A CLYDEBANK councillor’s bid to have the highest civic honour in West Dunbartonshire bestowed upon the surviving members of the Lisbon Lions has been shown the red card by council chiefs.

Bailie Denis Agnew put forward a motion to next week’s full council meeting arguing the seven remaining players from the 1967 Celtic squad which lifted the European Cup should be made Freemen of West Dunbartonshire at a cost of £17,000 in taxpayers money.

But the independent councillor’s bid was booted into touch by the SNP administration – which he is in coalition with – who rejected his plan because none of the former players have any connections to the area.

Council leader Jonathan McColl said: “While Bailie Agnew’s motion is well meaning, none of those he wishes to honour have a connection with West Dunbartonshire.

“The SNP group will move an amendment recognising the immense achievement of the Lisbon Lions, but we could not possibly justify spending this level of public money or bestowing the Freemanship on people who do not have a local connection.”

There were just three Freemanships given out in the five years of the last West Dunbartonshire Council, for Rev Ian Miller, Sister Rita at St Margaret of Scotland Hospice and Father Joseph Mills.

Bailie Agnew’s motion, which includes mixed up names of surviving players, reads: “This council recognises the immense achievement for the Celtic football team in May 1967 to be the first British team to win the European Cup.

“This achievement brought global recognition from a home grown group of young men at the peak of their performance. Sadly, almost half of the original Lisbon Lions team have passed away.

“However, the remaining individuals from that group (Jim Clark, John Craig,[sic] Willie Wallace, Billy McNeil, Stevie Chalmers, Bobby Lennox and Bertie Auld) are still with us and I would propose that this council recognises their and their former teammates’ achievement by holding a ceremony at some future date to confer this Freemanship of West Dunbartonshire on the surviving Lisbon Lions. The costs will be met from unearmarked reserves.”

Labour also questioned the motion.

Cllr Danny Lennie said: "What the Lisbon Lions achieved will never EVER be repeated. The Lions were the side I grew up watching and cheering. Bobby Lennox is my hero.

"But it has to be a firm 'no' to giving the remaining Lions such an honour.

"Firstly you dont hand out a freemanship just to be trendy.

"You are made a freeman due to the work and dedication you put in to your community. It is a huge honour that is only given to a very select few who have earned this.

"To even contemplate giving this honour to the remaining Lisbon Lions simply diminishes the honour. This motion surely can not be passed."

Bailie Agnew told the Post it was a bigger issue than just whether the Lisbon Lions had a direct connection to West Dunbartonshire.

He said: “It’s about what they brought to Scottish and British sport and I think it’s relevant to the local character of every town and important they should be recognised.

“We should be looking at how people have affected communities and nobody can deny the influence of the Lisbon Lions 50 years later.”

Bailie Agnew said he had never been to a Celtic match and was “not a football fan at all” but could see the impact of the 1967 team across the country.

He continued: “They achieved greatness. We as a local authority should recognise that. Anyone who has played a part in generating interest in sport or other areas should be recognised.”

When asked about cost, he said: “I have no idea what it would cost. There are no budgets for these events. We have to look at the bigger picture. I don’t think we should get into a debate about matters that diminish the intention behind it.”

Father Joseph Mills was made a Freeman in May after serving two decades at St Mary’s Church in Duntocher among his 50 years as a priest.

He joined former Provost Alistair MacDonald, former Councillor Margaret McGregor, Dumbarton-born Sir Jackie Stewart OBE, Sister Rita Dawson MBE, Rev Ian Miller and Duncan Mills as a Freeman of West Dunbartonshire.