In what was one of the most significant years in Aberdeen FC history, when an historic league triumph came at the conclusion of a season that had threatened to end in bitter disappointment.

Aberdeen had gone through the heartache of losing two cup finals in 1979 and it was not until the latter part of the season that the Dons really focused on league success after an horrendous winter that decimated the fixture schedule.

With Aberdeen reaching the final of the League Cup and the last four of the Scottish Cup, the Dons found themselves 12 points behind Celtic with games in hand. In the days of two points for a win, the Celtic lead looked unassailable and there was little Aberdeen title talk outside of Pittodrie in the media – all of which aided the cause.

And Alex Ferguson saw an opportunity and his side would go on to make the most of it.

Crucially, Aberdeen had to go to Celtic park twice during April. To succeed, they would have to win both matches. Celtic boss Billy McNeill was confident his team could not lose both meetings, but after the Dons triumphed 2-1 on April 5th at Parkhead, the championship took an amazing twist on April 19th. As Aberdeen won 3-1 at Kilmarnock, Celtic lost 5-1 to Dundee, an incredible result that meant that Aberdeen now had their destiny in their own hands. Four days later, a sensational 3-1 win at Parkhead brought Aberdeen tantalisingly close to the championship.

On the final Saturday of the season, Aberdeen travelled to Easter Road knowing that the title could be theirs if they won and Celtic failed to beat St Mirren in Paisley. More than 8,000 Red Army followers made the trip to Edinburgh to see the Dons in majestic form as they hammered a doomed Hibernian 5-0. Radio broadcasts from Paisley announced that St Mirren had held Celtic in a 0-0 draw.

Aberdeen were champions!

Alex Ferguson raced on to the park to hug veteran keeper Bobby Clark as the Aberdeen support invaded the pitch to hail their conquering heroes. It was a real breakthrough for Aberdeen under Ferguson and the club were now on the threshold of yet greater success.

As we build up to Sunday, the 40th anniversary of the Dons triumph at Easter Road which all but secured the Premier Division title, the Red Matchday team look back over the 1979/1980 campaign in a five part series, titled ‘The Pittodrie Review’ after the programme from that year.

PART 1

Alex Ferguson was embarking on his second season in charge at Pittodrie and was certainly putting his stamp on the club.

Fergie had come through a difficult first season with the Dons in 1979 — the Dons had not improved on their runners up place under Billy McNeill and there was no doubt that the pressure was on the new Aberdeen manager. By his own admission he learned as much in that first year as at any other time during his tenure as the Dons manager but it was to stand him in good stead for the coming years.

Ferguson was met with a surprising malaise when it came to playing in Glasgow.

After one game at Ibrox when Aberdeen equalised late in the game to earn a point the players were buoyant in the dressing room at full time. This angered the new Dons boss; “I hated that. They were happy to get a point against a rival.

“That had to change.

“The mindset of the players had to be looked at and the lack of belief was a problem. Some players were resistant to change so I had to move them on. It took a bit of time but any side of mine would never accept second best.”

The Aberdeen manager also had to contend with a troubled early tenure at Pittodrie. A close family bereavement was compounded by his acrimonious departure from St Mirren which involved a tribunal.

There was also the change from managing St Mirren to Aberdeen.

Whilst the Buddies had enjoyed a great period in their history the Dons were a step up in stature. The Dons boss was keen on talking up his old side which on reflection was an error in judgement. At that time Aberdeen was a side packed of full internationals and youngsters who were seen as the best in the country. It was very much an emerging side and Ferguson took stock of that in the close season.

There was little indication in the build up to 1979/80 that Aberdeen were well enough equipped to sustain a challenge for the league title. Only one player had been added to the squad and that was Doug Bell, a free transfer from St Mirren.

Manager Alex Ferguson and assistant Pat Stanton were pleased with the preparation trip to Denmark and Ferguson claimed that, “The squad has struck up a magnificent harmony which will be important in the months ahead.”

However, on their return the Dons went down 1-0 to Kilmarnock at Rugby Park in the Drybrough Cup. Ferguson was concerned, raging, “We played badly but having said that we should still be able to come away from grounds like that with a victory.

This is a thing we have to instil into the players – they must still be able to win even though we are not at our best.”

Prophetic words indeed and a quality that Aberdeen would need in abundance in a positive league campaign.

That was made clear again after they went down in their opening league game of the season, a 1-0 defeat at Firhill with Partick scoring from a late penalty. It was a bitter defeat and one that got the Dons off to the worst possible start. After progress was made at Arbroath’s expense in the opening round of the League Cup, the Dons got their league campaign up and running against Hibernian at Pittodrie on 18th August. Two goals from John McMaster set Aberdeen up for an impressive 3-0 win over the Easter Road side.

At this stage, Ferguson had still to settle on his best formation.

Bobby Clark now in the twilight of his career was still the established ‘keeper with Jim Leighton not yet quite ready to take over.

Willie Garner and Willie Miller had formed a sound central defensive pairing but with the emergence of a young Alex McLeish, Ferguson decided that a place had to be found for him in the side. On occasion that would be in midfield, a ploy that Ferguson would use to great effect.

Stuart Kennedy was the established right back and he would go on to play in every league game that season after missing the opener at Firhill.

Doug Considine and Doug Rougvie would battle it out for the left back slot, although John McMaster was used in that role on occasion.

It is fair to suggest that neither Gordon Strachan nor Mark McGhee were immediate successes when they joined the Dons but both had now been around long enough to establish themselves in Ferguson’s favoured first team line up.

Steve Archibald was the main striker and with the experienced Joe Harper and Drew Jarvie still around, there was plenty of experienced back up.

Mark McGhee was also brought in from Newcastle in a £75,000 deal in April 1979 although the former Morton striker took time to settle and establish himself in the first team.

Ian Scanlon was first choice left winger and the Dons could still call on the likes of Andy Watson, Derek Hamilton and a clutch of younger players coming through the ranks.