On this day in 1970

dh1963

Well-Known Member
Rangers 5 Cowdenbeath 0 in the old First Division.

A routine win, but a historic day for Derek Johnstone, aged just 16 years and 319 days. He scored twice on his first team debut, with the other goals scored by two other all-time greats in Alex MacDonald and John Greig (2).

Johnstone became the youngest ever player to score in his league debut for the club, and is the second-youngest goalscorer in league football for Rangers behind the great Willie Thornton.

His next Rangers goal was the unforgettable League Cup final winner against Celtic when he became the youngest ever goalscorer in a major domestic cup final in Britain.

His Rangers career saw him score 210 times, win 3 league titles, 5 Scottish Cups, 5 League Cups and the 1972 European Cup-Winners' Cup.

He was quite good :))

 
To be fair that's what people tended to call it before the stadium was modernised. I don't remember anyone calling it the Broomloan Road End or West Terracing for instance. There was a Rangers End at the piggery too btw.

As for the OP. DJ was my hero as a kid. What a player!
The Derry was the Copland Road end as it’s called now - a synonym of the Rangers end
 
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The Derry was the Copland Road end as it’s called now - a synonym of the Rangers end
Not sure I would entirely agree with that. The Derry in the 1960’s was in the covered area directly opposite the Main Stand. As a point of reference, the edge of the Derry was directly below the flag pole on which the League Flag was flown.

The Derry only moved and dispersed into the Rangers End after the Centenary Stand was built.
 
Not sure I would entirely agree with that. The Derry in the 1960’s was in the covered area directly opposite the Main Stand. As a point of reference, the edge of the Derry was directly below the flag pole on which the League Flag was flown.

The Derry only moved and dispersed into the Rangers End after the Centenary Stand was built.
Before that - the area in the corner of what became the Centenary Corner was apparently known as "Hellfire Corner".
 
Yes we played in red that day. A few weeks later we wore blue and white stripes when we beat them 2-0 in the league cup SF.
I was in the C*ltic end that day too.
Thanks for confirming . Was at the final , so must have been at the semi final as well . Can't remember it though.
 
Yes we played in red that day. A few weeks later we wore blue and white stripes when we beat them 2-0 in the league cup SF.
I was in the C*ltic end that day too.


This one is from the LC Semi Final, and as you say we played in Stripes that night
13232249.jpg

Strange to see us in white shorts and socks with the butcher top
 
Not sure I would entirely agree with that. The Derry in the 1960’s was in the covered area directly opposite the Main Stand. As a point of reference, the edge of the Derry was directly below the flag pole on which the League Flag was flown.

The Derry only moved and dispersed into the Rangers End after the Centenary Stand was built.
Correct. The Derry were in the North East corner of the North terracing and only moved behind the goal when the Centenary stand was up and running.
 
Roundabout this time we played Albion Rovers at Cliftonhill in a reserve match and my old man took me to this game. I'm certain it was see this young sensation.

Now I can't remember if we were on a bus from Brigton or Rutherglen or we went through in my uncle's van, but I just remember being there and it was because of DJ.
 
In 1970 everyone I knew that attended Ibrox referred to the Rangers end/celtic end and, as others have stated, the Derry (or singing section ;)) was opposite the main stand towards the Rangers end.

Seems logical then that, in order to maintain tradition, the singing section currently located in the Broomloan (or celtic end) should relocate to the Govan Rear next to the Copland (Rangers end).

Anyway back on topic -

Big DJ - what a boy, what a man and what a feckin' player.
 
The Derry was the Copland Road end as it’s called now - a synonym of the Rangers end

The Derry was originally in the what is known as the Govan Front now. It only moved behind the goals when they seated that section and called it the Centenary Stand.

In my opinion the area behind our goal wasnt called the Derry by the majority after it moved. It was just called the Rangers' end.
 
