CammyF 7,982 Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 (edited) Does the above date resonate with you? Does the above date send horrible feelings hurtling through your body? It should, it was the last time Rangers lost a domestic cup final to Celtc. As the CO-OP Cup Final is looming large in our thoughts, it is worth taking a trip down memory lane and remember the empty feeling you get when you lose a cup final to your bitter rivals. Any time you lose to your bitterest of rivals, you get an empty feeling, a feeling of horrid, putrid nothingness and an exasperation that nothing in the world can eradicate. This is magnified and multiplied if the loss is in a cup final, and if possible is made worse if you are blatantly cheated. The Scottish Cup Final in 1989 was supposed to be the day that we won the treble to put the icing on a terrific domestic season. Rangers had won the title for 39th time leaving Aberdeen in our wake and this was the 2nd title of the Souness era. We had also won the League Cup defeating Aberdeen 3-2 in a truly wonderful cup final. This season was also notable for two destructions of Celtc – 5-1 and 4-1 in the league games at Ibrox. This season would also be remembered for the terrible challenge by Neil Simpson on Ian Durrant at a league game at Pittodrie. Manager Souness had never won a domestic ‘FA Cup’ as a player nor a manager and we all believed that this was the game that would exorcise those demons. During our semi-final (played at Parkhead) news filtered through that there had been an incident at Hillsbourgh where Liverpool was taking on Nottingham Forest. In the days prior to mobile phones, no further information was gained during the game, only on returning to our supporters bus did we fully realise the full extent of the horror that had unfolded in Sheffield that day. If my memory of the cup final is off a beautiful sunny day and on the way to Hampden, a support who were anticipating celebrating a domestic clean-sweep made all the sweater by defeating our foes in the final. This anticipation was temporarily tempered by the news that the mercurial Ray Wilkins and ever improving Derek Ferguson was both injured and out of the final. However, as it transpired it wasn’t a player who would decided the destiny of the Scottish Cup, it would be referee Bob Valentine who made two ludicrous decisions that would cost Rangers not only the cup, but the domestic treble. Celtc, through Roy Aitken were allowed to take a throw-in that the officials had clearly signalled was a Rangers throw. Aitken threw the ball in the direction of Joe Miller but Gary Stevens had it covered. However, he was short in his back-pass and Miller stole in and scored. Everyone in the stadium were awaiting the officials to chalk-off the goal and restart with a Rangers throw-in. Instead, they waved play on and Rangers were 1-0 down. Pressing for an equaliser, Rangers were awarded a corner and as this was swung into the Celtc box, Paddy Bonnor collided with his own player, the ball broke to Terry Butcher who slammed the ball into the unguarded net. The Rangers end exploded and the Rangers players wheeled away in celebration only for the inept official to signal for a foul on Bonnor. As the final whistle signalled the end of the game, I’ll never forget the wonderful reaction of the Rangers support. The fans stayed to a man (woman and child) and hailed our gallant team who had had a very successful season and were only denied the ultimate prize by a ‘Mason In The Black’. The Rangers fans outstayed their ‘celebrating’ neighbours and no-one in attendance that day will forget the chants of ‘We Want The Rangers’ from a still full Rangers end whilst the Celtc end had long emptied. One ironic subplot to this final was that in the lead-up to the final, Celtc had leaked to the press that a certain Maurice Johnston would be returning from France to Celtc during the close season. The massed Celtc fans could be heard chanting ‘Mo, Mo Super Mo’ during the cup final, oh how those words were going to come back and haunt them. Hopefully the present Rangers incumbents won’t fall foul of such ineptitude from the officials on Sunday and hopefully we will have learned from the example set by St Mirren on Saturday on how easily Celtc are nullified and beaten. Give them no time or space to pass the ball and pressurise their defence. Both central defenders are great in the air, but are susceptible to pace. I decide to highlight a lowlight in the lead up to the final as I am sure there will be plenty of stories and You-Tube clips of the vast amount of Rangers glories over the years against ‘THEM’. However, whilst hoping for and enjoying the glories, lets not forget that emptiness that engulfs you when you loss these game. Come On Rangers……….. Cammy F http://www.gersnetonline.co.uk/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=769&Itemid=1 Edited March 9, 2009 by Frankie 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankie 8,552 Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 Great post mate... The highlighting of poor officiating is important given recent games against Celtic where they have also benefited from such decisions. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Cole 0 Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 Not related to the above game, but I'll never forget McCoist being turned down for a stonewall penalty which would have sealed an incredible comeback in the last game for all the 9IAR warhorses. A horrible end to a horrible season. 94 was painful as well, I still think that was a freak result. Could be 100 years before anyone gets so close to the Double Treble. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankie 8,552 Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 Too true Norris... Hope none of us are feeling bad on Sunday night. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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