Oh Hampden Park Was Crowded…

One of the first clear memories I have of the Golden Age/Brylcreem Days is the 1969 Scottish Cup Final. The details of that game are welded to my consciousness and 30 years later, I still wonder about an event that is supposed to last only ninety minutes. Billy McNeill once said that a Celtic v Rangers game begins the week before and ends the week after but the video is still running for me all these years later.

My dad and I had attended 9.30 Mass at St James’ Church in Renfrew that morning and afterwards my dad had a chat with Fr. Docherty outside the church as they enjoyed a fag. I think that Fr. Docherty fancied the Celts to win with distinction but my dad, ever the pessimist when it came to these games, thought it would be a closer. Since practically all of my pals up our close and the close next door were Rangers fans, the bould Celts were given nary a chance.

Rangers had emphatically crushed Aberdeen 6-1 in the semi-final at Parkhead but would be without striking sensation Colin Stein through suspension. Celtic defeated Morton 4-1 at Hampden to clinch a final berth but would be without the suspended Jimmy Johnstone and the injured John Hughes.

I listened to the game on the radio at home with my dad, brother and a pal, Murray, who was a Rangers fan. The commentator David Francey, also a Rangers fan, brought the game to life but his anguish at half-time was a joy to my young ears.

The first time Rangers keeper Norrie Martin touched the ball was when he retrieved it from the net after Billy McNeill opened the scoring in 2 minutes. Television highlights show Alex Ferguson allowed McNeill to rise unchallenged for Lennox’s comer – the second of three goals that McNeill scored in Scottish Cup Finals.

As Rangers pressed for the equaliser, Ferguson challenged John Fallon as the keeper was on the ground and burly Bobby Murdoch did the needful, delivering a solid shove to Ferguson. Even television commentator Archie McPherson abandoned all pretence of neutrality as Rangers struggled for the equaliser – Greig released a long ball to the head of Willie Johnston who slipped the ball back to Ferguson and when Johnston nearly hit the corner flag with the return ball, McPherson described this shot as “pathetic”. Sorry for your trouble, Archie!

Two goals on the stroke of half-time from Bobby Lennox, always a clear and present danger in Old Firm Cup Finals, and George Connelly put the issue beyond any doubt. Every time I see highlights of George Connelly slotting the third goal home I wonder where his talents could have taken him. Barring serious injury, it is entirely conceivable that Connelly could have played throughout the 1970s and into the early 1980s at club and international level and starred in 2 or 3 World Cup tournaments.

By the time Stevie Chalmers raced away to score the fourth goal, only my dad and I
were listening. I shouted down to the back door to my brother and Murray that Celtic were
now leading 4-0. McPherson noted “it’s a great goal by Chalmers”.

And it was.

Ray Zinbran
The Celt, June 2000