The Dons and non league sides

There is no doubt that when the opening round of the Scottish Cup comes around at the beginning of the year there still is that special unique feeling that only comes with this cup competition.

And that is very much the case this year as Aberdeen meet a non-league side for the first time in over 50 years. On Monday Aberdeen will play West of Scotland League Premier Division side, and current reigning Champions, Darvel. The East Ayrshire outfit had an impressive victory over Montrose in the last round. The last time the Dons met a non-league side was back in 1971 when the cup holders were drawn against then Highland League side Elgin City. Here is a look back at some of the more memorable non-league ties.

Bathgate 1905

Just to qualifying for the Scottish Cup in the early days, Aberdeen had to win the Scottish Qualifying Cup after eight ties, which included a cup replay against Aberdeen University. They would then go on and beat Renton in the final at Dens.

In the first round proper Queens Park were picked out of the hat. It was the first occasion that the glamour of the cup came to Aberdeen. Queens Park a club synonymous with the heritage of Scottish football came north for a 1st round tie against an Aberdeen side that was competing in the Scottish Leagues for the first time in their history that season. In the match programme notes it was declared that supporters “had to keep calm and not lose their tempers.” Such was the interest in the tie that a record 16,321 crowd filled Pittodrie Park, taking £548 in gate receipts. With an estimated 1500 visiting fans from Glasgow, the tie had a great atmosphere. The ‘Wasps’ as Aberdeen were then known edged out the Glasgow side in a deserved 2-1 victory. It was more remarkable as Duncan McNicol and Alex Halkett were both missing for Aberdeen. The home side took the lead when Henry Low scored from the penalty spot after a hand ball was spotted by referee Edwards. In 56 minutes a break from Roberston ended with the Wasps going two up much to the delight of the majority of the Pittodrie crowd. Campbell pulled one back for Queens which led to a frantic finale as Aberdeen had to defend in depth as the visitors tried in vain to level the tie. This victory was a major factor in Aberdeen being invited into the top flight of Scottish football some months later as the club proved that they could compete and have the resources and support to sustain a First Division club.

The Dons would go on and play Bathgate, the first game between the sides was abandoned because of snow. It in rearranged game at Pittodrie, Aberdeen eventually won 6-1. A week later the cup run was ended by Third Lanark, but the Dons love affair with the Scottish Cup had begun.

Peterhead 1923

A club record score of 13-0 remains the Dons highest ever score in a competitive fixture. The story behind the huge win was anything but straight forward.

Peterhead were on the receiving end of a club record score for Aberdeen as the Highland League side waived ground rights for the game. The tie was originally scheduled for Peterhead but their officials were keen to cash in on a big Pittodrie attendance.

However, they had not consulted their players and there was open revolt amongst the Peterhead club. It was a disaster for them as wretched weather conditions kept the crowd down to a mere 3,241. To compound the misery for the Peterhead club, several of their players refused to play due to the decision to switch to Pittodrie being taken out of their hands.

Aberdeen keeper Harry Blackwell (pictured below) spent most of the game under cover of an umbrella.

In football terms it was humiliation for Peterhead as Aberdeen ran their depleted side ragged. In financial terms it was no better. With the crowd kept down to the horrendous weather conditions, the 3,241 supporters paid £181 in gate money.

With Peterhead guaranteed £200 as was agreed as part of the change of venue, Aberdeen lost out financially, but it was the visitors who were left to reflect on their decision to request the change of venue.

Inverness Thistle 1937

Aberdeen cruised past Highland League side Inverness Thistle in what was dreadful weather conditions at Pittodrie.

After Strauss gave the Black and Golds the lead in ten minutes the result was never in doubt. Conditions were terrible with the lines being cleared of snow. With an icy surface and strong winds it made for a difficult afternoon. Inverness had the advantage of the elements in the first half but were rarely seen attacking the Dons. Keeper George Johnstone was a lonely and cold figure as he was rarely called into action.

Matt Armstrong scored twice in the first half; his second coming just before half time when Strauss set him through on goal to fire the ball past Sutherland. Armstrong completed his hat trick twelve minutes into the second half when he raced through on goal in a fine solo effort. Inverness keeper Sutherland was inspired even though he conceded six goals.

Conditions were that bad that the Aberdeen tie was the only game that was played in the city that day. The only other senior match that survived was in Inverness where Clach welcomed Huntly. Aberdeen went on to reach the Cup Final for the first time in their history that season.

