48 years ago, Scottish Cup Final - DJ scores before the official kick off time

mdingwall

mdingwall

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The night before the final there was a news report which according to my memory said that there were spare tickets which would be on sale. Others have stated it said that Hearts had returned a few thousand.

Anyway - my dad and his pals rounded up a posse and off we went early in a few cars - by the time we arrived at Sommerville Drive the road was very busy.

As time passed it was blocked solid with bodies so much so the dads lifted us up onto the walls of houses and then clambered up themselves.

We watched as people used strings of barbed wire as ropes to climb up. Saw people rushing the large exit gates - the only time we saw the cops was when they drew batons to clear the gates.

We were actually outside when the goal went in - I remembered some of them at the top of the terracing running up with their Rangers scarves and jumping up and down to signal the roar that had erupted was for us.

Strangely the massive crowd still crushing at kick off time dispersed it seemed within seconds as people headed home or to pubs and clubs to see th game.

We headed home and watched the rest of the Final in Billy Cook’s house in Shafton where cans of McEwan’s Export and Piper Export were much in evidence!
 
This was one of those games I vividly remember despite being very young at the time. Pouring with rain, the biggest crowd I’ve ever been part of, and a lot of trouble in the Kings Park end. Frightening and exciting at the same time.
 
I was there aged about 10 with my brother in law and all his mad mates. We ended up in the Hearts end as we couldn’t get tickets for our end. I remember at one point actually being scared when the crowd was crushing and I got lifted off my feet. I have memories of the Hearts fans being a bit wild trying to get in but at full time some older guys were shaking my hand saying best team won. I missed the first goal.
 
We actually shared a minibus with a few Jambos from Greenlaw in the Borders to this.

I remeber big gaps opening up in the away end as we scored and blows being traded.

I also remember stopping half way back on the M8 at that junction where there is or was a Chinese restaurant but back then it was a pub.
 
Was there as a wee bear with my dad, I reckon there might have been nearly 100k people there with all the bears charging the gates.
the ‘Rangers end’ was absolutely packed solid, my dad moved to the side of that end where it was slightly less mobbed as he was getting worried about my safety.
Brilliant day though
 
My first cup final as a boy of nine years of age. My dad, brother, uncle and his gf. In the main stand enclosure.
Vividly remember singing "show me the way to go home" (among other joyful songs).
Loved Derek J and wee Doddie. What a team we were.
 
mdingwall said:


The night before the final there was a news report which according to my memory said that there were spare tickets which would be on sale. Others have stated it said that Hearts had returned a few thousand.

Anyway - my dad and his pals rounded up a posse and off we went early in a few cars - by the time we arrived at Sommerville Drive the road was very busy.

As time passed it was blocked solid with bodies so much so the dads lifted us up onto the walls of houses and then clambered up themselves.

We watched as people used strings of barbed wire as ropes to climb up. Saw people rushing the large exit gates - the only time we saw the cops was when they drew batons to clear the gates.

We were actually outside when the goal went in - I remembered some of them at the top of the terracing running up with their Rangers scarves and jumping up and down to signal the roar that had erupted was for us.

Strangely the massive crowd still crushing at kick off time dispersed it seemed within seconds as people headed home or to pubs and clubs to see th game.

We headed home and watched the rest of the Final in Billy Cook’s house in Shafton where cans of McEwan’s Export and Piper Export were much in evidence!
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Would be hard to see the game unless in person as it wasn't live on TV
 
Jim Denny said:
Was there as a wee bear with my dad, I reckon there might have been nearly 100k people there, the ‘Rangers end’ was absolutely packed solid, my dad moved to the side of that end where it was slightly less mobbed as he was getting worried about my safety.
Brilliant day though
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I was with my older brother that day and he commented that the sight of supporters actually perched on the fence at the very top of the Kings Park end was a sign that there was over 100k inside Hampden. He'd been going to games there since the 1950's. I think the SFA gave the attendance as 85k but there were a lot more inside Hampden that day. One of my abiding memories though is the popping of corks from bottles of pomagne in the Mount Florida end when John Greig lifted the Scottish Cup. It was like a volley of gunshots. :))
 
My first cup final.

I was allowed to stay up and watch the highlights of the semi final. We were 2 - 0 down to Motherwell and my dad, obviously knowing the result, said if we win I will take you to the final. When big McCloy punted that ball up the park for DJ to run on to it and score I was in dreamland.

I remember getting up on the Saturday morning of the final and it was pouring with rain. I was terrified it would be called off.

I took my place down at the fence near the corner or the Rangers end and North Stand and didn't need to wait long for the opener.
 
Was there with an old mate of mine he's 80 now and I'm 71, we were in the old North Stand Had few pints in the old Road House in Bailieston, then drove to Hampden, wouldn't dream of doing that now.
Just got to our seats when the big man scored, back to our local for the celebrations, great day
 
I might be wrong here, but I'm sure you could pay at the gate into the celtic end. My old man took me and 3 of mates to it, I'm sure we didn't have tickets and this may explain the bedlam at that end. We were in a good bit before kick off, then it went barking mad with about 10 mins to the start. It was absolutely packed and the early goal didn't help.
 
Climbed over the walls at the hertz end it was pay as you go at that end and was just a mass of people trying to get in…… there were so many of us going over the wall at the top of the hill the police were helping us over……
 
mdingwall said:
That’s my memory so fcuk you Al :p
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That is me telt!

