They weren’t called the Glasgow Lions. Or the Celtic Lions.
They were called the Lisbon Lions — this just might be the only sports team named after the an away city they played in.
Trailer for The Lions’ Road
You Can’t Make This Sh*t Up
- They are named the “Lisbon” Lions after the name of the away city in which they had an epic victory. It’s the only example of a team being named after an external city that I know of.
- Barry and Martin drive 2,000+ miles in a car that’s older than most footballers playing today — the 1967 Hillman Imp, nicknamed “Jinky” after Celtic legend Jimmy Johnstone.
- The original 1967 fans slept in vans, bartered tickets, and navigated Europe with nothing but paper maps and blind faith in Celtic FC.
- The Lisbon Lions were all born within 30 miles of Celtic Park — something unheard of for a European Cup-winning team.
Watch “The Lions’ Road”
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In the meantime, here are some related videos on the Lisbon Lions including (in the first) a separate documentary
Glasgow 1967: The Lisbon Lions
And here are 2 other clips on the team:
Ratings:
- My Rating: 87/100
- IMDB Rating: 9.4/10
Director’s Note: Directed by Donald MacKinnon, with writing contributions from Martin Coyle and Barry Sweeney—who also appear in the film. It runs 1 hour 36 minutes.
Release Date: 2022
My Review of “The Lions’ Road”
The Setup
Barry Sweeney and Martin Coyle take off from Scotland in “Jinky”, their 1967 Hillman Imp, on a pilgrimage to Lisbon to honor the Celtic team that, in 1967, became the first club from Northern Europe to win the European Cup.
They retrace the original journey made by thousands of fans who drove, hitchhiked, and flew their way across Europe to see history in the making.
More Highlights from the Doc
- Emotional reunions and interviews with fans who made the original 1967 trip to Lisbon.
- Archival footage of Celtic’s 2–1 victory over Inter Milan in the Estádio Nacional — with commentary that still gives goosebumps.
- Scenes in Lisbon today, where locals still remember the flood of Scottish fans and their unforgettable spirit.
- The passion of the Celtic fanbase: from hand-stitched jerseys to weeping at the sight of the old stadium gates.
Lesser-Known Details from the Doc
- Jinky the car was a real restoration project — rebuilt almost entirely from scratch by Barry and Martin just for this journey.
- Not only was the Hillman Imp a nod to the past, but the same model was used by fans on the original 1967 pilgrimage.
- Footage of Celtic’s massive send-off at Glasgow before the 2022 trip echoes the 1967 atmosphere.
- The pair stop at every major city along the historic route — recreating fan photos and even revisiting restaurants where the 1967 supporters ate.
Wrap Up
“The Lions’ Road” is a love letter to football, fans, and history. Even if you’re not a Celtic supporter, this is a journey worth watching.
Heather Fenty, Guest Writer, Daily Doc