Aberdeen Greatest Games: The Dons' Fifty Finest Matches

By Kevin Stirling

From the controversy that surrounded Aberdeen FC's first cup semi-final, through the triumphant European golden era of the 80s to their long-awaited return to glory with their League Cup win in 2014, here are 50 of the club's most glorious, epochal and thrilling games of all. Aberdeen's isolation as a northerly football outpost has helped to forge their own remarkable story, as reflected in the games covered in this book. The Dons have a rich 115-year history that has been defined by their achievements on foreign shores rather than by battling local rivals. An irresistible cast list of club legends - manager Alex Ferguson, Gordon Strachan and Joe Harper, Willie Miller, Jim Leighton and Duncan Shearer - comes to life in these thrilling tales of goalscoring feats, Hampden glory and triumphs on foreign fields. As the club enters a new era, with relocation from their spiritual home of Pittodrie edging ever closer, Aberdeen Greatest Games reflects on unforgettable moments in the club's history that are guaranteed to make any fan's heart swell with pride.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Independent Publishers Group
• Release date: Mar 20, 2023
• ISBN: 9781785319686

Book preview

‘WE KNEW the significance of the game. It was the biggest occasion the club had been involved in since it came into being just five years ago.’ The words of Aberdeen legend Donald Colman, the former player, trainer and Scotland international who invented the first dugout in British football.

Colman was looking back on his career in the Aberdeen Daily Journal before his benefit game in 1912 as he recalled the Dons’ first Scottish Cup semi-final, ‘Looking back it was a great occasion and although it ended in disappointment we gave it everything and were unlucky not to take it to a replay. Manager Jimmy Philip was keen to see the club develop and progress and reaching the last four of the Scottish Cup was a landmark for Aberdeen FC. From a personal point of view, I was proud to have played my part in that side. It was a great pity we didn’t reach the final as we deserved to.’

After being formed in 1903 following the amalgamation of the three major clubs in the city, Aberdeen, Orion and Victoria United, the current Aberdeen Football Club entered the top division in Scottish football in 1905, a position they have never relinquished. The progression was as much expected as it was surprising. The authorities insisted that any application to join the Scottish leagues would only be looked upon favourably if the three major clubs in the city joined forces. Following a difficult and prolonged period of negotiating, the new club eventually came into being on 14 April 1903. Those efforts were rewarded with progression in the Scottish Cup in 1908. Gone were the days of heavy defeats in the qualifying rounds when several smaller Aberdeen-based sides were outclassed against more experienced and streetwise opponents. The progress in 1908 perhaps vindicated that the combined strength of the established clubs meant that Aberdeen and the north-east was well represented on the national stage.

Aberdeen progressed to the last four after wins over Albion Rovers, Dundee and Queen’s Park. The quarter-final victory over Tayside rivals Dundee was significant. It took three games for the ‘stripes’ (early reference to the black and gold strip) to prevail in a second replay that was played at Hampden Park. The venue of course was the national stadium in Glasgow and attracted interest in the west with two east-coast teams playing. Willie Lennie had been a doubt and the train journey south, as the Dons’ party were housed within their own carriage, would not be beneficial for the Aberdeen winger. Lennie played and scored a sensational goal in 75 minutes as Aberdeen went on to win 3-1. Looking back this result proved significant in terms of Aberdeen showing up well on a national stage. There was also the fact that one of the most vociferous backers of Aberdeen’s bid to gain admission to the Scottish leagues was the Dens Park club. Dundee had sent letters to the authorities claiming that professional football should be taken to the Aberdeen area and that the resources and supporter base would make Aberdeen a great asset to the mainstream of Scottish football.

Semi-finals were not played at a neutral venue until 1912. Celtic arrived at Pittodrie as cup holders and had gained a reputation for being a tough, uncompromising side that had an impressive record in the Scottish Cup, against opponents who were in uncharted territory.

On the eve of the game both sets of players and officials were treated to a performance at the Palace Theatre in Aberdeen. Celtic were staying at the old Murtle Hydro.