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My first cup final. I actually attended 4 of the 5 rounds. East Fife at home, Aberdeen at home, Motherwell semi and the final. It was a great run.

Aberdeen were flying high and very mouthy coming into the 4th round game at Ibrox. Ally McLeod was in the papers telling how they were going to knock us out. They'd gone about 2 months, only losing one game and it was to us. We pumped them on the day and were absolutely brilliant.

Motherwell semi-final was one of the greatest comebacks I've ever seen from a Rangers team. 2-0 down with 20 minutes to go and we win 3-2. Alex Miller penalty and then 2 DJ goals in last 10 minutes. That was a good Motherwell team, with Willie Pettigrew, Peter Marinello, Bobby Graham, Gregor Stevens and Colin McAdam.

Weird memory is that since it was my first final (I was 10), I couldn't sleep the night before and can still remember my dream that I'd got lost on the way to the game and missed it. :)
 
Ronnietheranger said:
Climbed over the walls at the hertz end it was pay as you go at that end and was just a mass of people trying to get in…… there were so many of us going over the wall at the top of the hill the police were helping us over……
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My dad and his pals did they same. No tickets, just drove through and a few of them jumped the wall.
 
Happy memories of that day. Strathclyde Students Union before it, then over to Hampden on the bus from St Enoch Square. Pissing rain if I remember correctly, we were in the North Enclosure.
After the game I met up with my old man and his mate who were in the main stand.
 
Blue Lou Boyle said:
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VAR would have chopped that second goal off for being in an offside position and interfering with play. ;)

We were in the Hearts "end" and I vividly remember the Hearts support being segregated into a big square area. They only took up about 1/4 of their "end"
They were just over and below us, so you could see them pretty clearly. Weird memory.
 
mdingwall said:


The night before the final there was a news report which according to my memory said that there were spare tickets which would be on sale. Others have stated it said that Hearts had returned a few thousand.

Anyway - my dad and his pals rounded up a posse and off we went early in a few cars - by the time we arrived at Sommerville Drive the road was very busy.

As time passed it was blocked solid with bodies so much so the dads lifted us up onto the walls of houses and then clambered up themselves.

We watched as people used strings of barbed wire as ropes to climb up. Saw people rushing the large exit gates - the only time we saw the cops was when they drew batons to clear the gates.

We were actually outside when the goal went in - I remembered some of them at the top of the terracing running up with their Rangers scarves and jumping up and down to signal the roar that had erupted was for us.

Strangely the massive crowd still crushing at kick off time dispersed it seemed within seconds as people headed home or to pubs and clubs to see th game.

We headed home and watched the rest of the Final in Billy Cook’s house in Shafton where cans of McEwan’s Export and Piper Export were much in evidence!
Click to expand...
I was there, outside the park. We were trying to get in while the police were throwing some hearts fans out!

W.A.T.P.
 
“Hearts side” of Main Stand for me and my Dad. My 1st CF and it was Bears everywhere! Aside from the game (McKean was brilliant iirc) and the noise I remember being sat beside 2 manky long haired Jambos who smoked Hamlet cigars the whole game. Weird memories of a then 7yo :))
 
I was 16 and in section J of the Rangers end. Fantastic memories of the whole day, from meeting up with circa 150 other pupils from Victoria Drive school and all heading over to Hampden. We walked to Hampden from Union Street where we had arranged to meet up and after the match walked back into the city centre. We sang ourselves hoarse on those walks and inside Hampden.
Many bottles of Pomagne were consumed.
 
TheDerryend said:
I might be wrong here, but I'm sure you could pay at the gate into the celtic end. My old man took me and 3 of mates to it, I'm sure we didn't have tickets and this may explain the bedlam at that end. We were in a good bit before kick off, then it went barking mad with about 10 mins to the start. It was absolutely packed and the early goal didn't help.
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You are right it was pay at the gate, we got there early and were escorted past hearts fans queing by a chief superintendent who spotted us. He came from our village, we would have missed the opener if it wasn't for him. Great day out big D.J. early on the ball started wild celebrations in among the jam tart fans.
 
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Del said:
My first cup final.

I was allowed to stay up and watch the highlights of the semi final. We were 2 - 0 down to Motherwell and my dad, obviously knowing the result, said if we win I will take you to the final. When big McCloy punted that ball up the park for DJ to run on to it and score I was in dreamland.

I remember getting up on the Saturday morning of the final and it was pouring with rain. I was terrified it would be called off.

I took my place down at the fence near the corner or the Rangers end and North Stand and didn't need to wait long for the opener.
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Funnily enough mate that’s exactly where I was for my first Scottish cup final - my dad took me and my sister.
Was 11 years old and can’t remember a lot about the day apart from the sheer excitement- which has never left me when following the Rangers.
 
I was at that game and the Scotland v England a couple of weeks later. The official attendances were 85k for our game and 88k for the international. The cup Final was far busier. I think was reported that gates had been broken down and thousands piled in.
 
strathavenbear said:
Unless my memory is playing tricks on me I'm sure the first goal was shown live as the TV coverage showed the build up to the game and didn't need to cut away until 3pm.
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I was 11 at the time but for some reason I can remember seeing the second goal from Alex McDonald as it was scored almost on half time on tv.i think they could show brief highlights of the first half at half time.
 
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