I was at this game, as a 14-year-old on a school trip from Nairn Academy.I don't remember much of the game now, only the missed conversion at the the very end which meant Scotland had won. Our group watched the game from somewhere on the North terracing. Why was there such a large crowd ? Well, it was a legendary Welsh team, with all the stars playing, I notice in this video that even Phil Bennett came on as a replacement, and I recall there were many, many Welsh fans, I was amused at hearing them speak in Welsh but swear in English. And it was not an all-ticket game, my memory is of my group buying our tickets at a booth just outside the ground. I saw something extraordinary as we were waiting to go in. The perimeter of the ground - this must have been at the East terrace - was a high iron railings fence. Just adjacent to where I was standing was an exit gate, also iron railings, which of course at this time was locked shut. But a group of Welsh fans came along, immediately attracting my attention as they were quiet and furtive. All of a sudden, a group of them grabbed the huge gate, lifted it off its hinges, created a gap, about 50 fans streamed through into the ground, then the ones now on the inside took the weight, and the others who had initially lifted the gate went through into the ground. Then the gate was replaced on its hinges. And everybody involved sauntered off into the ground as if nothing had happened - unbelievable! I watched this in open-mouthed astonishment. I could not believe that, firstly, anyone would have the audacity to do this, and, secondly, that they had the strength to lift and hold a huge and doubtless extremely heavy iron gate. Many years later, I heard some Welshmen talking about this method of access to Murrayfield on a BBC radio programme, and I gather that Welsh supporters did this regularly. There is another comment here that the size of the crowd was dangerous, perhaps, but I do not remember any crushing at all, or any feeling of being unsafe. My group, however, got separated in the crowds after the game, and some of the boys did not make it back to the bus, but they were found safe and well though they had to spend the night in emergency accommodation in Edinburgh. Not only was this a rugby world record attendance, but, to my knowledge, the last six-figure crowd at a sporting event in Scotland. I sometimes trick football fans by asking them, when was the last 100,000+ crowd in Scotland, they assume it was at Hampden, but I believe the last six-figure crowd there was the Old Firm Scottish Cup Final in 1973. Was this rugby match in fact the last-ever six-figure crowd at any match in the U.K.? A long time ago, but a great memory for me - and Scotland won!
mickey mouse I went to Murrayfield as a 17 year old in '81 but like many Welsh fans didn't have a ticket to the game. I remember Welsh fans, my mates included, rushing en-masse through an entrance into the ground but I didn't have the bottle.
Aye well, take. It from me; laddies like you were part of the glory glory days of Rugby Union Football sharing the rollercoaster range of being a passionate follower of the mercurial unpredictability of our national team; watching with palpitating heart as Andy Irvine gathered the ball behind his own 25 and checkingi whether he should kick for the relative safety of touch or suddenly deciding, in a flamboyant manner worthy of France at their cavalier peak,to RUN the bloody ball out of defence as we roared our hoarse approval of his quixotic bravery....flower of Scotland indeed... cherished. memories
I was also there on the North terracing as a 14 year old. The crowd was huge but i too dont remember feeling unsafe. Got the last train home to Dundee after a memorable evening in Rose Street, we were able to get served despite our tender age.
I was 10 when this game was played. Rugby is not my sport. Only been to 2 Scottish Rugby Matches at Murrayfield. Seen more football matches there than Rugby. Would just like to say Rugby in the 70's seems so much better than now. So much simpler than all the complicated rules they have now. Back then you just got stuck in and the ref let the game flow. Now there are too many stopages and it takes a fortnight to complete a scrum. p.s. what about that crowd. Amazing. I loved Andy Irvine & Bruce Hay went to my school. Great sporting times when life was so much simpler too. As nobody had much money you just all helped each other and found things to do to entertain yourself as a kid. Loved it
Thanks for posting. I was sitting on the dead ball line right in line with Wales' missed conversion. I ran on after that thinking I was the first one on the pitch but a lot were faster. School trip from Dunbarton.
The trip to edinburgh was a big event in Wales and crowds had been on the up for a while. This was before the days of ticketing and the 108000was well beyond the capacity of murrayfield,but of course entry wasn't computerised,and nobody knew. Thousands never saw the game. It was acknowledged afterwards that only good fortune had saved us from a disaster,and all subsequent matches were ticket only.D
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I wonder how many commenting below enjoy watching these old games highlights than watching a game today? I know I do. I find the modern game to be some sort of version of rugby league. Back at this time the ball actually was contested for, at every breakdown, just about every tackle. Now a ruck can be formed by a ball carrier just going to ground with no opposition required to make any contact by defenders with those on the offensive side of the ball!