The club directors anticipated a record crowd, such was the interest in the tie. In advance of the game parts of the ground were built up to accommodate the large crowd that was expected. Pittodrie regulars were confident their side could overcome the Glasgow outfit and reach their first Scottish Cup Final. Football was the game of the working man, but it was reported in the Aberdeen Daily Journal that the Celtic tie attracted ‘hundreds of occasional patrons, most who had never seen a first-class game. Elderly gentlemen, clergy, lawyers, doctors, merchants and so on; ladies old and young, many of them fashionably attired and wafting choice perfumes around.’

It was reported that special trains from all over Scotland brought spectators to the Granite City. Two from Glasgow conveyed a large travelling support for Celtic while others also arrived from Montrose, Dundee and Edinburgh, such was the interest in the game. The gates of Pittodrie were opened at 2pm, almost two hours before kick-off. The Pittodrie enclosure and stand was full of around 12,000 within that area and by 3.30pm the rest of the ground was packed as more than 20,000 filled every vantage point.

The First Aberdeenshire Royal Engineers pipe band entertained the huge crowd ahead of referee Ferguson from Falkirk coming on to the field to inspect the playing surface. Shortly after it was the black and gold of Aberdeen that took to the field as they left the Pittodrie pavilion to rousing cheers from the home support. Several minutes later Celtic, in their green and white strips, entered the fray to more muted calls from their own support.

Aberdeen won the toss and played towards the sea in the first half. Conditions were near perfect, and it was noted that several of the Celtic players were of a ‘burly’ nature. Celtic were first to attack in the opening minutes, but Jimmy Quinn’s effort was blocked by Colman. Aberdeen responded when Jock Hume set up winger Willie Lennie, but he could not get the better of Young. There was little to choose between the teams in what were tense opening exchanges although Lennie looked the more likely for Aberdeen as did Quinn for the visitors. Indeed, it soon became clear that Quinn, the Celtic centre-forward, was their most dangerous threat and after the Aberdeen keeper saved from a 20-yard effort the defenders looked to close the dangerman down at every opportunity. On one occasion Wilf Low went in hard on Quinn, who jumped clear of the challenge. Before half-time Quinn was again in the wars as he was challenged heavily by Aberdeen keeper Macfarlane, the Celtic player falling to the ground clutching his head. Donald Colman was showing all his experience as he rallied the home defence, bringing an assured calm to proceedings. Aberdeen were attacking on occasion with their threat coming down the left where the Charlie O’Hagan and Lennie combination almost brought the opening goal. O’Hagan and Lennie were the first capped players for Aberdeen. O’Hagan was a regular in the Ireland side while Lennie became the first Aberdeen player to play for Scotland in 1908.

The home side were lucky not to concede when a rare slip by Macfarlane saw the ball fall to Somers, whose effort went over the bar. It was a reprieve for Aberdeen at that point as on reflection it was the visitors who were creating the better opportunities. Alex Halkett then set up Murray but his effort from 15 yards was saved by Adams. Some of the Celtic tactics were not to the supporters’ liking, such was their robust approach to the game. The referee was hardly doing the Dons any favours: on one occasion when O’Hagan remonstrated after being fouled no fewer than six times in five minutes the official threatened to send the Irish international off!

The first half was a nervous affair as both sides looked to gain what would almost certainly be a crucial advantage. Aberdeen gave little away at home and Celtic proved to be an excellent side on the road. The stage was set for an intriguing second half. Aberdeen centre-half Wilf Low had been the outstanding player in that first period. Latterly known as the ‘Laughing Cavalier’, Low was Aberdeen-born and as hard as the city’s granite. He would later join Newcastle and played for Scotland on five occasions. Low remained on the payroll at Newcastle as he took over the position of head groundsman after retiring from playing.

