45 years ago today

[harlands plater 16,961]

My first, and favourite, Scottish Cup Final. 

Official attendance over 122,000 but heard of it being much higher unofficially. Supposedly a break-in at the Rangers End meant thousands got in without tickets, spoke to guys who got in but couldn't even get on to the terracing it was rammed full.

PS Happy 65th birthday, Derek Parlane.

[RS4_wul 4,107]

 

That Tam Forsyth goal is one of my all time favourites against them. 

My first cup final was the 87 league cup final against the sheep.

That free kick from Davie Cooper 

[Paulbrian11 432]

That was the last 100,000 plus crowd at a football match in the U.K.  

It must have been some experience.

[blueballss 2,969]

was 2 at the time, can only dream about being part of a spectacle like that

[Parlaneloyal 353]

My first cup final also

[Deanzmeanzheinz 4,312]

My first cup final - i was in the 'schoolboy enclosure' under the old South Stand. 

Still have my ticket - it was 11p!!! Always remember all the swaying in the crowd. 

[tannerall 25,935]

My first Rangers/celtic game. That was the game that I'm sure gave us the belief of superiority back after the tims 9 in a row and led to our great glory years in the seventies.

When I got there with my dad we saw the Westland helicopter with her Royal Highness arrive on lesser Hampden.

Inside was the busiest I ever felt at Hampden, and I'm sure the reported attendance 122.714 was under estimated as a lot of fiddles by both fans and authorities went on in those days with attendances. (I'd never heard about the late rush and break in that the OP's suggested before, but we were in at the game quite early and stood towards the front of the Rangers end.)

It was Dalglish who had a habit of scoring the first goal back then that put them ahead. Then big Derek P's magic header made it 1-1.

The goal that made the big difference was in my opinion Alfie Conn's terrific run right at the start of the second half.  Even though they then scored a penalty after the save of the season by Greig to stop a goal we were playing with such belief it was no surprise we went ahead again even though it was difficult to see what was going on as the ball went from wee Tommy McLean's perfect cross on to DJ's head on to the post along to the other post and as it trickled back big Tam got his studs on it and the cup was ours.

Absolute bedlam, every time we scored we'd end up about 20 yards or so from where we previously stood.

After the game me and my dad walked all the way from Hampden back to Ibrox, where I lived at the time, just in time to see the team bus arrive back and my hero Alex MacDonald come out with the cup. 

 

[harlands plater 16,961]

3 hours ago, Paulbrian11 said:

That was the last 100,000 plus crowd at a football match in the U.K.  

It must have been some experience.

It was, some experience for a 16 year old.  Absolutely exhilarating, my dad had told me for years about the atmosphere, he said "you could cut it with a knife" and when I was at that game I knew exactly what he meant.

Totally different from the sanitised, strictly policed and stewarded all-seated venues we have now.  It must be hard to envisage for someone who didn't experience it - over 60,000  Bears and 60,000 tarriers in the same place at the same time, and no restriction on alcohol.

[Garnock Blue 316]

16 minutes ago, harlands plater said:

It was, some experience for a 16 year old.  Absolutely exhilarating, my dad had told me for years about the atmosphere, he said "you could cut it with a knife" and when I was at that game I knew exactly what he meant.

Totally different from the sanitised, strictly policed and stewarded all-seated venues we have now.  It must be hard to envisage for someone who didn't experience it - over 60,000  Bears and 60,000 tarriers in the same place at the same time, and no restriction on alcohol.

you and I both mate....I was 16 too..had been to the 71 final and replay with my dad and those were 100k + too, but we didny win them...in 73 when big Tam scored that day the bedlam was unforgettable...god i loved the hampden dust lol

[K.A.I 36,183]

My first cup final was the Scottish cup one at Piggery against Aberdeen seems pish compared to these games with 100+ thousand at them  

[Proud to be a Ger 100]

12 hours ago, harlands plater said:

My first, and favourite, Scottish Cup Final. 

