AN epic journey first travelled by an Evening Times journalist is being recreated by two Celtic fans on the 50th anniversary of the club’s momentous European Cup win.

Barry Sweeney and Martin Coyle are retracing the miles John Quinn covered in 1967 in a green-and-white Hillman Imp, when he led the ‘Celticade’ of 15,000 fans heading for Lisbon.

It was there that the Glasgow club beat the mighty Inter Milan 2-1, in what was to become a defining moment in its history.

The Bishopbriggs cousins are doing it for their late fathers, John Coyle and Thomas Sweeney, who never made it to Portugal, and for the legions of supporters who crammed into anything with wheels to get to the game.

And just like John, they are doing it in a 1967 green-and-white Hillman Imp.

“It took us a while to find a 1967 model – most had disappeared,” explains Barry, 45.

“Even the owners’ club said we’d struggle. Eventually, we tracked down one that had been built in Linwood, but had ended up, funnily enough, in Barga in Portugal.”

Barry grins: “We took it as a sign that this was meant to be…..”

Lifelong Celtic fans Barry and Martin, 44, first dreamt up the idea of retracing John Quinn’s journey around three years ago.

“I’m into classic cars and Martin has huge media experience, so we put our heads together and came up with the idea of doing the journey in a Hillman Imp and making a film about it along the way in time for the 50th anniversary,” says Barry.

The duo is travelling with a film crew, led by Donald Mackinnon, and the resulting documentary, The Lions Road, will capture the story of the team – all local boys from within a 30 mile radius of Celtic Park – and their inspirational manager, Jock Stein.

“We just want to pay homage to the Lisbon Lions and their achievements, 50 years on,” says Barry.

“We’ll take a trip back to 67’, the summer of love. The only things on the minds of Celtic and their fans, of course, was football. They had no time for sex, drugs and rock and roll. They had to get to the game.”

The fans’ dedication, all those years ago, was of course rewarded when Celtic – the first British team ever to reach the final of the competition - won the match.

Barry and Martin have tracked down several people with connections to the original road trip, including John’s widow Kathleen and his fellow journalist Jim McGuire, some of the surviving Lisbon Lions themselves, and fans who joined the Celticade.

“Most people think we’re completely mad,” grins Martin.

“What’s amazed us though are the stories – genuinely funny and amazing tales from people who were part of it all.

“That’s what we want to capture on the film.”

For Barry and Martin, the chance to pay tribute to the men and women who made the trip has a touching personal connection too.

“Our dads were both Celtic fans, but they never made it to Lisbon,” says Martin.

“They loved Celtic and everything we know and love about football, came to us from them.”

Barry adds: “We both lost our dads in the last couple of years, which was hard, so this is another reason for doing this trip. They would have loved it.”

Barry and Martin will follow John’s original route through France and across the Pyrenees into Spain before arriving in Lisbon’s Estadio Nacional on May 25.

“Our trip is going to be slightly different from John’s of course – back then, petrol was just 27p a gallon,” grins Barry.

John, who died in 2011, always recalled his ‘glorious adventure’ with great fondness.

He had been sent to cover the story by his bosses at the Evening Times, and he dreamt up the idea of doing it in the Hillman Imp, which was donated by Roots of Linwood.

“They did us proud ...they had also thoughtfully provided me with a package of spares and a sprig of lucky white heather,” he wrote in his ET column. “After 3788 miles, nine days and three countries I was proud to hand it back unopened.”

“There was a great sense of fun and adventure and camaraderie about the whole trip,” he told author Andy Dougan for his 2007 book Celtic: The Lisbon Lions: A Celebration of the European Cup Campaign 1967.

“Everybody helped each other out. If there was a puncture, there was no shortage of people to help change tyres. Their whole attitude to the trip was incredible. They drove through the Pyrenees like they were driving up Maryhill Road.”

The two men launched a crowdfunding campaign to help pay for the trip and they are grateful to everyone who supported them, raising £7000 so far.

They hope to continue receiving donations through their GoFundMe page at https://www.gofundme.com/thelionsroad

Martin explains: “This is an important piece of Glasgow’s social history. We want to collect in all the stories, the memories, the photographs from the people who were there and turn it in to something for future generations to understand what it’s all about.

“I’m sure there are people who out there who have no idea their parents and grandparents went on this mad adventure so hopefully we can tell their stories.”

Barry and Martin are setting off from the same starting point as John – Alexandra Parade in Dennistoun – tomorrow (Thursday) at 12 noon. They are leading a small parade of classic cars and are keen to hear from anyone with a classic vehicle who would like to take part – get in touch through their Twitter and Facebook pages if you want to get involved.

“The car – which we are calling Wee Jinky in memory of Celtic player, Jimmy ‘Jinky’ Johnstone – has already attracted a lot of attention on the streets of Glasgow,” grins Barry.

Martin says: “I’d like to think John would approve of us recreating his trip. He’d be quite amused.

“And like everyone else, he’d probably think we were completely mad….”