Aberdeen opened the second half on the offensive when O’Hagan took advantage of a mistake by McNair, but his effort went wide. Halkett then tried his luck from long range when he should have set up Lennie, who was clear in on the Celtic goal. The game was turning more physical with hard ‘charges’ from both sides resulting in some heavy challenges. Celtic gradually fell back and became more defensive as Aberdeen kept up the pressure. For a 15-minute period in the second half Aberdeen dominated the tie and passed up several chances that would have surely taken the Black and Golds through to their first cup final. Lennie, Murray and McDonald all came close to scoring as Celtic defended in depth. Then Low went upfield and came close with a fierce drive from outside the penalty area. At this point reference was made to the crowd producing ‘an almost continuous roar of encouragement’ as Aberdeen threw everything at Celtic.

Seven minutes from time a rare Celtic attack resulted in a corner. It was McMenemy who went upfield and his header from that cross deceived Aberdeen keeper Macfarlane to give Celtic an undeserved lead. Aberdeen responded with a late rally and continued pressing up until the final minute but they just came up short. The last chance came from a McDonald corner that caused mayhem in the Celtic defence but as the ball ended up on top of the net the final whistle sounded moments later.

The consensus afterwards was that Aberdeen were desperately unlucky not to at least take the tie to a replay and that referee Ferguson found few friends in the city after some poor decisions.

The total gate money amounted to £586 (19,294 paying at the turnstiles). The total receipts from the grandstand was £129. That included season ticket holders and ladies, who were admitted free and estimated to amount to about 1,500 in number. Such was the interest in attending matches at Pittodrie that the club decided that ladies would no longer be admitted free of charge as of the following season.

The Celtic party departed Aberdeen station at 7pm from the East Dock platform. However, their exit from Pittodrie was anything but cordial. It was reported that the Celtic players, officials and referee were pelted with stones as they left the field. As local officials took steps to prevent this, it proved futile. The local press was sympathetic to the club, but Aberdeen were braced for further action from the authorities.

Manager Jimmy Philip was never slow in confronting the authorities. On one occasion Philip proposed the very first foreign tour by a Scottish international team, informing the authorities that he would foot the bill if there was a loss. Philip did, however, take Aberdeen to Bohemia, Moravia and Poland in the summer of 1911, the club’s first overseas tour. He had been a driving force behind the club’s efforts to gain admission to the Scottish leagues and was often lobbying other member clubs to get their support. This was essential as the fate of any club hoping to gain admission to league football was down to members. Philip was Aberdeen-born and appointed in a part-time role in 1903. A wood turner by trade, he was also a first-class referee and was invited to officiate at the Olympic Games of 1912 in Stockholm.

The defeat to Celtic was the start of a difficult period for Aberdeen against the Glasgow club in the Scottish Cup. A further defeat, this time at Celtic Park in 1911 at the same semi-final stage, was only avenged by a first Scottish Cup success over Celtic in 1935.

In the meantime Aberdeen’s progress to the latter stages was an indication they were progressing in the right way. A sustained challenge for the league championship followed three years later and with three of their players now established internationals, the foundations were set for establishing the club as a major force in Scottish football.

However, events on 28 June 1914 in Sarajevo would bring conflict in Europe that was to bring an end to football for several years.

ABERDEEN HAD emerged from the troubles of the Great War in a perilous state. Their finances had been decimated by years of warfare that had a profound effect on the country. When Aberdeen played their final game of the season on 28 April 1917, competitive football did not return until August 1919.

In an era when cup-tie venues could be switched for various reasons, more so for financial gain and crowd safety, it was in 1923 that Pittodrie witnessed one of the most incredible games ever played in the city. When the draw for the third round was made the Dons were due to travel to Recreation Park in Peterhead. It was the Aberdeen directors who approached the Blue Toon club to see if they would agree to taking the tie to Pittodrie. It was a local derby in the true sense; Peterhead was only 30 miles up the north-east coast from Aberdeen. As the only major club in the city, Aberdeen through their history have never had to face a local derby as such. That was very different before the amalgamation of the original Aberdeen, Orion and Victoria United in 1903. In the obscure days of the local Northern League, derby clashes were frequent and the Chanonry, Cattofield and Recreation Park were the scene of some fiery encounters at the end of the 19th century.

