Dundee reader Bill Greig reckons he could have a claim to fame as the only Dundonian to have attended the Hampden finals to see Motherwell win the Scottish Cup twice.
Although a Dundonian and a dyed-in-the-wool Dundee United fan, Bill was at the national stadium in 1952 and again in 1991 when the Steelmen done over Dundee and United respectively.
“Obviously, being a United fan, I was there in 1991 when Motherwell beat us 4-3.
“However, I was also there in 1952. Most of my friends at the time were Dundee fans and we went through to Glasgow on a bus.
“What many BwB readers may not be aware of was that this final was the first not to be all-ticket for a long time, as it did not feature either of the Old Firm, Rangers or Celtic.
“An incredible 136,274 was the attendance given but many were locked out after they shut the gates before kick-off.
“They included many of those who were on our bus.
“However, it was Motherwell’s day and they won 4-0.”
Motherwell lined up under manager George Stevenson John Johnston; Willie Kilmarnock, Archie Shaw; Charlie Cox, Andy Paton, Willie Redpath; Tommy Sloan, Wilson Humphries, Archie Kelly, Jimmy Watson, Johnny Aitkenhead.
George Anderson’s XI for Dundee was Bobby Henderson; Gerry Follon, Jack Cowan; Tommy Gallacher, Doug Cowie, Alfie Boyd; George Hill, Johnny Pattillo, Bobby Flavell, Billy Steel, George Christie.
Goals were scored by Watson, Redpath, Humphries and Kelly.
The 1991 final was witnessed by 57,319.
Motherwell (manager Tommy McLean) Ally Maxwell; Luc Nijholt, Chris McCart, Craig Paterson, Tom Boyd; Ian Angus, Jim Griffin, Phil O’Donnell; Davie Cooper (Colin O’Neil), Iain Ferguson (Steve Kirk), Dougie Arnott.
United (manager Jim McLean) Alan Main; John Clark, Miodrag Krivokapic, Freddy van der Hoorn, Maurice Malpas; Dave Bowman, Ray McKinnon (Billy McKinlay), Jim McInally; Hamish French, Duncan Ferguson (John O’Neil), Darren Jackson.
Motherwell’s goals were scored by Ferguson, O’Donnell, Angus and Kirk, while Bowman, O’Neil and Jackson netted for the Tangerines.
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