10 ABERDEEN V MORTON 1937

Not the best performance from the Black & Golds but vital in that they broke a long-standing record of losing at that stage. Aberdeen reached their first ever final after failing at the semi-final stage on no less than six occasions, several attempts seeing the club lose their nerve and not make the big day. With the quality of Matt Armstrong and Willie Mills in their side, this team had to come good sometime. At Easter Road they did and never looked in trouble in a comfortable 2-0 win over Morton. It is perhaps one of the injustices that the great Aberdeen side of the ‘30s were never to taste success and win the club’s first major honour. The nearest they came was in the ‘37 Scottish Cup final, when they went down 2-1 to Celtic. Aberdeen were a side littered with talent, and many observers were of the opinion that they were the complete footballing team. If there was a criticism it was that they were guilty of playing too much football, whereas a more direct approach may have paid a higher dividend.

9 ABERDEEN V DUNDEE 1984

Aberdeen’s imperious Scottish Cup run continued with this hard fought win over Dundee at Tynecastle. Unbeaten in the cup for three years, the Dons were heading for the history books with a first ever League and Cup double and a third Scottish Cup win in succession. Tynecastle was in poor condition with a fiery, hard surface which didn’t help Aberdeen’s slick passing game. Dundee tried to mix it up but their physical approach was eventually overcome after Ian Porteous opened the scoring on 28 minutes when he headed home from a John Hewitt corner. Gordon Strachan scored the second in the closing minutes to confirm another Hampden final appearance for Aberdeen.

8 ABERDEEN V HIBERNIAN 2017

Similar to 1937, Aberdeen’s win against Hibernian three years ago was much needed after years of failing at the final four stage in this competition. The Queen of the South game had haunted the club for long enough. Again they would face a side from the Championship, but Hibernian were cup holders. Adam Rooney pounced on a defensive mix-up to put the Dons ahead 12 seconds after kick-off, and Ryan Christie’s free-kick doubled their lead. Substitute Grant Holt headed Hibs back into the game before half-time and the striker set up Dylan McGeouch to level. But Jonny Hayes’ shot deflected off Darren McGregor and beat Ofir Marciano for Aberdeen’s winner. The Dons had reached the Scottish Cup final for the first time in 17 years. In 2000, Aberdeen had also beaten Hibs at Hampden in the semis, inspired by Arild Stavrum. As in 1937, this Aberdeen side – with McLean, Shinnie and Jack in midfield and Hayes, McGinn and Rooney up front – deserved to win a trophy but sadly they would come up against a very good Celtic side. If only Kenny had picked up Jonny’s pass…

7 ABERDEEN V DUNDEE UNITED 1967

These were the first real signs of a Dons renaissance under Eddie Turnbull as Aberdeen defeated United before a huge crowd at Dens Park. ‘Jinky’ Smith was idolised by the Aberdeen support and he had a hand in the winning goal that took them to Hampden. Aberdeen had gone through some torrid times in the cup in recent years and this win was a significant step forward for the club as a first taste of European football beckoned. A massive Aberdeen support made their way down the old coastal road to attend this one.

6 ARBROATH V ABERDEEN 1947

After reaching their first final in 1937, it took Aberdeen ten years before they finally went on to lift the Scottish Cup. The draw was kind to Aberdeen as they came up against Division B side Arbroath who were surprise semi-finalists that season. The Angus club had shocked Hearts at Gayfield in the quarter-final and their reward was a last four clash with Aberdeen at Dens Park. Aberdeen were in no mood to become another scalp and a goal in each half from Stan Williams confirmed the Dons place in the final. The only negative for the Dons was an injury to talisman Willie Cooper who pulled a leg muscle that would mean him missing the final which came seven days later.

5 ABERDEEN V RANGERS 1954

This was the Dons’ first ever win over Rangers in the Scottish Cup, inflicting Rangers’ worst ever result in the Scottish Cup. Aberdeen were simply sublime as Graham Leggat and Jackie Hather ripped through the sluggish Rangers defence with ease. More than 110,000 were there to see them outclass Rangers at every turn. It was a sign of things to come as Aberdeen went on to take the league title a year later. Rangers’ legendary ‘Iron Curtain’ defence was reduced to tatters, something that others took heart from.

4 ABERDEEN V DUNDEE UNITED 1990

This was the Dons’ first ever win over Rangers in the Scottish Cup, inflicting Rangers’ worst ever result in the Scottish Cup. Aberdeen were simply sublime as Graham Leggat and Jackie Hather ripped through the sluggish Rangers defence with ease. More than 110,000 were there to see them outclass Rangers at every turn. It was a sign of things to come as Aberdeen went on to take the league title a year later. Rangers’ legendary ‘Iron Curtain’ defence was reduced to tatters, something that others took heart from. Aberdeen’s most recent Scottish Cup win was made possible by a convincing win over Dundee United at Tynecastle in the semi-final. It was not a vintage Aberdeen performance, but a convincing 4-0 win even brought lavish praise from United boss Jim McLean. The ‘New Firm’ battled it out in many semi-finals during the 1980s with the honours fairly even but a few previous defeats from the Tannadice side were laid to rest in this one. The Dons had lost 2-1 against United in a Scottish Cup replay in 1985 at Tynecastle in a hugely controversial contest, bringing an end to the long and impressive unbeaten run in the competition. They would lose out again to the Tannadice club at the fourth round stage in 1989 after a second replay was needed and so the win in 1990, inspired by the Hans Gillhaus and Charlie Nicholas strike partnership, was most enjoyable.

3 ABERDEEN V CELTIC 1983

Aberdeen were battling on three fronts in ’83 and, after defeating Waterschei in the semi-final of the European Cup Winners’ Cup, the Dons’ hectic schedule included a Scottish Cup semi-final against Celtic at Hampden in April. In a bruising encounter, Aberdeen prevailed in a 1-0 win. There were no signs of a goal at either end until, on 65 minutes, substitute Peter Weir raced in to head home Eric Black’s brilliant cross at the back post. It was a bruising encounter off the field as well that afternoon in the rain. Hampden was being rebuilt which cut the capacity, meaning the crowd of 51,152 was almost a full house. At that time, trips to the national stadium were fairly hostile for the Red Army and this was one of the worst.

2 ABERDEEN V KILMARNOCK 1970

A supermarket in Perth town centre hardly seems a fitting memorial to one of the Dons’ most famous victories but the old Muirton Park in Perth played host to a classic cup semi-final win. It was the year of ‘Cup-Tie McKay’ and the fairytale was in the making as Derek McKay scored the goal that took Aberdeen through to the final against Celtic. For once, the SFA selected a truly neutral venue and the 20,000 or so Aberdeen fans that made it to the game went home a happy lot. McKay scored in the first half and Aberdeen then had to withstand a barrage from Kilmarnock as they piled in the long ball in the second half. It was the day the young Aberdeen defence came of age, led superbly by Martin Buchan who went on to become the youngest captain to lift the Scottish Cup.

1 ABERDEEN V ST MIRREN 1982

A real thriller at Dens Park and one that Saints keeper Billy Thomson will still have nightmares about. The first game ended all square at Parkhead but the heavy rain did not deter a huge following from Aberdeen for the replay. Aberdeen were favourites but had struggled in the first game at Parkhead against a very strong St Mirren side. Frank McDougall scored and came very close to putting Aberdeen out, but eventually in the replay, the Dons won 3-2 with a Peter Weir daisy cutter slipping through Thomson’s hands to give Aberdeen victory. The fact that Aberdeen went on to win the trophy that season and qualify for the ECWC was a significant milestone in the Dons’ history.