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

I was at this game.

I also remember having an LP with the radio Scotland commentary. It was called - Rangers, Kings of Scotland

Anyone else have the LP?
 
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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Was just getting through the turnstile, when the whole place went tonto!
Cheers DJ!
You couldn't have waited another minute?

As Greigy once wrote in a piece I think in Shoot! magazine or something similar, describing the Cup Final, and DJ's first goal. And I paraphrase.

"Derek scored with a header after 40 seconds.
We had just had won the league at Tannadice, the week before, with Derek again, scoring the only goal of the game.This one was timed at 22 seconds!
So what kept you Derek"?

I think it was between DJ and the late great Bobby McKean for MOTM for the Cup Final.
He tore them apart that day!


3:39 approx for the goal in the League decider and the Cup Final first goal right after.

Briiliant archive site by the way.Kudos.
 
Massive Rangers support that day,
was walking up the steps at the open end when the gates were pushed opened, quite a sight seeing
hundreds swarm in, got in place just in time to see DJ score.
There is an LP with about 40 minutes of commentary with the Bears in fine voice.
Interesting choice of songs as well, No TBB and more Rangers songs as well as Ud@ all the way.

edit
 
I have no proper recollection of the game (I was 5) other than the fact that with a drink in him my Dad would never shut up about seeing a Ranger score a goal when he shouldn't have been able to. :rolleyes: :))
 
My first game seeing Rangers in the flesh. Went from Northern Ireland on a supporters bus day trip. Must have been a 6 am start as I remember the local British Legion opening and serving pints etc at that time of the morning.

Ferry took about 4 hours back then, Belfast - Stranraer. Made Hampden but missed DJ's early goal. Was in the Hearts end. Many of us had alcohol carry outs into the ground. Remember Hearts fans being okay with us at the end. I'd hazard a guess there was 100,000 plus crowd in Hampden that day.

First Treble in 12 years. Brilliant memories. However, I don't think my late aged 60's plus body could survive the drink, journey in an 'all in a day trip' these days. My 'mind' would be willing though for such a momentous occasion.
 
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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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Correct. For some reason the only part of the ground to be cash at the gate was the traditional tim end. I remember going into the North Enclosure at the Rangers end and the queue for the tim end was past us!!!
 
dublinbluenose said:
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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Yeah, you could be right about the 2nd goal as well. I was 8, but I'm convinced I did see bits of it live.
I'm sure the final couple of minutes and the celebrations and trophy lift were also shown, but I could just be getting mixed up the highlights.
 
strathavenbear said:
Yeah, you could be right about the 2nd goal as well. I was 8, but I'm convinced I did see bits of it live.
I'm sure the final couple of minutes and the celebrations and trophy lift were also shown, but I could just be getting mixed up the highlights.
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That’s my memory as well.i can remember a year earlier they went live to Easter Road to show the celebrations for winning the league.
 
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 too was outside trying to get into the North Enclosure when I heard the roar, thought it was the teams coming out. Bibby McKean played a stormer that day.
 
We travelled up from Hurlford 4 in the car , straight to the Hearts end no tickets and all got in quite easily, gate went in 2 got in there I double shuffled in with my Dad he held over cash and in we went.
Crowd given as 85,000, my arse. :))
My old man said it was around 120,000 he had been to plenty of 100+ crowds so I have no reason to disbelieve him.
 
Blue Lou Boyle said:
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Big DJ was a legend for us, oh how we could do with someone like him now, had a great football brain on him, even when he was a teenager, FFS he was centre half in a major European cup final at 18 years of age...Love the big man, met him a few times at supporters events, a very nice guy
 
MuddyWaters said:
Big DJ was a legend for us, oh how we could do with someone like him now, had a great football brain on him, even when he was a teenager, FFS he was centre half in a major European cup final at 18 years of age...Love the big man, met him a few times at supporters events, a very nice guy
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He was extremely frustrating one season he scored 40 goals and then another he didn’t look like he gave a toss. He superb footballer , midfield, defender and one of the best strikers I have seen for us.
Lazy bugger though :))
 
My first cup final aged 10. Me and my mate bought the tickets from a tailors shop on Victoria road. Happy days with a treble.
WATP
 
I was trying to get in the away end with my two mates. At the gate it was all us no Hearts outside it was carnage . We jumped the turnstile and bolted way amongst the crowd . A fellow bear and told us we had missed DJs goal.
We ended up climbing the camara scaffolding witch used to a permanent fixture. Sat all game right under Archie MaPherson .
 
