SEASON REVIEW 1978/79

Aberdeen marked 75 years in existence with a series of events to celebrate the landmark in club history. However, it was the appointment of new manager Alex Ferguson that was to change club fortunes beyond all expectations. Ferguson had just parted company with St Mirren who he had taken back to the Premier League. The Dons were looking to build on the foundations that were laid under Billy McNeill, the former Celtic legend who was tempted back to Parkhead as manager after only one season in charge at Pittodrie. Pittodrie had also received a facelift with bench seating being installed in the entire South Terrace making the stadium the first all-seated stadium in Britain.

Aberdeen began the season with two home friendlies against Tottenham and Middlesbrough. An injury to keeper Bobby Clark forced the new manager to make his first big decision; to choose between rookie keepers Jim Leighton and John Gardiner. By the time the Dons finished their season opener at Tynecastle the Dons boss knew he had made the right call; Jim Leighton was outstanding in the Dons 4-1 win.

LEAGUE CUP MARATHON

The League Cup format was an exhaustive one with two-leg ties through to the semi-final. Aberdeen eased past lesser league opponents in Meadowbank, Hamilton and Ayr United to reach the semi-final. The Dons scored 23 goals in their six ties against the minnows. Aberdeen came up against Hibernian with Dens Park chosen as a proper neutral venue. The game was being played in December with the Final not held until March 1979. The Dons held the upper hand for most of an energy sapping tie in the Dens Park mud, but Hibernian defended well and took the tie into extra time. It took a marvellous piece of ingenuity from Dons Stuart Kennedy (or luck!) as his ball from near the right-hand touch line flew over Hibernian keeper Mike McDonald who at last was beaten after intense Aberdeen pressure. More detail about the semi-final below.

EUROPEAN BAPTISM OF FIRE FOR FERGIE

A trip to Eastern Europe to face Bulgarian side Marek Dimitrov was always going to be a difficult trip and that was compounded with a serious injury to Dons centre half Willie Garner who broke his leg in a tough contest with the Bulgarians. In a hostile atmosphere and poor underfoot conditions the Dons went down 3-2 but did enough to suggest they could rescue the tie at Pittodrie. The Bulgarians had a poor record away from home and so it proved as the Dons went on to win 3-0 in convincing fashion. The Dons were up against it in the second round when they came up against German side Fortuna Dusseldorf. A poor defensive display in Dusseldorf made it mission impossible as the Dons went down 3-0. That lead was certainly tested in a frantic Pittodrie return but the Dons 2-0 win was just not enough. Manager Ferguson was disappointed; ‘We gave ourselves too much to do and the tie was lost in Germany. That is something we will learn from. We were too open over there and we didn’t manage the game well enough. At Pittodrie I was always confident we would win but we just gave ourselves too much to do.’

BOBBY CLARK HONOURED

One of Eddie Turnbull’s first signings was keeper Bobby Clark from Queens Park in 1965. The Dons custodian went on to become the Dons most capped player of all time until Willie Miller made his 18th appearance for Scotland in the 1982 World Cup. Clark had the distinction of winning a complete set of domestic winner’s medals with the Scottish Cup (1970). League Cup (1976) and the Premier League (1980). Clark became the first Aberdeen player to receive a testimonial from the club since the days of ‘Benefit’ matches in the Dons early years. A sell out Pittodrie crowd paid tribute to Clark whose appearance was only at the kickoff as he was injured at the time. A Former Dons Select won 1-0 in what was a gala occasion. Several Aberdeen legends were on parade at half time including the likes of Willie Mills and Matt Armstrong. The sight of former boss Eddie Turnbull taking part in a penalty competition added to the occasion. Bobby Clark retired in 1980 and went on to a successful coaching career and he eventually settled in the USA.

OCTOBER BLUES

The Dons title challenge was effectively over in a three-week period in October. After hammering Celtic 4-1 at Pittodrie hopes were high a challenge would be made after being runners up the previous season, but three consecutive defeats to St Mirren, Hearts and Morton ended any hopes of a sustained challenge. Aberdeen continued to struggle through the winter months and by the turn of the year they had slipped to fifth place in the table. A 8-0 victory Ally MacLeod’s Motherwell was a highlight during the second half of the season. Jim Leighton and Neil Simpson also made their first team debuts.

Aberdeen went on to finish in fourth place. That finish was a huge disappointment, but cup commitments had taken a toll. A UEFA Cup place was still secured to make sure European football would return to Pittodrie again. In what was a tough campaign the Dons did finish well enough and a 5-0 hammering of Hearts confirmed the Tynecastle’s chance of staying up were extinguished. It was still a learning process for manager Ferguson who reflected; ‘We were far to inconsistent and looking back our squad was a bit light in numbers. We had a lot of injuries to contend with and we were heavily involved in both cups and those four tough ties in Europe. We will learn from this and look at strengthening the squad in the summer. We took in Mark (McGhee) as I felt we needed something fresh in forward areas. I have taken time to assess the squad and we will be looking at some changes.’ Although the league campaign had fallen away from a strong challenge under Billy McNeill, there was encouragement for Ferguson with the emergence of Alex McLeish, Jim Leighton and Neil Simpson.

CUP CONTROVERSY

After reaching the League Cup Final in what was Alex Ferguson’s first for the Dons, it was a bitter disappointment for Aberdeen as they went down 2-1 to Rangers at Hampden. Despite taking the lead through Duncan Davidson the Dons were undone not so much by their own efforts but that of referee Ian Foote. The official sent Dons Doug Rougvie off for an alleged elbow on Rangers Derek Johnstone. Foote was clearly conned much to the anger of the Aberdeen players and supporters. The rivalry between Aberdeen and Rangers had been acrimonious at best and this latest chapter did nothing to change that. Manager Ferguson refused to be drawn into the controversy apart from promising the Dons support that we will not go through Hampden heartache again. A bold statement made in a time of adversity, but he was true to his word as the national stadium was soon to become a happy hunting ground in major finals for Aberdeen for many years.

SCOTTISH CUP PROGRESS

As the luck of the draw would have it, the Dons came up against Hamilton and Ayr United for the second time that season. Having beaten both in the League Cup the Dons repeated that in the early rounds of the Scottish Cup to reach the quarter finals. As Aberdeen battled to a 1-1 draw against Celtic at Pittodrie most observers gave the Dons little chance in the Parkhead replay. The Dons turned in one of their finest performances that season with a deserved 2-1 win in Glasgow. An ill-tempered game saw several players clashing, Celtic veteran Bobby Lennox was irate enough at full time to launch a physical attack on some of the victorious Dons players in the tunnel. Aberdeen were delighted to reach the last four, but that success was forgotten as Hibernian gained revenge for the League Cup semi-final defeat to edge past a disappointing Dons in the Scottish Cup. Despite going ahead through Archibald just before the half hour mark. First half goals from Rae (37) and MacLeod (43 (pen)) saw the Edinburgh side win 2-1.

It was hard to take for the manager; ‘We were confident ahead of the game but on the night we just didn’t perform. It’s been a tough spell for us and we looked tired and out of sorts.’

KENNEDY OF SCOTLAND

Stewart Kennedy continued his progress as a full international with further caps against Austria and Portugal. The Aberdeen full back signed from Falkirk in 1976 for a bargain £25,000 played for Scotland in the World Cup in Argentina. Kennedy had to compete with Danny McGrain and Sandy Jardine for a place in the Scotland team.