My thoughts entirely. The game of this era is no longer and thank God for youtube so we can relive the epic contests of this lost sport. Today's rugby union is largely boring and getting worse.
I didn't start going to Murrayfield until the early '80s but the trains behind the Blue (South) terraces used to slow down or even stop briefly during matches.
Like the way the commentators in 1975 didn't vilify or condemn the fans for running on to the pitch in fact they seem to drink in the jubilation too. Contrast that with the recent holier then though stance many commentators and the media in general took towards the Hibs fans for running on the pitch after winning their first major trophy in decades.
I was 12 and there with my dad, but he got so worried by the overcrowding - this was only a few years after the Ibrox disaster - we left before kick-off and ended up at Tynecastle watching a Hearts reserve match.
I'm always surprised by the sheer size of the crowds at that time. I imagine the cost of entry has caused attendance to shrink, coupled with the televising of matches.
That game was EPIC. I was with my wife at the Western end of Murrayfield (left wing corner) and there were literally people at the back of the terrace crowd hanging on to people's shoulders struggling to stop themselves sliding back down the steep slope on the outside of the terrace! Sardines would have been right at home in that crowd. It was a cold day but no-one was cold! As a Llanelli boy myself I was well aware of Phil Bennett's prowess as a side stepping genius but as he came down the field with the ball directly towards us and then moved first left then right (about six feet each way it seemed) at speed and completely avoided what would have been two thumping tackles, they quipped "Jeezuz! Did you see THAT! How the HELL did he do that?" The final kick of the game - to draw or lose for Wales was down the Eastern end and away from us. From where I was stood it looked like it had gone over (but hadn't of course) but going back up Princes Street with the seething crowd was a hell of a buzz with both Scots and Welsh folk STILL not being certain of the final score. Some Scots lads were even saying the conversion had gone over for the draw! It wasn't until most of us that ended up in bars back in town saw the news that we finally knew. WHAT a game, WHAT an atmosphere and WHAT a crowd! UNFORGETTABLE!
"On March 1st 1975 an astonishing 104,000 people piled into Murrayfield...this set the world record for attendence". I was there with mini crowd from my school .It was so crowded - most standing - I moved to the clock end but it was not any better. I climbed a pole but some swine of an adult just stepped on my foothold. It was too painful. I might be there at 2 mins 41 sticking above the crowd on the left getting my foot, crushed. Sadly an old man collapsed and died in front of me. The newspapers said it was natural, it probably was, I never went back to that end. It was pay on entry so people piled in. When the police shut the gates, the fans just piled over the walls and fences - no stopping them nothing the police could do. So it was significantly more than the official crowd figure. The schoolchildren on the seats fringing the pitch were moved forward on to grass to relieve the pressure from the back of the terracing. Somone lucky got an unexpected seat! The Welsh sang like angels, and a girl took an interest in me, but my Lion Rampant flag got caught in the bus door, to be lost forever... actually no!.. the girl retrieved it and ran back along the road to give it too me. Why did I not ask her out? Idiot! Soon after I had the honour of playing 7s in an Edinburgh schools final on that national pitch o in the old stadium, and we got the Scotland dressing room! I was not that keen on the 1970s, but yes, those were the days. 😊
The 70,000 limit was only set after this game. I believe 104,000 went through the turnstiles but I'd be surprised if more than 80,000 actually saw much of the game. I was at the front of the south terracing and people were being crushed against the front of the terrace. lucky no one was killed - after this, matches were made all ticket
I went to this with a school boy ticket aged 13, but ended up with my mate Mouse behind fans that couldn't get in, so they kicked in some of the rails, and off we went following this group of about 20, followed them all the down to front and ended up on the dead ball line, also have vivid memories of my namesake missing that conversation, the highlights on TV at the time had me and my pap running onto park at end, how did I know I had a bright yellow bomber jacket on that day, they also spoke of 20,000 being locked out
was at this game as a young 15 year old sat behind the goals in front of the advertising hordings
6 ปีที่แล้ว
I have to say that the Irish referee didn't seem to give Scotland the advantage in blowing his whistle early, once during a lineout that the Scots won and seemed to have a potential breakout from the pass out to flyhalf McGeeghan, and once again when McGeeghan had a break from Morgan's pass and was about to run yards past the gain line! Instead the penalty was blown and a kick resulted, when a break could have meant a try!
