[Gary Blues]

For me, the League Cup Final is the ultimate opportunity to gain revenge for the League Cup and Scottish Cup Semi Final defeats against Rangers in 1981 and 1983 respectively.

Those defeats have left me feeling nothing but bitterness and anger towards Rangers and Brian McGinlay ever since. To win the League Cup would sweep away all those years of hurt.

For the younger ones who won't know, St. Mirren were shafted by a host of refereeing decisions across 4 matches.

The 1981 League Cup Semi Final was a two legged afair. The sequence of events went something like this:

1st Leg at Love Street

1. St. Mirren take a 1-0 lead.
2. St. Mirren have a stonewall penalty claim turned down
3. While the Saints players are chasing the referee (McGinlay), Rangers sweep down the pitch and equalise via a Jack Copland own goal.
4. St. Mirren have a perfectly good goal turned down. Jimmy Bone cut it back to Lex Richardson who scored but was flagged offside - even though you can't be offside from a cut back.
5. St. Mirren take a 2-1 lead.
6. Rangers equalise to leave the final score at 2-2.

2nd Leg at Ibrox

1, St. Mirren take a 1-0 lead.
2. Midway through the second half Lex Richardson is through on goal. He has his legs chopped from behind. The referee (McGinlay again) waves play on.
3. With 5 minutes left, Rangers striker John MacDonald (whose nickname was Polaris) does his trademark dive in the box and Rangers equalise from the penalty.
4. Deflated, St. Mirren collapse and Rangers score the winner in injury time.

The 1983 Scottish Cup Semi Final was at Parkhead. The events go something like this:

1. The afternoon kicks off with fighting between Saints and Rangers fans on the terracing.
2. Linesman in front of the Rangers fan in the "jungle" gives three offsides against Rangers.
3. Linesman gets pelted with missiles from the Rangers support. He gets struck by a coin and is left with a bloody wound in his head. Game is held up while he received treatment.
4. Linesman doesn't put his flag up again. Sandy Clark races through a position which is a mile offside to give Rangers the lead.
5. Late into the second half Craig Paterson puts through his own goal to take the game to a replay.

The events of the replay at Hampden go like:

1. With the game sitting at 0-0 into the second half Lex Richardson again has his legs taken away from him when about to pull the trigger in the box. McGinlay waves play on.
2. The game goes to extra time
3. With 2 minutes left of extra time a Rangers corner is headed towards goal by Sandy Clark. The ball is cleared off the line. Brian McGinlay gives a goal and Rangers win 1-0.

Totally and utterly shafted we were by these dirty cheats and by that dirty cheating scumbag Brian McGinlay. I make no bones about the fact that I totally and utterly hate Rangers and my anger mainly stems from these two cup ties.

A win over these bastards on 21st March would make up for it all - here's hoping!

This post has been edited by Gary Blues: 05 February 2010 - 20:42

[BIG BEN]

Gary Blues, on 05 February 2010 - 20:39, said:

For me, the League Cup Final is the ultimate opportunity to gain revenge for the League Cup and Scottish Cup Semi Final defeats against Rangers in 1981 and 1983 respectively.

Those defeats have left me feeling nothing but bitterness and anger towards Rangers and Brian McGinlay ever since. To win the League Cup would sweep away all those years of hurt.

For the younger ones who won't know, St. Mirren were shafted by a host of refereeing decisions across 4 matches.

The 1981 League Cup Semi Final was a two legged afair. The sequence of events went something like this:

1st Leg at Love Street

1. St. Mirren take a 1-0 lead.
2. St. Mirren have a stonewall penalty claim turned down
3. While the Saints players are chasing the referee (McGinlay), Rangers sweep down the pitch and equalise via a Jack Copland own goal.
4. St. Mirren have a perfectly good goal turned down. Jimmy Bone cut it back to Lex Richardson who scored but was flagged offside - even though you can't be offside from a cut back.
5. St. Mirren take a 2-1 lead.
6. Rangers equalise to leave the final score at 2-2.

2nd Leg at Ibrox

1, St. Mirren take a 1-0 lead.
2. Midway through the second half Lex Richardson is through on goal. He has his legs chopped from behind. The referee (McGinlay again) waves play on.
3. With 5 minutes left, Rangers striker John MacDonald (whose nickname was Polaris) does his trademark dive in the box and Rangers equalise from the penalty.
4. Deflated, St. Mirren collapse and Rangers score the winner in injury time.

The 1983 Scottish Cup Semi Final was at Parkhead. The events go something like this:

1. The afternoon kicks off with fighting between Saints and Rangers fans on the terracing.
2. Linesman in front of the Rangers fan in the "jungle" gives three offsides against Rangers.
3. Linesman gets pelted with missiles from the Rangers support. He gets struck by a coin and is left with a bloody wound in his head. Game is held up while he received treatment.
4. Linesman doesn't put his flag up again. Sandy Clark races through a position which is a mile offside to give Rangers the lead.
5. Late into the second half Craig Paterson puts through his own goal to take the game to a replay.