Weekender said:
I was trying to get in the away end with my two mates. At the gate it was all us no Hearts outside it was carnage . We jumped the turnstile and bolted way amongst the crowd . A fellow bear and told us we had missed DJs goal.
We ended up climbing the camara scaffolding witch used to a permanent fixture. Sat all game right under Archie MaPherson .
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Jammed in the old North Enclosure
 
Sandbear said:
He was extremely frustrating one season he scored 40 goals and then another he didn’t look like he gave a toss. He superb footballer , midfield, defender and one of the best strikers I have seen for us.
Lazy bugger though :))
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Yeah he was a lazy bugger,, the 40 goals he scored and not one a penalty
 
I was 12 at the time, and it was my 1st game with my mates. Seem to remember that we were in really early, watching the massive crowd build up. It was at that game i learned to stand in front of the crash barrier after getting my ribs bruised
 
As an aside I went with my dad,Grandad and Uncle to links park when Montrose played Hearts in the quarter final it ended up going to a second replay before hearts got through.Montrose were 2-1 up and hearts scored a last touch equaliser.a Montrose player who worked at the same building firm as my dad.came on as a sub ripped Jim Jeffries apart who was in the hearts team.my old man has hated hearts ever since as he thought the hearts supporters were animals.also he is convinced that it would have been Montrose playing rangers in the Scottish cup final in 76 had Montrose knocked out hearts
 
First final I took my wee brother to,he gave my mother so much grief it was easier to take him than get ear damage from her,didn't have a ticket for him he just scrambled under the turnstile, he was that wee a big bear pulled him onto his shoulders for the whole game(well done that man),ah back in the day eh.
 
Barcelona Bandit said:
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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Believe me mate, I'm not complaining about the goal. Where I was in the ground was at the back, near the stairway where they went through the gates, so it was really jammed in that part. Was definitely the most packed I've ever been in a stadium.

I maybe seen you celebrating as i had a good view of that area. There was already bother in there before the ko.

There was fighting amongst bears where I was, continued most of the 2nd half, it didn't help as I knew one side of them, as they all came from Renfrew and they were among the gatecrashers. Gave my old man a hell of a day, keeping an eye on me and my mates.
 
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...
Was at the game myself so can't confirm that it wasn't on tv live? Pretty sure first one was 1977.
 
Had moved house that day and was to meet my mate at the Thornwood in Partick,he never turned up.Made my way to Hampden and the queues were massive,so decided to try and get into what is now South Stand.Approaching the gate saw sign for tickets only and cursing my luck prepared to move to terracing queues then saw someone handing over cash to turnstile operater,so done same and got in just in time to see goal.I was handed a can of beer by a fellow fan and told him I was unable to give one back,but he said"no bother",and ended up half stewed,a great day all round.
 
I was in the Celtic end or Hearts end as it was that day there was more of us than them plenty of trouble to and fro we missed goal queuing up to get in but soon told DJ one nil to us.Great memories of that day scotsmac before pomagne after vast terracing, place was rammed had to be more than 85k given in the papers next day the noise from the Rangers end when they were in full voice was unbelievable great days when football was great.
 
Was in the Hearts (Celtic) end of the ground with my Dad. I was only 12 at the time and he managed to get me up onto a crash barrier. My memories of the game was total mayhem every time we scored,especially the first from D.J. We were packed in so tight I never moved on that barrier and just remember a sea of upraised arms at every goal and the incredible noise. Oh, and my arse was completely numb for hours later after sitting in that position all game lol
 
John MacKenzie said:
Had moved house that day and was to meet my mate at the Thornwood in Partick,he never turned up.Made my way to Hampden and the queues were massive,so decided to try and get into what is now South Stand.Approaching the gate saw sign for tickets only and cursing my luck prepared to move to terracing queues then saw someone handing over cash to turnstile operater,so done same and got in just in time to see goal.I was handed a can of beer by a fellow fan and told him I was unable to give one back,but he said"no bother",and ended up half stewed,a great day all round.
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We went on the thornwood bus, still picture my card.
 
