It will be an historic day on Saturday as Aberdeen welcome the Edinburgh City players, management, staff and supporters to Pittodrie, the first time the two sides have ever met. To mark the occasion the Red Matchday team have put together a special limited-edition programme with a retro cover designed by Dolly Digital. The artwork is inspired from the AFC programmes of 1946-47, the same year the club first got its hands on the Scottish Cup.

To order your copy online please click here

Here is the story of the cup run in 1947 … 

‘Goal In a Million’ Takes Cup to Aberdeen

It was a long time in coming but for a generation of Aberdeen supporters it was well worth the wait when the Dons won their first Scottish Cup on this day, the 19th of April, way back in 1947.

As the country recovered from the Second World War, Aberdeen made it to the first final for eight years after a steady and unspectacular road to Hampden.

For the best part of two months Aberdeen played cup-ties in both the Scottish and league Cups. While the league Cup Final was to end in disappointment, that was all forgotten as the Dons went on to win the Scottish Cup for the first time…

SPRINGBOK STAN TAKES CUP TO ABERDEEN

Aberdeen opened their campaign with a home tie against Partick. At that time Thistle were highly regarded and Aberdeen would have to at their best to see off the Firhill challenge. A huge 34,000 crowd gathered at Pittodrie as the first Scottish Cup tie to be played at Pittodrie since March 1939.

Partick arrived with an impressive front line and it would be down to the likes of captain Frank Dunlop and his defence to keep the lively Thistle forwards at bay. The game itself was never a classic as Dunlop quelled the danger of Mathie while Tony Harris put the shackles on Jackie Husband to great effect.

It was South African Ray Botha who engineered the first goal for Aberdeen after 31 minutes. Botha made some progress down the wing and his clever pass set up George Hamilton. The Dons inside forward crossed for the inrushing McCall to beat Steadward from close range. Partick levelled the tie in 67 minutes after Frank Dunlop clashed with Mathie.

The Partick forward managed to get up from the challenge and beat George Johnstone. Dunlop could not continue after that and that paved the way for Aberdeen to adopt some offside tactics which were fraught with danger. Nevertheless Aberdeen rallied with a man down and increased the pressure on Partick. With four minutes left Aberdeen scored a dramatic winner from the most unlikely source.

Stan Williams deep corner fell to Willie Cooper who met the ball first time to crash the ball into the net. Cooper was the veteran of the Aberdeen side and he answered the call when a replay looked likely. While some suggested that Aberdeen were fortunate to win, Partick hardly did enough to take anything from the tie. The gate receipts from the tie were £2,042, the 34,000 crowd being the third highest of the day.

In the next round Aberdeen literally swept aside the challenge presented by lowly Ayr Utd at a windswept Pittodrie. However Aberdeen took their time to turn their pressure into goals; all they had to show for their first half efforts was A George Hamilton effort a minute before the break. Some inspired saves from Barbour defied the Dons but in the second half and a strong wind at their backs, the Dons ran riot with a seven goal salvo that left Ayr reeling.

That second half did not get going until referee Bobby Calder had to return to the dressing rooms to get the match ball! Perhaps the Ayr players wish he hadn’t as Ray Botha was given a special cheer after he scored his first goal for the club and Tony Harris weighed in with a spectacular hat trick.

Aberdeen were fortunate to be drawn at home again in the next round but found Morton a tough prospect. With Botha missing from the team it was his replacement Willie Millar who scored the Dons only goal after 25 minutes. Despite having their fare share of possession the Dons could not hold out and a McKillop equaliser in the second half took the tie to a replay.

It was at Cappielow in the replay that Aberdeen showed their quality. A 2-1 win was deserved and it showed that this side had a resilience that many thought beyond them. One report stated that ‘Aberdeen made the game look like a game of draughts—always one step ahead of the Morton players’.

Despite the home side trying everything to break down the Dons, two first half goals from McCall and Hamilton out Aberdeen in control. Stan Williams was the catalyst for all the good attacking Aberdeen moves and when the wily winger went off on his trademark runs down the wing, no less than four Aberdeen forwards would be up in support—weaving and bobbling their way into positions. Williams made both Aberdeen goals. The first came after the Springbok ‘sand-danced’ in the penalty area before setting up McCall too score.