The events of the replay at Hampden go like:

1. With the game sitting at 0-0 into the second half Lex Richardson again has his legs taken away from him when about to pull the trigger in the box. McGinlay waves play on.
2. The game goes to extra time
3. With 2 minutes of extra time a Rangers corner is headed towards goal by Sandy Clark. The ball is cleared off the line. Brian McGinlay gives a goal and Rangers win 1-0.

Totally and utterly shafted we were by these dirty cheats and by that dirty cheating scumbag Brian McGinlay. I make no bones about the fact that I totally and utterly hate Rangers and my anger mainly stems from these two cup ties.
A win over these bastards on 21st March would make up for it all - here's hoping!

You hide your feelings well

[Desperately Seeking Susans]

I wasn't here at that time but you've put together a great post recounting events which understandably incites a rather dislike of anything R******.
You've re-charged my anti OF batteries.

[Hendo]

For me, the League Cup Semi-final defeat at Ibrox was without a doubt the most one-sided refereeing display I have ever seen. The ref was a guy called George Smith from Edinburgh. While dodgy decisions went against us in the other games, in that one there were so many baffling decisions in favour of Rangers that it was clear the referee cheated to get Rangers through. And if George Smith is reading this, he can sue me if he wants

[Perthshire Bud]

Gary Blues, on 05 February 2010 - 20:39, said:

For me, the League Cup Final is the ultimate opportunity to gain revenge for the League Cup and Scottish Cup Semi Final defeats against Rangers in 1981 and 1983 respectively.

Those defeats have left me feeling nothing but bitterness and anger towards Rangers and Brian McGinlay ever since. To win the League Cup would sweep away all those years of hurt.

For the younger ones who won't know, St. Mirren were shafted by a host of refereeing decisions across 4 matches.

The 1981 League Cup Semi Final was a two legged afair. The sequence of events went something like this:

1st Leg at Love Street

1. St. Mirren take a 1-0 lead.
2. St. Mirren have a stonewall penalty claim turned down
3. While the Saints players are chasing the referee (McGinlay), Rangers sweep down the pitch and equalise via a Jack Copland own goal.
4. St. Mirren have a perfectly good goal turned down. Jimmy Bone cut it back to Lex Richardson who scored but was flagged offside - even though you can't be offside from a cut back.
5. St. Mirren take a 2-1 lead.
6. Rangers equalise to leave the final score at 2-2.

2nd Leg at Ibrox

1, St. Mirren take a 1-0 lead.
2. Midway through the second half Lex Richardson is through on goal. He has his legs chopped from behind. The referee (McGinlay again) waves play on.
3. With 5 minutes left, Rangers striker John MacDonald (whose nickname was Polaris) does his trademark dive in the box and Rangers equalise from the penalty.
4. Deflated, St. Mirren collapse and Rangers score the winner in injury time.

The 1983 Scottish Cup Semi Final was at Parkhead. The events go something like this:

1. The afternoon kicks off with fighting between Saints and Rangers fans on the terracing.
2. Linesman in front of the Rangers fan in the "jungle" gives three offsides against Rangers.
3. Linesman gets pelted with missiles from the Rangers support. He gets struck by a coin and is left with a bloody wound in his head. Game is held up while he received treatment.
4. Linesman doesn't put his flag up again. Sandy Clark races through a position which is a mile offside to give Rangers the lead.
5. Late into the second half Craig Paterson puts through his own goal to take the game to a replay.

The events of the replay at Hampden go like:

1. With the game sitting at 0-0 into the second half Lex Richardson again has his legs taken away from him when about to pull the trigger in the box. McGinlay waves play on.
2. The game goes to extra time
3. With 2 minutes left of extra time a Rangers corner is headed towards goal by Sandy Clark. The ball is cleared off the line. Brian McGinlay gives a goal and Rangers win 1-0.

Totally and utterly shafted we were by these dirty cheats and by that dirty cheating scumbag Brian McGinlay. I make no bones about the fact that I totally and utterly hate Rangers and my anger mainly stems from these two cup ties.

A win over these bastards on 21st March would make up for it all - here's hoping!