Remember it well.I was in the Hearts end with my dad and uncle.they started to fight with the hearts fans when we scored.also Remember the red dust engulfing the Rangers end :D
 
bkkbear said:
days when the paper tickets were sold in newsagents and the like. none of this downloading an app shite.
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Seem to remember my dad buying tickets for the big Hampden games (Rangers and Scotland) at what was then Lumleys Sports on Sauchiehall Street, latterly Greaves.
I've a good collection of Rangers home programmes from the late 40s onwards, and I find it interesting to read the articles reminding supporters where they could buy tickets for upcoming European matches (e.g Sports Emporium on the Southside). Quite often only the Main Stand was ticket only.
 
Skyy Bluenose said:
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. :)
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Yes, the semi was some come back - we were really struggling in the first half. Motherwell supporters were sure it was their year. In the third round they were 2-0 down to Celtic at Fir Park at ht and won 3-2.
 
Craigste65 said:
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.
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I was there with my dad, we arrived quite early and took our place on the Kings Park terrace, about halfway down and behind the goal right next to a passageway. Memory might be playing tricks here, but I'm sure it had been announced the day before there would be cash turnstiles which is why we ended up at the traditional 'away end'. I've heard lots of stories about the Rangers support rushing the turnstiles, as well as trouble inside the ground, but can honestly say I never saw any of that, the Kings Park terrace was solid Rangers for as far as I could see. In fact it was difficult to see any Hearts supporters, and I think Graham Shaw's goal was met by almost total silence !
I was sitting on a barrier when DJ scored in the opening minute but the surge forward from the crowd knocked me flying off, however the sheer mass of bodies in front along with a few helping hands soon had me back in place.
No problems with crushing inside the ground nor coming down the steps afterwards, but I remember Somerville Drive after the game. We were trying to get along to Cathcart Road to walk back to the city centre, but it was absolutely packed and it took ages to get along.
I've spoken with a number of older Rangers fans over the years who, based on their long experience, are adamant the crowd for that Final was well in excess of 100,000, despite the official attendance figure. A number also believe the crowd at the Centenary Match against the Arsenal far exceeded the 72,000 odd officially in attendance.
 
One of the big gates at the "Celtic end" got forced open and hundreds surged through. I remember it was scary although as a 14 year old I was delighted to get in for nothing.
Seems another lifetime when football was like that
 
Sandbear said:
He was extremely frustrating one season he scored 40 goals and then another he didn’t look like he gave a toss. He superb footballer , midfield, defender and one of the best strikers I have seen for us.
Lazy bugger though :))
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It can be argued he won three Scottish Cup winners medals in three different positions.

1973 - as a centre half.

1976, - as an attacking midfielder.

1978 - as a centre forward.
 
dublinbluenose said:
As an aside I went with my dad,Grandad and Uncle to links park when Montrose played Hearts in the quarter final it ended up going to a second replay before hearts got through.Montrose were 2-1 up and hearts scored a last touch equaliser.a Montrose player who worked at the same building firm as my dad.came on as a sub ripped Jim Jeffries apart who was in the hearts team.my old man has hated hearts ever since as he thought the hearts supporters were animals.also he is convinced that it would have been Montrose playing rangers in the Scottish cup final in 76 had Montrose knocked out hearts
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To add to their luck. Being local to Dumbarton, I went with the old man to their semi-final and replay at Hampden against Dumbarton and Dumbarton should’ve won the first game.

Dumbarton had a right good team then with likes of Ian Wallace and John Burke, wee Wallace eventually moving for a million pound to Forrest. My memory might be fading but I think Wallace rattled the bar in the last couple of minutes. Of course the replay is famous for our very own Walter Smith scoring a cracking O.G. The picture of that O.G. immortalised by Ally and Gazza presenting it to Walter on one of his birthdays!
 
When you look back at the archive footage of DJs goals - what a talented player and finisher he was.
Could you imagine him today with the training and conditioning players have - he’d be worth 10s of millions
 
Was in the Celtic end that day. Wouldn’t exactly call it the Hearts end as it was about one third Bears.
Midway through the first half the Hearts fans started a pitched battle with each other with bottles flying back and forth for a good 15 minutes.
 
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