Inverness Caledonian 1951

A measure of how wide the gulf between the likes of Aberdeen and then Highland League side Inverness Caley was the comfort to Inverness club drew from a gate receipt cheque of £687.

Despite a spirited first half display the visitors were well beaten by a more experienced and street wise Aberdeen.

Reports suggested that Inverness would benefit from more experience and would challenge several league sides if they had better facilities and the advantage of full time training. Inverness were clearly second best against the Dons who showed enough to suggest they were amongst one of the favourites to lift the cup. Aberdeen were drawn at home to Third Lanark in the next round.

Duns 1954

The long haul to Duns Hawthorn Park meant that Aberdeen would probably be playing in front of their lowest ever cup crowd (676).

The club received no applications for tickets from their own fans and not many Aberdeen supporters would be expected to travel.

Aberdeen for their part treated the game like any other and travelled south on the Friday and stayed in Edinburgh before completing the journey by bus on the morning of the game. As it turned out Aberdeen won 8-0 in what was a farce. Mud inches deep and large pools of water contrived to make any kind of decent football impossible.

With only 650 turning out to watch the Dons directors handed over their share of the gate to the Duns club. It was a costly exercise but only brought home what cup football is all about. As far as any Aberdeen supporters making the trip, 14 members of the West of Scotland AFC supporters club made it along with one car from Aberdeen that made the 400-mile round journey.

Deveronvale 1961

Scottish Cup ties against Highland League sides always attracted great local interest for Aberdeen supporters.

In 1961 as the Dons were in a transitional period and turning to youth under Tommy Pearson a stubborn Deveronvale made it a tough day for the Dons even though they ran out 4-2 winners.

It took some magic from a young Charlie Cooke to cut through the Banff defence who were superbly marshalled by Reggie Morrison the former Dons keeper and Billy Smith the league winning Dons full back from 1955. However, it was the mesmeric Cooke who stole the show with an array of skills and quick thinking that set up an Aberdeen win.

The crowd of 14,233 enjoyed the battle as Deveronvale showed enough to make things difficult for the Dons. A potential humiliation was seen off with Ken Brownlee scoring twice.

Berwick Rangers 1969

Ok, so Berwick unlike now were not a non-league side back in 1969 when they travelled North for Scottish Cup duty, but they will forever known for the arguably the greatest ever cup shock in Scotland when they famously beat Rangers in the 1967 Scottish Cup.

And the Border’s side looked to repeat their feat with a trip to Pittodrie two years later.

Aberdeen had Jim Forrest leading their front line; It was he who was made a scapegoat by the Ibrox club for their Berwick humiliation and Forrest, playing in his first Scottish Cup tie since that eventful day helped himself to two goals as the Dons eased to a 3-0 win. Jock Wallace was the Berwick keeper who had boasted about beating Aberdeen as well, but the visitors were outclassed on the day. Former Don Doug Coutts was the Berwick captain, but he could do little to stop a slick Aberdeen from creating several chances on the day.

Forrest opened the scoring in 36 minutes after fine set up play involving Smith, Buchan and Whyte. Jens Petersen and Forrest both hit the woodwork as Aberdeen piled on the pressure. Eventually after some stubborn resistance Dave Robb scored a second as he swept the ball past Wallace after Smith had his effort blocked.

Elgin City 1971

As Scottish Cup holders the Dons landed Highland League giant killers Elgin City to Pittodrie in 1971. There was great interest in the tie in the area and the original game was postponed on the Saturday due to heavy flooding in the Aberdeen area.

Elgin forged their own piece of Scottish Cup history by reaching the quarter finals in 1969, the first Highland League side to do so. There was also interest locally with former Dons captain Ally Shewan now in the twilight of his career plying his trade with the Borough Briggs side. A huge crowd of 24,136 turned up for the rescheduled tie on 2th January 1971. As cup holders the Dons were the team to beat that season and with Aberdeen also going for the league title there was every hope that a double for the Dons was a possibility.

On the night it was the power and pace of the Dons front line that proved decisive. Jim Forrest was enjoying getting in behind the Elgin defence, although Ally Shewan had marshalled his side well and at times made it difficult for the Dons. Eventually the Dons experience told and Forrest (2) and Joe Harper (2) helped Aberdeen to a convincing 5-0 win over their part time opponents.