Jim Craig never had to look too far to find the doubters who believed his Celtic side had no chance against the the superstars of Inter Milan.

Across the dinner table at his parents' house, the full-back's father let it be known the famed Italians would be too strong for Jock Stein's men.

In fact, he was not even sure it would be worth making the trip to Lisbon to see his son and a Parkhead line-up all born within 30 miles of Celtic Park contest the 1967 European Cup final against Helenio Herrera's men, targeting the trophy for a third time in four years.

Read more: Celtic’s greatest day was end of an era for Sandro Mazzola and Inter

When Craig senior relented just five days before the game, he was still packing a large case of cynicism as he boarded the plane to Portugal.

But that was a mindset which never allowed to fester in the minds of Craig junior and his team-mates. Spurred on by their talent and the spadefuls of self-belief Stein had been shovelling into them over the course of a record-breaking campaign, the Hoops marched out to face Inter determined to triumph.

They had to do it the hard way when Craig conceded an early penalty, with their joyless opponents happy to sit in and frustrate after netting through Sandro Mazzola's spot-kick.

But Stein's swashbuckling Scots got their reward when second-half strikes from Tommy Gemmell and Stevie Chalmers sealed their place in history.

"I was back in Lisbon recently and it's amazing just how strong the memories came flooding back," Craig, now 73, told Press Association Sport.

"I got quite emotional walking round the old place thinking back over what happened that day.

"My father had not wanted to go to the game because he thought Inter would prove too strong.

"But we were a cocky, gallus bunch. We thought we were going to win, no matter what anyone else thought.

"My dad eventually agreed the Sunday before the game that he'd go. He was sitting with my Uncle Philip in the stand. When I gave away the penalty, he turned to Uncle Philip and said: 'I've come all this way to see that'.

Read more: Celtic’s greatest day was end of an era for Sandro Mazzola and Inter

"Looking back now, when I gave the pass to Tommy Gemmell for the equaliser I should have turned round and pointed up to the stand and shouted, 'Now, what you going to say?'"

To this day, Craig insists West German referee Kurt Tschenscher was wrong to point to the spot when Inter winger Renato Cappellini hit the deck after crossing Craig's path inside the box.

He explained: "I was seething at the decision at the time and I still don't think it was a penalty. I merely ran across his path but he made a meal of it.

"But while I was angry, I didn't let it affect me too much. I'm not someone who gets too upset in adversity. At half-time, the boss said to me 'get on with it, you're doing fine'."

Craig then provided the cutback for Gemmell to savagely ram past Giuliano Sarti, before Chalmers' late winner.

And with victory sealed, Stein told him what he really thought.

"He changed his tune after the match," grinned Craig. "He strode up to me and said, 'That was a stupid challenge. You almost cost us the European Cup with that daft tackle'. I'm just glad I got away with it."

The final whistle sparked scenes of jubilation as the Hoops faithful flooded on to the pitch to celebrate with the players - and in some cases, claim a famous memento.

The pitch invasion concerned the UEFA delegation, who decided only skipper Billy McNeill would be allowed back out to collect the trophy.

A team who epitomised collective strength were denied their chance to be recognised together.

Craig recalled: "I made it back to the dressing room holding on to my shorts and jock straps because I'd lost my jersey, socks and boots when the fans came on. That was a bit disappointing.

"What happened next was equally disappointing. When the fans came on the park, the authorities decided only Billy could go up to get the trophy.

"Instead, we were invited to a banquet somewhere in Lisbon afterwards. We waited an extraordinary length of time before Inter actually turned up.

Read more: Celtic’s greatest day was end of an era for Sandro Mazzola and Inter

"The meal then started and as we were sitting there, an official from UEFA came up and put what looked like a shoe box in front of Jock Stein. Inside were the medals and it was left to big Jock to hand them out. That was how our medals were presented - sitting round a restaurant table.

"It did sour the experience a bit. It was shocking - a terrible way for the day to end. We wanted to have our moment in front of the 45,000 who had been at the game and take our bow."

However, he added: "I've gone through the majority of my life being introduced everywhere I go as a Lisbon Lion, which is so special. Even people who have no interest in football know what it means.

"I've met all sorts of people on the back of this. You name it, I've met them. Celebrities, cabinet ministers, MPs, clergy. I used to tell a story about about meeting the Pope and him telling me it was never a penalty - but I made that one up!

"We're antiques now and people like antiques. As soon as people learn your name and the fact you're a Lisbon Lion, they want to chat. It really has been a remarkable experience."