Negotiations took place on the assumption that the Highland League side would simply be there to make up the numbers and make a tidy sum in the process. It must be said that any acceptance that Peterhead had no chance of beating Aberdeen all emanated from the Highland club’s own directors. On reflection it was perhaps that line of thought that grated with the Peterhead players, who believed they had a chance of making a real game of it. The directors from both clubs then arranged a meeting and it was agreed that Peterhead would give up ground rights in exchange for a £250 cash guarantee. Also included was travelling expenses for the players and directors and that Aberdeen would agree to a friendly at Peterhead before the end of the season. The deal seemed to have been agreed but when news of the switch reached the Peterhead players, they were livid to a man. They immediately demanded to be paid £10 each for taking part. Their club stood fast and agreed to pay the players but only if they won the tie. No fewer than eight Peterhead players refused to play, which left the Highland League club in turmoil ahead of what was without doubt their biggest game so far.

Panic ensued and the Blue Toon did manage to secure former Aberdeen full-back Jock Hume from Arbroath on the eve of the game. However, the rest of the side was scraped together. Among the players secured were C.P. Murray and J.T. Wiseman, secretary and captain of the local Aberdeen University team. Both were listed on the team line-ups under false names. As it was a Scottish Cup game such behaviour was frowned upon back then as it is today. Both had also been cup-tied, having already played for the university in the competition – against Peterhead! Even under the unlikely event that the makeshift Peterhead side were to win, the Aberdeen captain Bert MacLachlan was ready to put in a protest.

Aberdeen had been going well in the First Division and were serious contenders to go far in the Scottish Cup. Progress was made after defeating Forfar Athletic and Airdrie and by the time the clash with Peterhead finally came around there was more farce to come. On the eve of the tie torrential rain hit the north-east and subsequent blizzard conditions on game day compounded matters. The Aberdeen Daily Journal ’s description of an ‘easterly hurricane’ may have been extreme but the Pittodrie pitch was flooded in parts, although in those days very much ‘playable’. For context it was reported that the spectators who did bother to turn up ‘laughed heartily when Peterhead players found themselves diving after the ball into pools of water’.

It was no surprise that the game was as one-sided as can be imagined. Aberdeen won the toss and elected to play with the strong gale behind them. Peterhead had the experience of Jock Hume in their side but despite some heroic efforts he could not stem the flow as Aberdeen set about reaching a club record tally. After Walter Grant opened the scoring following some incessant pressure the Dons went three goals ahead with a brace from Doug Thomson. Before half-time a Milne penalty and an Andy Rankine header made it 5-0. Any thoughts that Aberdeen may ease up in the second half as they faced the elements were dispelled when Vic Milne scored a sixth for the home side. Milne was a huge favourite at Pittodrie and an interesting character. He was the son of Aberdeen’s first chairman and a registered doctor during his time at Pittodrie. Born in Aberdeen in 1897, he went on to sign for Aston Villa in 1923 and played as an amateur. He went on to become Villa’s club doctor between 1930 and 1933 after he retired from playing.

Aberdeen continued to dominate the tie and when Grant ‘walked through’ the Peterhead defence to add a seventh goal, Milne completed an unlikely hat-trick soon after. Further goals came as Grant took his personal tally to four before Doug Thomson completed his hat-trick. Before the end Middleton and Smith brought up an unlucky 13 for an outclassed Peterhead side. Grant was never a prolific scorer for the club, making 100 appearances in a ten-year spell that was interrupted by the Great War. Grant served in the forces and upon his release from the army he signed for Aberdeen on a permanent deal on 16 June 1920.

Thomson’s career at Pittodrie came to an end a few weeks later after he was convicted of theft. After scoring against Third Lanark the inside-forward went out on the town to celebrate. Some heavy drinking in the Bon Accord Hotel along with some football friends led to Thomson returning to the hotel where he was later caught by police with bottles of alcohol and food. Thomson appeared in police court in March 1923 and pleaded guilty to theft. He was fined 30 shillings, and never played for Aberdeen again.

