Triumph was a sign of times for Jardine

THOUGH he means no disrespect to the players of either Aberdeen or Dundee United, who reached European finals in the Eighties, or the representatives of the Old Firm who progressed to finals of the Uefa Cup in the 21st century, Sandy Jardine believes Scottish club football reached a zenith in the Sixties and Seventies.

While Rangers' triumph over Moscow Dynamo in the 1972 European Cup-Winners' Cup final and Celtic's historic victory against Internazionale in the 1967 European Cup final were the most obvious fruits of this fertile period for the Scottish game, Jardine also remembers how Rangers were losing finalists to Bayern Munich in the 1967 Cup Winners' Cup while Celtic were beaten in the 1970 European Cup final by Feyenoord.

"And it wasn't just about Celtic and Rangers," reflected the stylish defender who played in two European finals for Rangers. "The quality of players we had in Scotland was outstanding. Dundee reached the semi-finals of the European Cup in 1963 and the same stage of the old Fairs Cup in 1968. Dunfermline also reached the quarter-finals of the Cup-Winners' Cup in 1962 and matched that feat in the Fairs Cup a couple of years later. All things considered, it was a golden era for Scottish football."

Still a member of staff at Ibrox where he is the club's sales and marketing manager, Jardine recalls the 3-2 triumph in Barcelona with a mixture of satisfaction and frustration. "It's sometimes overlooked how many good sides we had to beat in order to lift that trophy," he recalled. "Bayern Munich, for example, were one of the best sides in Europe with some of the finest players in their history."

Jardine nominates Derek Johnstone and Davie Smith, the pair of centre-backs, as Rangers most influential men in the Nou Camp. Since the Russians fielded two wingers, Jardine and Willie Mathieson, the Ibrox side's full-backs, had their hands full with defensive duties and little opportunity to counter on the break. It was left to Johnstone and Smith, who were both comfortable in possession, to turn defence into attack.

"Ronnie McKinnon had broken a leg in Lisbon and Colin Jackson went over his ankle before the game in Barcelona, so that was how Derek and Davie got their chance in the middle of the defence," said Jardine. "Luckily for us, they were both good users of the ball."

The Iron Curtain between eastern and western Europe was part of life in the early Seventies and the Rangers players lacked the detailed inside knowledge about their opponents which Walter Smith and his assistants will be free to pass on about Zenit St Petersburg. If there was an onus on the class of 1972 to use their own initiative, Jardine recalls Rangers adapting more fluently to the challenge of the final as they built a three-goal lead through Stein and Johnston, who scored twice.

"To their credit, the Russians came back at us and scored a couple of goals," he went on. "That said, I never thought they'd get an equaliser, I was always confident we would win the game."

Although the pitch invasion after the final whistle and the over-reaction of the Spanish police would make plenty of headlines, Jardine makes the point there was nothing like the media fuss made of the 1972 final which surrounds this evening's match in Manchester. "For a start, the final wasn't even screened as it happened in Scotland – it was televised on delayed transmission. Can you believe that ? A European final involving a Scottish club and it wasn't shown live on TV.

"What happened afterwards was avoidable. Celtic supporters ran onto the pitch to celebrate after the European Cup win in Lisbon without any bother. Barcelona was a similarly emotional occasion for the Rangers supporters which the Spanish police misjudged.

"Unfortunately, we suffered because we didn't get our medals presented on the field. What should have been a career highlight was taken away from us."