[Perthshire Bud]

Couldn't agree more. I was at all the games you mention and you've summarised perfectly why I still detest McGinlay, 'Polaris' and everything to do with the scummy Ibrox bigots. Can't add anything to your comments on McGinlay-you've got that spot on but I also remember at that time a particularly odious NF element amongst the Rangers support present at these games. The Hampden debacle with the goal that never was saw them coming over the fence and pelting us with rocks and sundry missiles but I also remember the League Cup game at Ibrox you mention when a small band of us were stood at the foot of the enclosure section (the rest of the Saints support were in the Broomloan)-I distinctly remember us being kicked, jostled and spat on by the knuckledraggers amongst the *** support that night. There was as you rightly say fighting at Parkhead too-one scuffle actually broke out in front of where I was standing.
Anybody who attended these games of a black and white persuasion cannot help but be bitter at how we were shafted at these matches-we can all accept (reluctantly) a fair and square defeat (we've got used to it over the years after all) but we were completely robbed on these occasions and the memory of seeing the Rangers News on a newstand the morning after the Sandy Clark debacle loudly proclaiming "yet another Scottish Cup Final appearance" for the Blue Bigots is still enough to induce high blood pressure.

So yes let's hope that 21st March gives us a chance to avenge these wrongs at the hands of the Devil's Disciples-wiping the smug grins off their ugly twisted faces would certainly make up for some of it at least.

[Frank O'Miranda]

For the 2nd time in a week I'm in total agreement with Gary Blues !!!!

Those 2 semi final defeats have only been rivalled by the H*mm*rby game for me in terms of how hard they were to take.

But at least H*mm*rby beat us fair and square.

As an aside Gary, did we not have a goal disallowed in the 2nd leg of the 81 semi for offside with a Rangers defender standing on the goalline when we were 1-0 up? I could have sworn we did.

This post has been edited by Frank O'Miranda: 05 February 2010 - 22:33

[Perthshire Bud]

Frank O, on 05 February 2010 - 22:31, said:

For the 2nd time in a week I'm in total agreement with Gary Blues !!!!

Those 2 semi final defeats have only been rivalled by the H*mm*rby game for me in terms of how hard they were to take.

But at least H*mm*rby beat us fair and square.

As an aside Gary, did we not have a goal disallowed in the 2nd leg of the 81 semi for offside with a Rangers defender standing on the goalline when we were 1-0 up? I could have sworn we did.

My memory is that we did and it was Colin Jackson on the line? Could be wrong-maybe somebody out there has a clearer recollection?

[Mr Zo]

I was a mere child when these events described were unfolding but it's got my blood boiling alright.

Like Gary Blues I also hate Rangers with a passion and would be over the moon if we could beat them in the upcoming cup ties.

[mcd54]

Gary Blues, on 05 February 2010 - 20:39, said:

For me, the League Cup Final is the ultimate opportunity to gain revenge for the League Cup and Scottish Cup Semi Final defeats against Rangers in 1981 and 1983 respectively.

Those defeats have left me feeling nothing but bitterness and anger towards Rangers and Brian McGinlay ever since. To win the League Cup would sweep away all those years of hurt.

For the younger ones who won't know, St. Mirren were shafted by a host of refereeing decisions across 4 matches.

The 1981 League Cup Semi Final was a two legged afair. The sequence of events went something like this:

1st Leg at Love Street

1. St. Mirren take a 1-0 lead.
2. St. Mirren have a stonewall penalty claim turned down
3. While the Saints players are chasing the referee (McGinlay), Rangers sweep down the pitch and equalise via a Jack Copland own goal.
4. St. Mirren have a perfectly good goal turned down. Jimmy Bone cut it back to Lex Richardson who scored but was flagged offside - even though you can't be offside from a cut back.
5. St. Mirren take a 2-1 lead.
6. Rangers equalise to leave the final score at 2-2.

2nd Leg at Ibrox

1, St. Mirren take a 1-0 lead.
2. Midway through the second half Lex Richardson is through on goal. He has his legs chopped from behind. The referee (McGinlay again) waves play on.
3. With 5 minutes left, Rangers striker John MacDonald (whose nickname was Polaris) does his trademark dive in the box and Rangers equalise from the penalty.
4. Deflated, St. Mirren collapse and Rangers score the winner in injury time.

The 1983 Scottish Cup Semi Final was at Parkhead. The events go something like this:

1. The afternoon kicks off with fighting between Saints and Rangers fans on the terracing.
2. Linesman in front of the Rangers fan in the "jungle" gives three offsides against Rangers.
3. Linesman gets pelted with missiles from the Rangers support. He gets struck by a coin and is left with a bloody wound in his head. Game is held up while he received treatment.
4. Linesman doesn't put his flag up again. Sandy Clark races through a position which is a mile offside to give Rangers the lead.
5. Late into the second half Craig Paterson puts through his own goal to take the game to a replay.

The events of the replay at Hampden go like:

1. With the game sitting at 0-0 into the second half Lex Richardson again has his legs taken away from him when about to pull the trigger in the box. McGinlay waves play on.
2. The game goes to extra time
3. With 2 minutes left of extra time a Rangers corner is headed towards goal by Sandy Clark. The ball is cleared off the line. Brian McGinlay gives a goal and Rangers win 1-0.

