisbon, Portugal on 25 May 1967 in front of a crowd of 45,000. It was the final of the 1966–67 European Cup, the premier club competition run by...
against Inter Milan, as he was the (unused) substitute goalkeeper. At that time the only substitute permitted was for the goalkeeping position. As a result of winning the European Cup, Celtic entered the Intercontinental Cup later that year, a two-leg match against Racing Club
Racing Club de Avellaneda
Racing Club is an Argentine professional football club from Avellaneda, a suburb of Greater Buenos Aires. Founded in 1903, Racing has been historically considered one of the "big five" clubs of Argentine football...
of Argentina. While warming up for the second leg, a brick (Sir Robert Kelly says it was a "flat iron bar") thrown or catapulted by a member of the crowd, struck Ronnie Simpson
Ronnie Simpson
Ronald "Ronnie" Campbell Simpson was a Scottish football goalkeeper. He is mainly remembered for his time with Celtic, where he was one of the Lisbon Lions, the first British team to win the European Cup in 1967....
on the head.
With Simpson unable to play, Fallon was called on to keep goal in a bad-tempered second leg, and an even more bad-tempered play-off. Although Celtic lost the return leg, and the subsequent play-off in Uruguay, amid accusations of extreme foul play from the Racing players, Fallon distinguished himself with a string of saves which caused one commentator to remark: "If that's the reserve keeper, what must the other guy be like?" According to Sir Robert Kelly in his book Celtic, when Celtic tried to get the second leg declared void because of the Simpson incident, Racing Club used Fallon's heroic performance as their counter argument, and the result stood. Fallon also played in the team that won the Alfredo di Stefano Trophy, a testimonial for the Real Madrid
Real Madrid
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
player.
After Simpson's retirement, Fallon took over as first choice at Celtic, but lost his place to Evan Williams due to a long illness, sitting out the 1970 European Cup Final
1970 European Cup Final
The 1970 European Cup Final was a football match held at the San Siro, Milan, on 6 May 1970, that saw Feyenoord of the Netherlands defeat Celtic of Scotland 2-1 after extra time. Ove Kindvall's goal in the 117th minute meant the trophy was going to a Dutch club for the first time. It remains...
. He moved to Motherwell
Motherwell F.C.
Motherwell Football & Athletic Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The club compete in the Scottish Premier League and are one of only seven teams to have remained in this league since it was founded in 1998...
in 1972, and moved on to Greenock Morton
Greenock Morton F.C.
Greenock Morton Football Club are a Scottish professional football club, who currently play in the Scottish Football League First Division. The club was founded as Morton Football Club in 1874, making it one of the oldest senior Scottish clubs....
, and retired from active play shortly after.now he lives in Blantyre.