Aitken’s free-kick, launched deep into the Hearts half, was cut out by Kenny Black, who sent the ball out for a throw-in on the Main Stand side, just in front of the Celtic End, right in front of me. Expectation was in the air. We can do this,

Billy Stark found Frank McAvennie with the throw-in and the Hoops striker scooped a ball into the penalty area. Smith comes for it, but Mark McGhee gets there a split second before him with a header and Andy Walker “roofs it” into the net. Bedlam! We’ve done it! There’s no time left and we’re in the final. My goodness me, what a finish to this match. Just incredible.

The next day, my Mum, who has absolutely no interest in football, asked me how I enjoyed the match. I told her that Hampden is a big stadium and how I struggled to see up the other end as it just seemed so far away. We were at Uddingston Retail Park at the time, and quick as a flash she says, “can you read that sign?” I couldn’t read it and was immediately whisked off for an Opticians appointment and the next thing you know I’m lumbered with a pair of specs, which I refused to wear for years. I was 15 years old and way too cool for spectacles! It’s funny the things that can come into your mind when you’re thinking about Celtic!

Celtic Tour Guide Robert Galbraith on the centenary Scottish Cup Final win over Dundee United on 14 May 1988…

What follows is Robert’s viivd recollections of such a memorable day for the Celtic supporters at Hampden and watching on television. You’ll love this…

Our 1988 Scottish Cup final opponents were Dundee United, who had beaten Aberdeen 1-0 after a second replay (Replays! Remember them?!). United were a terrific team at the time. The year before, they had made it all the way to the UEFA Cup final, narrowly losing out to Gothenburg in a two-legged final.

In 1984, they had reached the European Cup semi-final and in my opinion were robbed by Roma (perhaps no coincidence that Rome’s Stadio Olimpico was to host the final that year). I really admired the Tayside outfit, a really experienced team full of quality and with some exciting young talent like Billy McKinlay and Kevin Gallacher.

The demand for tickets was huge but I wasn’t concerned. I was usually ok for tickets thanks mainly to my Dad (with the exception of Firhill in the quarter-final). However, as the day of the final drew closer, my anxiety increased as I was still ticketless with no sign of anything happening on that front.

There were a few public sales, and my dad and I joined a couple of long queues at Celtic Park but unfortunately the supply of tickets had run out before we reached the front. He even got me out of school one day (don’t tell the Headie!) as we joined another queue at SFA’s Park Garden Headquarters in Glasgow and once again we left empty-handed. There were no tickets to be had and it seemed like everyone was looking for one.