Totally and utterly shafted we were by these dirty cheats and by that dirty cheating scumbag Brian McGinlay. I make no bones about the fact that I totally and utterly hate Rangers and my anger mainly stems from these two cup ties.

A win over these bastards on 21st March would make up for it all - here's hoping!

How the fukk do you remember all that? Do you keep a diary?

[V...]

mcd54, on 05 February 2010 - 22:47, said:

How the fukk do you remember all that? Do you keep a diary?

I know, I'd be lucky if I could tell you a half of our results from the start of the season...

[billyg]

mcd54, on 05 February 2010 - 22:47, said:

How the fukk do you remember all that? Do you keep a diary?

He can't remember it all , the Jimmy Bone cut back for Lex was at 0-0 in the 2nd leg at Ibrox !

[billyg]

Frank O, on 05 February 2010 - 22:31, said:

As an aside Gary, did we not have a goal disallowed in the 2nd leg of the 81 semi for offside with a Rangers defender standing on the goalline when we were 1-0 up? I could have sworn we did.

GBs memory is playing tricks , the Jimmy Bone ,Lexy "goal" was the Jackson on the line one in the 2nd leg !

[Dirty Sanchez]

The polis weren't any better that night at Hampden.
We witnessed loads of brick throwers coming over the fence unchallenged from Section N,but ordinary H*n fans were getting huckled when they had only jumped the fence to avoid the crushing.

A lot of the cops were wearing motorbike helmets.I've never seen that before or since,but we could have done with some of their helmets in our end,considering the variety of shite that was flying through the air.

[HSS]

Was there not another semi at I*rox when we were 2-0 up and ended up getting cheated 3-2?
Think the 2nd leg ended 0-0.

[windae cleaner]

billyg, on 06 February 2010 - 00:51, said:

GBs memory is playing tricks , the Jimmy Bone ,Lexy "goal" was the Jackson on the line one in the 2nd leg !

It was, we were leading 1-0 at the time.
The only reason we got the penalty because Jim Stewart performed G.B.H. on MacAvennie.
He booted Macca in the throat standing up.
He should have been sent off and Polis lifting him straight to Govan Police Station
That pishy Rangers side reached 8 Scottish Cup Finals in a row due to cheating.
They even cheated poor wee Forfar in a semi- final that's how bad they were

[SelkirkSaint]

The ref in 81 was George Smith. My mammy told me that for the next 3 nights after the Ibrox leg she had to listen to me shouting and swearing in my sleep, calling him every name my subconcious could think of. Worst refereeing display ever.

McGinlay was the ref in 83. We werent good in the first game but could have scored 8/9 goals in the replay.
My only consolation was that in the fighting in the first game I managed to banjo several cavemen.

I've always said these games lost us some of our supporters. We played the DOB's 18 times in 3 seasons. That's half a seasons worth of being robbed and cheated, time and time again. Different offside and penalty rules seemed to apply in most of these games. A lot of folk got so sickened by it that they just stopped coming.

[farmer john]

I rember '83 very well. I got battered at Celtic Park...just managed to run back from behind the covered terrace behind the goal to the,relative, safety of our fans....but why were there marauding bands of RAngers fans in there anyway?

I also recall no Rangers fans or players claiming for the goal at the replay...just McGinlay wanted to give it and that was it.....he was near back at the halfway line before anyone figured out what had happened.

BUT, as SelkirkSaint said above, we had LOADS of chances to win that game. Frank McDougall and Alan Logan being the main culprits.

Player wise it was more of an even playing field in these days, we should have won more of these important games but were not allowed to.

[Reynard]

windae cleaner, on 06 February 2010 - 08:51, said:

It was, we were leading 1-0 at the time.
The only reason we got the penalty because Jim Stewart performed G.B.H. on MacAvennie.
He booted Macca in the throat standing up.
He should have been sent off and Polis lifting him straight to Govan Police Station
That pishy Rangers side reached 8 Scottish Cup Finals in a row due to cheating.
They even cheated poor wee Forfar in a semi- final that's how bad they were

They were f**king shite in the league at that time. But in the cups they really did get a massive helping hand from the officials. My dad stopped going at around that time too actually now I come to think of it. I remember him being uttery scunnered after those games mentioned. It was alsmost like we had to score two goals for every Rangers one just to keep level with them.

I'll never forgive McGinley and co for what they did to us back then.

[Tom]

HSS, on 06 February 2010 - 03:12, said:

Was there not another semi at I*rox when we were 2-0 up and ended up getting cheated 3-2?
Think the 2nd leg ended 0-0.

That was the QF in 78-79. Fitzy scored both goals at ibrox then they scored 3 in the last 20 mins. As you say they played for a 0-0 draw at love st in the 2nd leg.