It was the last game at Murrayfield which was not all ticket. You could just turn up and pay at the turnstiles. There was no control of the numbers who got in. I was in the stand near where Alan Martin tried the last conversion.
Wales denied a 7th Grand Slam. Scotlands tactics that day was far from awful. Its was clear they were there to stop Wales winning, not play Rugby themselves.
An interesting article on this game ... www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/columnists/brendan-gallagher/20903/brendan-gallaghers-feature-when-scotland-v-wales-filled-murrayfield-to-the-max/
nowadays that's a penalty try to Wales at the end for a no arms tackle. Incidentally I was talking to someone a couple of months back who said it cost £3 on the gate to get in at the turnstiles next to where the tram stop is now, but recalled it being rammed full.
Terrace tickets were still only a fiver when I started going with my folks in the early 1980's (Schoolboys Enclosure tickets were GBP2.50 or GBP3.50 if I remember rightly).
Lovely to hear the King of rugby commentators, RIP Bill, there’ll never be one to match you.
I wish the game was still like this.
70s was really the high point for this sport
What a time to be Welsh in Edinburgh what a day and WHAT a night after this game can’t remember the trip back to Swansea 🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺😇😇🥃🥃🥃🥃
I was at this game, as a 14-year-old on a school trip from Nairn Academy.I don't remember much of the game now, only the missed conversion at the the very end which meant Scotland had won. Our group watched the game from somewhere on the North terracing. Why was there such a large crowd ? Well, it was a legendary Welsh team, with all the stars playing, I notice in this video that even Phil Bennett came on as a replacement, and I recall there were many, many Welsh fans, I was amused at hearing them speak in Welsh but swear in English. And it was not an all-ticket game, my memory is of my group buying our tickets at a booth just outside the ground.
I saw something extraordinary as we were waiting to go in. The perimeter of the ground - this must have been at the East terrace - was a high iron railings fence. Just adjacent to where I was standing was an exit gate, also iron railings, which of course at this time was locked shut. But a group of Welsh fans came along, immediately attracting my attention as they were quiet and furtive. All of a sudden, a group of them grabbed the huge gate, lifted it off its hinges, created a gap, about 50 fans streamed through into the ground, then the ones now on the inside took the weight, and the others who had initially lifted the gate went through into the ground. Then the gate was replaced on its hinges. And everybody involved sauntered off into the ground as if nothing had happened - unbelievable! I watched this in open-mouthed astonishment. I could not believe that, firstly, anyone would have the audacity to do this, and, secondly, that they had the strength to lift and hold a huge and doubtless extremely heavy iron gate.
Many years later, I heard some Welshmen talking about this method of access to Murrayfield on a BBC radio programme, and I gather that Welsh supporters did this regularly.
There is another comment here that the size of the crowd was dangerous, perhaps, but I do not remember any crushing at all, or any feeling of being unsafe. My group, however, got separated in the crowds after the game, and some of the boys did not make it back to the bus, but they were found safe and well though they had to spend the night in emergency accommodation in Edinburgh.
Not only was this a rugby world record attendance, but, to my knowledge, the last six-figure crowd at a sporting event in Scotland. I sometimes trick football fans by asking them, when was the last 100,000+ crowd in Scotland, they assume it was at Hampden, but I believe the last six-figure crowd there was the Old Firm Scottish Cup Final in 1973. Was this rugby match in fact the last-ever six-figure crowd at any match in the U.K.?
A long time ago, but a great memory for me - and Scotland won!
mickey mouse I went to Murrayfield as a 17 year old in '81 but like many Welsh fans didn't have a ticket to the game. I remember Welsh fans, my mates included, rushing en-masse through an entrance into the ground but I didn't have the bottle.
Thanks for sharing your memories. I hope you're keeping well.
Aye well, take. It from me; laddies like you were part of the glory glory days of Rugby Union Football sharing the rollercoaster range of being a passionate follower of the mercurial unpredictability of our national team; watching with palpitating heart as Andy Irvine gathered the ball behind his own 25 and checkingi whether he should kick for the relative safety of touch or suddenly deciding, in a flamboyant manner worthy of France at their cavalier peak,to RUN the bloody ball out of defence as we roared our hoarse approval of his quixotic bravery....flower of Scotland indeed... cherished. memories
Wembley had 100,000 crowds until the late 80’s.
I was also there on the North terracing as a 14 year old. The crowd was huge but i too dont remember feeling unsafe. Got the last train home to Dundee after a memorable evening in Rose Street, we were able to get served despite our tender age.
Real rugby and a pulsating crowd.