Goalkeeper Harry Blackwell was a virtual bystander in horrendous weather conditions. It was in this game that the famed ‘Blackwell’s Brolly’ was seen. The Aberdeen custodian had borrowed a raincoat from a spectator, and it was only taken off once when he was called into action during the game. The umbrella offered additional protection from the elements as he watched his team-mates cruise to victory.

Sheffield-born Blackwell was a real character at Pittodrie, joining from Scunthorpe in 1921. He went on to make 252 first-team appearances between 1921 and 1930. He also received a benefit from the club in 1926, and later played for Orient and Preston after leaving Pittodrie.

The blizzard conditions were indeed as bad as it got. Two Peterhead players, Buchan and McRobbie, left the field before full time suffering from the effects of the cold. Across at Advocates Park not far from Pittodrie towards the town centre, Aberdeen Junior club Richmond were playing host to Port Glasgow in the Scottish Junior Cup. Midway through the second half the visitors conceded the tie to prevent their players any further suffering due to the weather.

On reflection the decision to switch the game from Peterhead to Aberdeen was an error of judgement from the Highland League side. Due to the weather the crowd was kept down to 3,241 hardy souls but they did witness a piece of club history. The drawings were £181 which meant Aberdeen certainly lost out financially, but it seemed the ‘magic’ of the cup was clearly missing from what were farcical circumstances.

In an era where football finances were not as crucial as in the modern day, there was still stern criticism of Peterhead following their Pittodrie mauling. There was a general belief among their regular first-team players that if the tie had been played at their Recreation Park ground then they would have had a real opportunity to knock Aberdeen out of the competition. Their directors took that chance away from them in pursuit of cashing in. Peterhead keeper Buchan also stated that he took the attitude he would not go to Aberdeen even if he was given the entire £250 the club secured for the switch. Such sportsmanship was to be admired but the general feeling was that money came before sporting integrity and the hostility towards the Peterhead directors following the game was substantial. Even the local businessfolk were livid. The shopkeepers, hotel and bar owners and others were not shy in voicing their indignation at the club, especially when the country at that time was in a deep recession. There were also fears that Aberdeen would report the ineligible players to the Scottish Football Association and that sanctions would follow for Peterhead. As it turned out the matter was never raised.

Another story emerged from this game concerning Peterhead player-manager Sandy Hall. Born in Peterhead, he decided against a life at sea and opted for cutting granite in Aberdeen. It was in 1901 that he travelled to Canada in search of a new adventure. His stone-cutting work took him to Galt just outside of Toronto where he joined the successful local football team. It was in 1904 that Hall played his part in an incredible achievement; winning an Olympic gold medal in St Louis representing Canada. Hall became Scotland’s first homegrown Olympic champion. After returning to Scotland, Hall had a trial with Aberdeen but he eventually signed for St Bernard’s. After spells with Newcastle, Dundee, Motherwell and Dunfermline, it was at Peterhead that he finished a remarkable career. It is also known that not long after the Aberdeen game he emigrated to Toronto with his family. It is not known if the Aberdeen result was a factor in that decision, but he faded into history and even up until his passing in 1943 he was never that well known in Scotland.

Aberdeen for their part moved on to the fourth round but were beaten 2-0 by Hibernian at Easter Road to end their Scottish Cup interest for that season.

‘WE ARE hopeful, but I really can’t say what the team will be yet.’ This short statement came from Celtic manager Willie Maley as the Glasgow club settled into their overnight stay in the Caledonian Hotel in the centre of Aberdeen ahead of their clash with the Dons, as reported in the Evening Express.

