Writing this feels like I'm trying to lift a great weight off my heart, but it is just heartbreaking. John Clark -- everyday hero for Celtic, a Lisbon Lion, and known as “The Brush” -- has passed away, aged 84. You know it's not just the defender who we loved on the pitch; it's the man who was, and is, intertwined into the history of the club over the last 45 years in multiple roles. As a player, coach, kit man he was there, working quietly as an essential cog in making everything work a little better, day after day. His passing is not just a story; it is a gut-wrench for everyone at Celtic.
Why this loss feels different -- and personal
It is urgent that I make this point: John Clark was not just a name on a team sheet. In that year that we don’t forget, the 1966–67 season, he did not miss a single game -- and by that I mean he played 59 games. Can you imagine that stamina? That grit? He never stood out -- he doesn't have one headed or fancy goal to write home about. He wasn't an inspirational/fiery captain either. He was the steady, calm voice, the saviour. And the nickname "The Brush"? came about because he was always ready to sweep away any kind of danger with ease. And it went deeper than that -- he was always unassuming and he was always there.
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Played every game of Celtic’s historic quadruple-winning season
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Over 300 appearances in hoops, six league titles, three Scottish Cups, five League Cups, and a European Cup
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Earned respect as a defender—steady, reliable, unshowy
And after leaving in 1971, he came back a few times—as coach, assistant with Billy McNeill, then as kit man from 1997 for 20 years. Anyone who visited Parkhead could walk in and meet him chatting at the door—humble, easygoing, always Celtic.
Unseen moments that made him so special
You might’ve heard classic stories, but here’s something you won’t find everywhere: in the early 1980s, Celtic were in New York. In a hotel lift, Clark bumped into Pele—yes, that Pele! The legend recognized John and struck up a friendly chat. After the Brazilian legend left, John turned to teammate Davie Provan and asked, in that famously dry tone: “Who the hell was that?” It summed him up perfectly—humble to the core, even in face of greatness.
Also, most don’t know he spent years managing Clyde—273 games, steadied the ship in rough times. Devotion to football wasn’t a flash in the pan for him. It was lifelong, unbreakable.
The Celtic world stops—and Tweets
The club released a statement that touched so many:
“Everyone at Celtic FC is deeply saddened at the news that legendary Lisbon Lion, John Clark has passed away at the age of 84. The whole Celtic family will mourn John's loss together.”
And Brendan Rodgers said Clark was “an absolute inspiration ... through his knowledge, his wisdom and his true love for Celtic”—words that feel so genuine. Across Twitter and Instagram, fans are posting old pictures, scarves, memories. One Instagram reel shows him smiling during a 2015 parade, his eyes full of love for the club:
That moment? It wasn’t staged. It was pure emotion, and it shows how he represented the heart of Celtic.
What his life teaches us now
I feel like his passing reminds us that greatness isn’t just showy—it’s in consistency, humility, and love. He left Parkhead in 1971, sure—but he returned in so many ways. That continuity, that loyalty? It means so much to young players, to fans, to staff. He once said, in a rare interview, "You don’t need to be roaring to matter—you just need to be there." And he was—for a lifetime.
Quick Takeaways
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Lisbon Lion: played in all 59 matches of the 1966–67 quadruple-winning season
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Lifelong Celtic servant: from debut in 1959 to kit man up to 2020s
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Had humility: even asked “Who the hell was that?” about Pele
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Managed clubs like Clyde, then came back as kit man for 20 years
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Nicknames: “The Brush” for defensive style, “Mr Celtic” for lifelong devotion