I was 10 when this game was played. Rugby is not my sport. Only been to 2 Scottish Rugby Matches at Murrayfield. Seen more football matches there than Rugby. Would just like to say Rugby in the 70's seems so much better than now. So much simpler than all the complicated rules they have now. Back then you just got stuck in and the ref let the game flow. Now there are too many stopages and it takes a fortnight to complete a scrum. p.s. what about that crowd. Amazing. I loved Andy Irvine & Bruce Hay went to my school. Great sporting times when life was so much simpler too. As nobody had much money you just all helped each other and found things to do to entertain yourself as a kid. Loved it
Great comment and completely true. Great but simpler times.
Thanks for posting. I was sitting on the dead ball line right in line with Wales' missed conversion. I ran on after that thinking I was the first one on the pitch but a lot were faster. School trip from Dunbarton.
Was there as a 13 year old with my father. I remember a Welsh fan sold my dad one ticket. We both got in with it. So you could say there was 104,001.
The trip to edinburgh was a big event in Wales and crowds had been on the up for a while. This was before the days of ticketing and the 108000was well beyond the capacity of murrayfield,but of course entry wasn't computerised,and nobody knew. Thousands never saw the game. It was acknowledged afterwards that only good fortune had saved us from a disaster,and all subsequent matches were ticket only.D
I wonder how many commenting below enjoy watching these old games highlights than watching a game today? I know I do. I find the modern game to be some sort of version of rugby league. Back at this time the ball actually was contested for, at every breakdown, just about every tackle. Now a ruck can be formed by a ball carrier just going to ground with no opposition required to make any contact by defenders with those on the offensive side of the ball!
My thoughts entirely. The game of this era is no longer and thank God for youtube so we can relive the epic contests of this lost sport. Today's rugby union is largely boring and getting worse.
My dad took me to this game when I was 7, luckily we were in the stand! I spent most of the game watching the trains behind the terracing!
I didn't start going to Murrayfield until the early '80s but the trains behind the Blue (South) terraces used to slow down or even stop briefly during matches.
Doug Morgan was a very reliable player who performed consistently well in every game he played for Scotland.
With a Welsh name to boot.
You got to say FairPlay to Scotland winning that one because that Wales side were brilliant .
Like the way the commentators in 1975 didn't vilify or condemn the fans for running on to the pitch in fact they seem to drink in the jubilation too. Contrast that with the recent holier then though stance many commentators and the media in general took towards the Hibs fans for running on the pitch after winning their first major trophy in decades.
That's 'cause the commentator is the late, great Bill McLaren.
I was 12 and there with my dad, but he got so worried by the overcrowding - this was only a few years after the Ibrox disaster - we left before kick-off and ended up at Tynecastle watching a Hearts reserve match.
The crowd equates to over 1% of the combined population of Scotland and Wales!
I'm always surprised by the sheer size of the crowds at that time. I imagine the cost of entry has caused attendance to shrink, coupled with the televising of matches.
That game was EPIC. I was with my wife at the Western end of Murrayfield (left wing corner) and there were literally people at the back of the terrace crowd hanging on to people's shoulders struggling to stop themselves sliding back down the steep slope on the outside of the terrace! Sardines would have been right at home in that crowd. It was a cold day but no-one was cold!
As a Llanelli boy myself I was well aware of Phil Bennett's prowess as a side stepping genius but as he came down the field with the ball directly towards us and then moved first left then right (about six feet each way it seemed) at speed and completely avoided what would have been two thumping tackles, they quipped "Jeezuz! Did you see THAT! How the HELL did he do that?"
The final kick of the game - to draw or lose for Wales was down the Eastern end and away from us. From where I was stood it looked like it had gone over (but hadn't of course) but going back up Princes Street with the seething crowd was a hell of a buzz with both Scots and Welsh folk STILL not being certain of the final score. Some Scots lads were even saying the conversion had gone over for the draw! It wasn't until most of us that ended up in bars back in town saw the news that we finally knew. WHAT a game, WHAT an atmosphere and WHAT a crowd! UNFORGETTABLE!
Who was Allan Martin's second row partner in this match as it didn't look like Geoff Wheel?
Mike Roberts ( London Welsh) who received 8 Caps between 1971-79 at lock forward.
Never felt so.scared in my life thought I'd be crushed to death
Amazing that didn't happen
Good times
when rugby was rugby!!!
