WEST Dunbartonshire should give Freeman honours to the surviving members of the Lisbon Lions, despite there being no connection to the area, claims a Clydebank councillor.

Bailie Denis Agnew has put forward a motion to next week's full council meeting arguing the seven remaining players from the 1967 squad should be recognised with a ceremony, paid for by taxpayers.

But the independent councillor's bid has already been given a yellow card as the SNP group in the administration rejected his plan and the potential £17,000 price tag.

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 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 (John Clark, Jim Craig, 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."

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 the cost, he said: "I have no idea what it would cost. There are no budgets created 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."

Council and SNP group leader Jonathan McColl told the Post a ceremony would not happen.

He said: “While Bailie Agnew’s motion is well meaning, none of those he wishes to honour have a connection with West Dunbartonshire, and I do not feel it would be appropriate to spend upwards of £17,000 of public money to hold a freeman ceremony.

“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.”

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.