ANNE Jones was 16 years old when she went to Barcelona to see her favourite team play in the European Cup Winners’ Cup.

“It was 1972, and I had been picked to run for my school at the Scottish Schools Athletics Championships,” she recalls.

“Then, my dad offered me the opportunity to go to the final…so I got my friend to tell the PE teacher I was unwell…”

Anne, who is originally from Hamiltonhill, has been a Rangers fan ‘all her life’, she says. Our recent Times Past feature on the club’s historic win over Dynamo Moscow prompted several readers to get in touch with happy memories.

Anne adds: “We stayed in Santa Susana and travelled through early on the day of the final.

“Me, my Dad and Hughie McAllister had seats together in the Nou Camp. We were in the ground really early and I went a wander and found myself on the pitch waving at my Dad and Hughie.

“To my delight the Rangers team came walking onto the pitch and as I was walking off Colin Stein ruffled my hair and said ‘enjoy the game’. He was my hero at the time, so you can imagine how happy I was….”

The Old Firm club played Dynamo Moscow at the Camp Nou in Barcelona on May 24, in front of a crowd of 24,701.

It was third time lucky for the Glasgow club – they had lost the previous two European finals in 1961 and 1967.

Glasgow Times:

Before half-time, they were two goals up, and minutes into the second half, they scored a third. Dynamo Moscow pulled back two goals and a pitch invasion just before full time meant the game stalled. But Rangers did go on to win 3-2 and captain John Greig was awarded the trophy inside the stadium building.

Anne adds: “We were in the opposite stand to the one where the fans invaded the pitch - it was enthusiasm and joy that made them do it, they thought the final whistle had been blown. The police overreacted. The game resumed and the match was played to the finish. There were no riots outside the stadium. We walked around for a good hour to soak up the atmosphere and it was amazing.”

Robert Marshall, from Dennistoun, was 16 years old when he and his brother went to the match.

“It was the first time I’d been on a plane and only my second time out of Scotland,” he recalls. “We stayed at Calella, a short coach drive from the stadium. Our huge support was warmly welcomed by the locals. The game went well, although it was a bit nervy towards the end of the 90 minutes.”

READ MORE: A night to remember - when Rangers won the European Cupwinners Cup in 1972

Fans rushed on to the pitch just before the final whistle, recalls Robert, and clashed with the Spanish police, before order was restored. Like Anne, he says the aftermath of the game was peaceful, despite newspaper reports at the time suggesting there had been more clashes between fans and the police.

“I never saw any trouble before or after the game and we were treated very well by the ordinary Spanish population,” he adds. “Barcelona invited Rangers back two years later for its own football tournament.”

Lifelong Rangers fan Lenny Scott, originally from Coatbridge, also travelled to the game.

Glasgow Times:

“I was 16 and went on a supporters’ bus from Rutherglen,” he says. “My parents paid the £20 for the trip for me, which included two nights in a hotel. We were lucky enough to be allowed to visit the Rangers’ team hotel the day after we won the cup. The players came out to greet us - what an experience. It was a day I’ll never forget.”

READ MORE: The rooftop home of Glasgow's own 'Statue of Liberty' - behind the scenes at the City Chambers

What are your memories of great Rangers and Celtic triumphs over the decades? Get in touch with your photos and stories - email ann.fotheringham@glasgowtimes.co.uk or write to Ann Fotheringham, Glasgow Times, 125 Fullarton Drive, Glasgow G32 8FG.