In 1970 everyone I knew that attended Ibrox referred to the Rangers end/celtic end and, as others have stated, the Derry (or singing section ;)) was opposite the main stand towards the Rangers end.

Seems logical then that, in order to maintain tradition, the singing section currently located in the Broomloan (or celtic end) should relocate to the Govan Rear next to the Copland (Rangers end).

Anyway back on topic -

Big DJ - what a boy, what a man and what a feckin' player.

I like the idea of the singing section being back where the original Derry was situated but it would need to be the Govan Front. The Derry went from front to back of the old shed. For it to work it'd probably need to run the full length of the Govan Front. It wont happen but if it did it would be amazing.
 
Roundabout this time we played Albion Rovers at Cliftonhill in a reserve match and my old man took me to this game. I'm certain it was see this young sensation.

Now I can't remember if we were on a bus from Brigton or Rutherglen or we went through in my uncle's van, but I just remember being there and it was because of DJ.

I dont remember that and I lived in Coatbridge at the time. Im not doubting you just surprised I didnt know about this or maybe just cant remember.
 
Yes we played in red that day. A few weeks later we wore blue and white stripes when we beat them 2-0 in the league cup SF.
I was in the C*ltic end that day too.
I was at Hampden that night with my dad, in the Celtic End, towards the rear of it, before the extra section further back, it was sparsely populated.

I think I spent about 5 minutes cheering for Cowdenbeath before my dad told me that wasn't Rangers who then had to explain why we weren't wearing a Kilmarnock strip!

I'll always remember some of the fans lighting fires with newspapers, to my young mind it looked cool.

I can't recall who the scorers were, I have a memory of DJ getting one, is that right?
 
I was at Hampden that night with my dad, in the Celtic End, towards the rear of it, before the extra section further back, it was sparsely populated.

I think I spent about 5 minutes cheering for Cowdenbeath before my dad told me that wasn't Rangers who then had to explain why we weren't wearing a Kilmarnock strip!

I'll always remember some of the fans lighting fires with newspapers, to my young mind it looked cool.

I can't recall who the scorers were, I have a memory of DJ getting one, is that right?
DJ didn't play in that game.

Colin Stein scored one, Willie Johnston too :))
 
Rangers 5 Cowdenbeath 0 in the old First Division.

A routine win, but a historic day for Derek Johnstone, aged just 16 years and 319 days. He scored twice on his first team debut, with the other goals scored by two other all-time greats in Alex MacDonald and John Greig (2).

Johnstone became the youngest ever player to score in his league debut for the club, and is the second-youngest goalscorer in league football for Rangers behind the great Willie Thornton.

His next Rangers goal was the unforgettable League Cup final winner against Celtic when he became the youngest ever goalscorer in a major domestic cup final in Britain.

His Rangers career saw him score 210 times, win 3 league titles, 5 Scottish Cups, 5 League Cups and the 1972 European Cup-Winners' Cup.

He was quite good :))

@dh1963 please make this a thing again on here mate, love reading all the articles and comments from bears who were there, alive, watched it, cheers :))
 
I dont remember that and I lived in Coatbridge at the time. Im not doubting you just surprised I didnt know about this or maybe just cant remember.
Rangers played a 2nd xi against Albion Rvs 1.8.70 finished 1-1.
Frequently played Albion in the early 70's .
 
The Derry was originally in the what is known as the Govan Front now. It only moved behind the goals when they seated that section and called it the Centenary Stand.

In my opinion the area behind our goal wasnt called the Derry by the majority after it moved. It was just called the Rangers' end.
Defo called the Derry End when I was growing up.
 
Not sure I would entirely agree with that. The Derry in the 1960’s was in the covered area directly opposite the Main Stand. As a point of reference, the edge of the Derry was directly below the flag pole on which the League Flag was flown.

The Derry only moved and dispersed into the Rangers End after the Centenary Stand was built.
Correct TMC. We only moved from there when the Centenary stand was opened in 1973.
 
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