John Clark, who sadly passed away last June at the age of 84, turned out 182 times for the Hoops, including playing his part in the team’s 2-1 win over Inter Milan in the 1967 European Cup final.
John was born in Chapelhall in 1941 and went on to run several businesses in the village before moving to Holytown.
He was inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame in 2017 – and is now set for further lasting immortality in Chapelhall with a bronze statue trbute.
Airdrie South councillor Michael Coyle is leading a community committee for North Lanarkshire Council to bring the statue to the village.
Councillor Coyle is being backed by Gabe Smith of Chapelhall tenants’ and residents’ association, fellow councillors Michael McBride and Sandy Watson, and other kind contributors to the project.
Councillor Coyle told Lanarkshire Live: “It’s an honour to head up this committee as John is a true Chapelhall and footballing legend.
“The council has made a financial contribution too and we have support coming from businessmen James Mortimer and Mark Guidi.
“We have a fantastic London-based sculptor, Douglas Jennings, who will create the statue.
“He has done a prototype design based on a photo of John lifting the European Cup.
“The statue will be bronze and also have a marble plinth on it.”
Councillor Coyle added: “The aim is to have the statue in place some time next year and we are hoping to place it alongside the ‘Welcome to Chapelhall’ sign; it will be a real highlight in the village.
“The communty are over the moon and can’t wait for the statue to be erected.
“John was a very popular guy in Chapelhall, and ran several local businesses, so is very deserving of this permanent tribute.”
The White House Bar in Holytown will hold a statue fundraiser on September 27, which will be the first fundraiser taking place at the pub in aid of the permanent tribute to John, with special guest former Celtic FC player and manager Neil Lennon.
Motherwell funnyman Tam Cowan will host the event, which will also include musical entertainment and starts at 3pm; tickets, priceed £35 and only availble from the bar, are sure to sell out and will be available on a first come, first served basis. (60 seats only).