Welcomed by a small crowd on their arrival, it was no surprise that Maley was confident. In all previous six Scottish Cup meetings, Aberdeen had yet to succeed. En route to the quarter-final Aberdeen had seen off Falkirk, Albion Rovers and old rivals Hibernian. There were memorable scenes at Brockville following the thrilling success over Falkirk as Willie Mills was carried off shoulder-high by the Aberdeen supporters at full time. The win in Falkirk was the Dons’ 100th Scottish Cup tie. One hundred ties in 25 years of competing in the Scottish Cup represented a consistency that had rightfully earned Aberdeen the reputation of being a ‘cup tie team’. Despite that tag, Aberdeen had still to reach a final.

Against Hibernian it took a second replay to see off the Easter Road side, and their reward was a home tie and the opportunity to lay their Celtic bogey. Recent form suggested that Aberdeen would be at last ready to make their breakthrough against the Parkhead side. The Black and Golds had been playing with a style and panache that on their day could take on any side. The Dons may not have had the consistency to win a league championship but in any cup tie, they were formidable opposition. Aberdeen captain Bob Fraser was clear in his mind, ‘We are going to win. The team has shown great resolve this season and it is about time we had a win over them [Celtic]. The fight we showed at Easter Road will serve us well for what should be a magnificent occasion.’ Fraser was a tough competitor; signed from Albion Rovers in 1931, he was made Aberdeen captain in 1934. He got his break after several Aberdeen players were banned from the first team following the ‘Great Mystery’ betting scandal that saw five players never appear for the club again. He emigrated to South Africa in 1938 a year after he was part of the Aberdeen party that toured the subcontinent a year earlier.

Interest in the tie was high and the anticipated record attendance did materialise as the Pittodrie gates were closed ahead of kick-off with more than 40,000 spectators crammed into the enclosures. The crowds came early as trains arrived from as far off as Dundee and an estimated 5,000 coming from the outlying areas in the northeast. There were even arrivals by sea. Three young Glasgow men walked to Leith, where they volunteered to help an Aberdeen trawler in return for safe passage to the Granite City. The most popular method of transport in the city was by tram. All morning trams operated throughout the city taking supporters to Pittodrie. The city corporation added additional runs from the city centre to Pittodrie as the huge crowd began to gather.

Aberdeen had previously defeated Celtic 2-0 at Pittodrie in the league and there was further encouragement with the Glasgow side having failed to score at Pittodrie in three seasons.

The home team began well and immediately put Celtic under pressure. The huge crowd were certainly playing their part and after eight minutes Aberdeen took the lead. Matt Armstrong latched on to a Beynon head flick and was brought down inside the penalty area. Referee Martin gave the penalty and Armstrong went on to score from the spot even though Kennaway did get a hand to the ball. Twelve minutes later Aberdeen scored again after a spell of constant pressure. Napier of Celtic was having a torrid time of it and his foul on Moore allowed captain Fraser to set up Willie Mills to head a second goal for the Black and Golds. Tempers frayed as Celtic were losing their composure in what was proving to be a hostile atmosphere. It seemed like years of disappointment against the Glasgow club was being wiped away by this Aberdeen team full of pace and power and playing without fear. In 22 minutes, the tie was effectively over as Aberdeen were awarded a second penalty. It was Mills this time who was brought down, and his front partner Armstrong was again entrusted with the spot kick. On this occasion Kennaway managed to save Armstrong’s effort but the centre-forward followed up on the rebound to score and put Aberdeen out of reach.

Celtic reduced the deficit just before the break when McGrory scored after a clever pass from Napier. Half-time came too soon for Aberdeen, who had simply swept Celtic aside. For some observers though it was the Aberdeen defence that was at their best. Eddie Falloon, the Irish centre-half, may have been small in stature, but it was his tenacious marking of Celtic legend Jackie McGrory that provided a platform for Aberdeen to dominate the game. Goalkeeper Steve Smith gave a safe and assured display and he was well protected by Cooper and McGill. Aberdeen have been well served over the years with player combinations that were so popular at Pittodrie, from Lennie and O’Hagan before the Great War to the defensive trio of Smith, Cooper and McGill and the Mills and Armstrong front pairing from