"On March 1st 1975 an astonishing 104,000 people piled into Murrayfield...this set the world record for attendence". I was there with mini crowd from my school .It was so crowded - most standing - I moved to the clock end but it was not any better. I climbed a pole but some swine of an adult just stepped on my foothold. It was too painful. I might be there at 2 mins 41 sticking above the crowd on the left getting my foot, crushed. Sadly an old man collapsed and died in front of me. The newspapers said it was natural, it probably was, I never went back to that end. It was pay on entry so people piled in. When the police shut the gates, the fans just piled over the walls and fences - no stopping them nothing the police could do. So it was significantly more than the official crowd figure. The schoolchildren on the seats fringing the pitch were moved forward on to grass to relieve the pressure from the back of the terracing. Somone lucky got an unexpected seat! The Welsh sang like angels, and a girl took an interest in me, but my Lion Rampant flag got caught in the bus door, to be lost forever... actually no!..
the girl retrieved it and ran back along the road to give it too me. Why did I not ask her out? Idiot! Soon after I had the honour of playing 7s in an Edinburgh schools final on that national pitch o
in the old stadium, and we got the Scotland dressing room! I was not that keen on the 1970s, but yes, those were the days. 😊
Given the stadium had a capacity of 70,000, how on earth did they squeeze in 50% more people that day?
The 70,000 limit was only set after this game. I believe 104,000 went through the turnstiles but I'd be surprised if more than 80,000 actually saw much of the game. I was at the front of the south terracing and people were being crushed against the front of the terrace. lucky no one was killed - after this, matches were made all ticket
People weren't as fat back then.
Most of the ground was terracing - so people just had to stand closer together...
I went to this with a school boy ticket aged 13, but ended up with my mate Mouse behind fans that couldn't get in, so they kicked in some of the rails, and off we went following this group of about 20, followed them all the down to front and ended up on the dead ball line, also have vivid memories of my namesake missing that conversation, the highlights on TV at the time had me and my pap running onto park at end, how did I know I had a bright yellow bomber jacket on that day, they also spoke of 20,000 being locked out
I was there with the school i attended as a 11 year old. Didn’t see a blade of grass. Watched it at a chippy outside the ground.
A colour TV set at a chippy? In 1975? That place must've been rich!
Yeah what fantastic kicking skills!!
Wow! What was the attendance?
104,000
Whatever they said add 10 thousand
was at this game as a young 15 year old sat behind the goals in front of the advertising hordings
I have to say that the Irish referee didn't seem to give Scotland the advantage in blowing his whistle early, once during a lineout that the Scots won and seemed to have a potential breakout from the pass out to flyhalf McGeeghan, and once again when McGeeghan had a break from Morgan's pass and was about to run yards past the gain line! Instead the penalty was blown and a kick resulted, when a break could have meant a try!
What were the reasons(aside from hosting the the greatest Welsh side ever) that a 100k came to Murrayfield that day?
+Jakub Widlarz Seems nobody knows. Perhaps not much on Scottish TV that afternoon?
It was the last game at Murrayfield which was not all ticket. You could just turn up and pay at the turnstiles. There was no control of the numbers who got in. I was in the stand near where Alan Martin tried the last conversion.
It's officially 104,000 .
@@Trajan2401 "officially". Who knows how many actually got in.
charging crowd + LOTR music = epic
how did that welsh side lose must have been hungover
Wow! What a nail biter!
Bring back Bill McLaren.
Great match, great occasion, extremely dodgy reffing!
Wales denied a 7th Grand Slam. Scotlands tactics that day was far from awful. Its was clear they were there to stop Wales winning, not play Rugby themselves.
What a death trap that crowd was!!
Nice highlights of kicking for goal, flag waving......plus a try at the end!
Proper rugby rip bill
1975
They got away with fwd passes in the 70s too!
An interesting article on this game ... www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/columnists/brendan-gallagher/20903/brendan-gallaghers-feature-when-scotland-v-wales-filled-murrayfield-to-the-max/
Morgan was my mum,s chiropodist!
Proud proud proud...😊😊😊
So what the hell😁??? I'M partisan.....LoL ..
😃
Dougie Morgan beats Gareth Edwards. ...at last 😁
Morgan
Oooooh terracing.
nowadays that's a penalty try to Wales at the end for a no arms tackle. Incidentally I was talking to someone a couple of months back who said it cost £3 on the gate to get in at the turnstiles next to where the tram stop is now, but recalled it being rammed full.
Terrace tickets were still only a fiver when I started going with my folks in the early 1980's (Schoolboys Enclosure tickets were GBP2.50 or GBP3.50 if I remember rightly).
or the charging crowds amaizing!!!