This was of course the 2nd time Dundee United had defeated Celtic in a Glasgow Semi Final that season.

Scoring 3 on both occasions.
https://youtu.be/vS4371Vk_F0
*Sigh*

Remember that game more for the stramash outside rather than how good that team was.
The buses were parked on Aitkenhead Road , or in that area.  Everybody stuck together as we made our way through the sporting comments and missiles from the defeated support.  Strathclydes finest were no where to be seen as per usual on these occasions. Some aggressive self defence was required as we passed the Montford bar.  Kerry out on the bus home and back again the next month to battle with the other half of Scotlands shame. 

Macbonzo wrote:

When you look back at these games, it's so funny to think how sanitised football has become. Going back to that time, my grandfather, who was a 20 stone, Third Lanark supporting policeman took me to both these games. He was fearless. He could stand among a group of Rangers fans and shout for United. I remember the final clearly. My Dad took me to it.  Much of the Celtic end was closed and there was 54,000 there. Being a weegie I was stuck among the Rangers supporters. At some point during the match, I balled out "penalty" when a United player went down in the box. Being 10 year old, no one looked at me, but, a bunch of Huns started staring at my Dad. He went into this elocuted coughing fit. He always said, it was the closest he came to death.

After Hillsborough, Hysel, Valley Parade etc, I understand why we have all seater stadiums, and it's great you can't smoke or chant racist or sectarian things, but, football is now so boring. I was trying to explain to my 9 year old nephew that Hampden actually did have a roar, whereas nowadays it has no atmosphere.

I suppose supporting your club is about the journey. I'm just glad mine started before all seater stadia, where going to ever game was an adventure

 
Im sure i was in the Celtic end for that final. As Pat said the old ash terraces, played havo c  with the Sambas.  I think it was before the top part of the terracing got knocked down. Shite game 0-0 got tanked in the replay

Macbonzo, the crowds weren't often sell-outs for finals around that time: even the '77 final (Celtic 1 Rangers 0) was around the same as '81. Cannae think why, for the ground didn't have any redevelopment works around that point. 

And from memory no part of the ground was closed either. 

I looked up crowds around that time, 'cos obviously I'm not going to remember them: the first '81 game v N Ireland was a World Cup Qualifier (78,444), then there was a home championship game two months later (22,248), both at Hampden. Ray Stewart scored in the second game,   

Tek wrote:

Dundee United 3 (Bannon, Hegarty, Hegarty)
Celtic 2 (Nicholas, Provan)
Wednesday 15th April 1981
Att; 32,328

This was the first (and so far only) time that Dundee United registered a win against Celtic at Hampden Park.

This replay win would take Utd on to face Rangers in the Final (another match that would go to a replay).

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6q0iht

 

Frankie Kopel had Provan on toast that night. See when Provan can't get by him around 70 minutes and it goes out for a goal kick, Provan can hardly walk, out on his feet, and you can see Frankie looking at him as if to say "aye".

Burns, not sure if he was ill at that point, but a right show pony performance.