Official attendance over 122,000 but heard of it being much higher unofficially. Supposedly a break-in at the Rangers End meant thousands got in without tickets, spoke to guys who got in but couldn't even get on to the terracing it was rammed full.

PS Happy 65th birthday, Derek Parlane.

Big thanks to my big brother who surprised me that morning and gave me one of my greatest Rangers memories by taking me to my first final and game v them 

[Old No7. 790]

I started primary school that year 

[Don Logan 2 51]

13 hours ago, harlands plater said:

My first, and favourite, Scottish Cup Final. 

Official attendance over 122,000 but heard of it being much higher unofficially. Supposedly a break-in at the Rangers End meant thousands got in without tickets, spoke to guys who got in but couldn't even get on to the terracing it was rammed full.

PS Happy 65th birthday, Derek Parlane.

I was there as well bud 14 at the time, one of the greatest days of my life. The 1970 league cup final (DJ) was my first big crowd, they said it was 106.263 but if you look at the films you can't see a stairway, we were packed like sardines, easily the biggest crowd I have ever witnessed..

[bluedylan 11,555]

I was there  12 years of age..great memories

[mearns loyal 2,711]

I’ve posted this before but it’s still a great memory for me.

Grew up in Kingspark and my pal came round for me  “Don’t go near Hampden.” says my Mum. Of course we do- no colours on and a cop asks if we want to get in - absolutely we do. Cop says I can only get you in celtic end, so in we go - two 12 year old bears in with the filth. So we’ve to jump about when they score and when Greig dives to save the ball going in the pape standing beside us asks who saved it and my pal replies “Don’t know but he’s an orange bastard.” By this point we cannae wait for the gates to open and as soon as they did we were out and into the old south enclosure. Climbed the steps into the enclosure and a hand grabs my shoulder. My mum and wee brother. My old man who was working had gotten a couple of tickets and when the old dear couldn’t find my pal and me decided fuck it I’m going - and out of that massive crowd I bump onto her. What a day. That night the next door neighbours who were papes had a party and I remember the old dear going in a red white and blue dress - fuck all political correctness in those days...

 

 

[Orange&Blue 130]

My favourite SC final, can’t believe it’s been 45 years. I had just turned 18 and will never forget that day, we (players and fans) were just incredible. Thanks for the video, could watch it all day long ????????????

[Johnny Dangerously 7,562]

Was that 73 game live on tv? That was the same day Sunderland beat Leeds in the FA Cup final. Can’t remember if I seen our game live on telly or not, was just a boy.

[siddiqi_drinker 14,635]

21 hours ago, Paulbrian11 said:

That was the last 100,000 plus crowd at a football match in the U.K.  

It must have been some experience.

It was, even allowing for the pish soaked trousers.   Thanks to the OP for posting, but watching the quality of the video and the commentary it is no wonder crowds back then were massive and to think folk these days complain about Sky etc.   

Hard to believe it was that long ago, seems like yesterday.  Quite sad that in Scotland anyhow, we will never see crowds like that again.  Just think, in that era, Glasgow had two grounds capable of holding >100k and one slightly under, changed days. 

[harlands plater 16,961]

9 hours ago, Johnny Dangerously said:

Was that 73 game live on tv? That was the same day Sunderland beat Leeds in the FA Cup final. Can’t remember if I seen our game live on telly or not, was just a boy.

No, Scottish Cup Finals weren’t televised back then. 

Our next final was against Hearts in 1976, not sure if that one was.

[Brubear 2,905]

Was my first Scottish Cup final as well. Crowd was 122,714. The biggest crowd I have ever been in. I was 13 at the time. . Always remember by late father saying at half time "we could do with an early goal this half" and then Conn scored what I think is still the fastest goal from a kick off in a cup final in Scotland (14 seconds). We got separated during the celebrations and we ended up about 20 yards apart and although we could see each other took about 10 minutes to get back together. Great times with my dad. 

I was lucky back then as my first ever OF game was the 1970 League Cup final when DJ scored the only goal aged 16.