The second goal was simplistic in approach and his superb run was finished off by a classic downward header from George Hamilton. An eye injury to McLaughlin forced Aberdeen in to a tactical switch in the second half as McCall went to right half with the injured Don making a nuisance of himself on the left wing. That meant a more defensive Aberdeen approach but they never looked in danger as Dunlop & Co snuffed out the Morton threat.

As dreams of a Hampden appearance were now a distinct possibility, the Dons drew Dundee at Dens Park in the quarter final which prompted great interest in the city. A huge travelling support followed the Dons on the cup trail and they were treated to a classic tie that 129 minutes to settle. Dundee scored in the first half through Ewen whose fine solo goal was scored while the Dons were down to ten men with McKenna off the field being treated for a head injury.

It was that man again Stan Williams who brought Aberdeen level on the hour as he took full advantage of a mistake from Ancell to whip the ball past a stunned Lynch in the Dundee goal.

The game went into an extra time period and it was Stan Williams who was the toast of Aberdeen as he popped up with a winning goal in the third period of extra time in the 129th minute. With the Dundee defenders leg weary, Williams summoned enough energy to run in to the Dundee area and crash an unstoppable shot past Lynch.

Aberdeen went into the semi final and a quick return to Dens Park to face Arbroath who had defied the odds to reach the last four. While the Gayfield side had enough fight in their make up, they were no match for a classy Dons side who imposed themselves on the game from the start. Stan Williams was fast becoming a hero with the Aberdeen support and it was a goal in each half from Williams that took Aberdeen through to their second Scottish Cup Final which was to be played only seven days later.

Aberdeen had little time to prepare for the meeting with Hibernian at Hampden but safe in the knowledge that they would have a huge following behind them for the big day. With Williams and Hamilton perhaps playing at their peak the Dons knew that they always carried a goal threat. They certainly needed that after a disastrous start in the opening minute. Willie Cooper was injured and his place was taken by George Taylor.

The Dons defender passed the ball back to Johnstone in the opening seconds and the crowd gasped as the ball slipped through the keeper’s hands. A delighted Cuthbertson had the simplest of tasks to open the scoring. It was a gift for Hibernian and a disaster for the Dons. If they were going to win the cup they would have to do it the hard way.

It was a time for Aberdeen to show their quality—they had been over the course so often in the past and they had been cruelly denied. Led by captain Dunlop there would be no repeat. Aberdeen came storming back and at times overwhelmed Hibernian. Chances came and gone before they finally levelled the final through George Hamilton in the 36th minute.

Kerr in the Hibernian goal was inspired but he had no chance after another Williams run ended with Hamilton heading a superb goal. From that point on it was all Aberdeen and it was Stan Williams who scored the winner in 69 minutes. Described as ‘a goal in a million’ it was a strike that summed up the sublime talents of Stan Williams.

There seemed to be little danger as Williams worked his way along the touch line. As he cut in almost on the Hibernian goal line a cluster of players waited for the expected cut back. Stan had other ideas as his quick thinking had the Hibernian defence unsure and he wasted no time in clipping the ball inside Kerr’s near post for a glorious winning goal. Aberdeen even missed a late penalty but were in no danger as the cup was heading north.

The Aberdeen squad enjoyed the celebrations at the end and it was not until the Monday evening that they eventually arrived back in Aberdeen from their Largs base. More than 15,000 turned up to welcome their heroes home at the Aberdeen Joint Station. In the pouring rain it did not diminish the excitement.
Lord Provost Thom Mitchell was first to congratulate Dunlop and his players. As the victorious players made their way out of the station on top of a coach, it slowly worked its way past thousands of supporters who lined Guild Street, Trinity Quay and along Union Street and Marischal Street.

The Caledonian Hotel awaited the players for a civic reception Frank Dunlop the Aberdeen captain was a proud man as he felt humbled by the reaction from the citizens of Aberdeen:

“I am sure the boys feel that they could travel far and wide and still not find a club like Aberdeen. Personally, I feel it an honour to be at Aberdeen.”

Aberdeen team: G. Johnstone, P. McKenna, G. Taylor, J. McLaughlin, F. Dunlop, W.Waddell, T. Harris, G. Hamilton, S. Williams, A. Baird, B. McCall.

Aberdeen scorers: G. Hamilton (1) S. Williams (1)

Aberdeen Manager: Halliday, Dave

Referee: Calder, R

Bobby Calder

As side note of the final, the referee officiating that day at Hampden was none other than Bobby Calder. Bobby would go on to become part of Pittodrie folklore when in his role as Chief Scout he discovered some of our greatest ever players, including Willie Miller.

