THE campaign to build a statue to Celtic hero Billy McNeill in his hometown has netted £70,000 in just 14 months. 

The Billy McNeill Commemoration Committee launched their bid for a statue of Cesar to go up in Bellshill, North Lanarkshire, following his death last year.

The group set themselves a two-year goal to raise the necessary funds but smashed that target earlier this month. 

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They plan to erect the bronze sculpture of McNeill in May next year on the 54th anniversary of the Lisbon Lions lifting the European Cup in 1967.

In a post online, they said: "The StatueForCesar campaign has generated fantastic support not only from Bellshill and Mossend but also surrounding towns and villages as well as further afield in Scotland and internationally."

They added: "Many thanks to all who contributed in some way big or small. What an achievement.

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"We now look forward to the day when Bellshill honours one of our most successful sons."

The Hoops legend sadly passed away in 2019 after battling dementia.

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The Parkhead icon won 13 league titles with the club as a player and manager and of course a statue of him lifting the European Cup sits proudly outside Celtic Park.

McNeill originally earned the title 'Cesar' after going to see the Hollywood film Ocean's Eleven starring Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack in the 1960s.

The name was given to McNeill from actor Cesar Romero, who played a getaway driver, as he was the only Celtic player with a car at the time to drive his Hoops pals around.