A former railway signalman, he was a massively respected figure in the game who also became manager of Dunfermline Athletic, where he was one of the first Scottish managers to wear a track-suit instead of a suit and would work with his players at training.

Before that he was also a well-respected first-class referee.

He had to wait until his final season before being given the honour of officiating at a major cup final when he was handled the first ever League Cup Final in 1947, in which Rangers defeated Aberdeen. Two weeks later returned to the national stadium to oversee our 2-1 win over Hibernian in the Scottish Cup.

In January 1949 Aberdeen appointed him to the role of Chief Scout.

There have been few as important appointments to the club in our history.

It was a position he was to hold for over 30 years. During which time he continually signed players from under the noses of Celtic and Rangers. The future stars who he took north included Archie Glen, Jimmy Smith, Tommy Craig, Charlie Cooke, Bobby Clark, Willie Young, Willie Miller, Arthur Graham, John McMaster, Jim Leighton and Alex McLeish.

Arthur Graham won the 1970 Scottish Cup just 21 days after making his Aberdeen debut. Not long before that, somehow Bobby had persuaded ‘Bumper’ not to go and meet Jock Stein to sign for Celtic, the side he supported. After the game he offered his Cup winners medal to Bobby and although the Aberdeen scout declined the kind offer but was clearly touched the offer.

Bobby Calder passed away in December 1983, aged 83, a few months after the club flew him to Gothenburg for the Cup Winners Cup Final.

It was a triumph that would not have been possible without his hard work and influence.

The Dons Road to Hampden 1947

Date	Opponents	Res	R		Scorers	Att
25.1.1947	Partick Th	2-1	1	H	McCall, Cooper	34,000
8.2.1947	Ayr Utd	8-0	2	H	Hamilton 3, Harris 3, Williams, Botha	15,500
22.2.1947	Morton	1-1	3	H	Botha	30,000
8.3.1947	Morton	2-1	3R	A	Hamilton, McCall	18,500
29.3.1947	Dundee	2-1	QF	A	Williams 2	38,000
12.4.1947	Arbroath	2-0	SF	N	Williams 2	22,000
19.4.1947	Hibernian	2-1	F	N	Hamilton, Williams	82,140

News On this Day 19th April 1947

CUP FOOTBALL BECOMES THE NORM

In a footballing world where league football is the bread and butter of any club, Aberdeen today played their 10th consecutive cup tie. The run started with the 8-0 hammering of Ayr United on the 8th February. During that period, they played six Scottish Cup ties and four League Cup ties with the only defeat being the League Cup Final against Rangers. The run saw the Dons score 27 goals while conceding 12 and culminated in today’s historic triumph.

15,000 GREET VICTORIOUS PLAYERS

Following Saturday’s success at Hampden 15,000 fans greeted their cup winning heroes as they arrived back in the city on the Monday night following their first Scottish Cup success. Lord Provost Thomas Mitchell was first to congratulate them as they disembarked with the trophy at the Joint Station. The players then boarded an open-top coach and were greeted by the supporters who had lined the streets.

1937 VETERAN SHARES IN TRIUMPH

It was a bittersweet day for veteran Willie Cooper. The defender had played in the 1937 final, but had picked up an injury in this year’s semi-final and had to miss out on the big day. He was replaced by George Taylor – the only local loon to play in today’s team. When Frank Dunlop lifted the trophy, the crowd chanted for Willie and he joined his team mates in celebration. It was a fitting tribute for the man who made his debut in 1928.

TABLE TOP FOOTBALL ARRIVES

If you couldn’t get outside for a kick about then Peter Adolph had a solution. His Subuteo, which is still going strong today first appeared in 1947. Due to rationing many materials were still in short supply so the game included chalk for marking out a pitch on an old blanket. Players came in 24 colours and were made of cardboard.

RATIONING CONTINUES IN UK

Two years after the war had ended rationing was still a stable part of the British way of life and earlier this week the Government banned the use of coal and gas fires until September. The Food Ministry also issued an instruction to retailers that they must replace any bad eggs that had been issued in rations.

NO AGREEMENT AT MOSCOW TALKS

In Moscow, the wartime allies of Britain, USA, France and Russia met to try and thrash out a post war settlement, but the meeting ended in disarray as the allies could only agree to disagree on almost everything that was discussed.

Gallery

(please note no photos can be republished without permission from AFC)