Champions For The First Time

By Kevin Stirling

Club historian Kevin Stirling looks back on an historic season for Aberdeen when the Dons won their first flag the hard way against all the odds…

The most remarkable factor in the Dons first ever League title success in 1955 was that there were no additions to the playing staff in the summer of 1954. Manager David Halliday and trainer Davie Shaw were happy enough with the players at their disposal. What was in their favour in the 50's was the fact that there were no clear favourites before the season started. Certainly the Old Firm would be there, but the challenge from both Hibernian and Hearts was a realistic one. Both Hibernian and Rangers shared the championships in the early 50's before Celtic broke the mould on 1954. All of the big city clubs could command crowds in excess of 40,000, and with clubs paying their players more than they could earn in England, it was more of a level playing field. Whether Aberdeen could breach the top four remained to be seen, but history tells us that no less than seven different clubs won the title between 1947-1965. It was a window of opportunity in Scottish football that had never been seen before or since.

The opening league game at home to Stirling Albion gave the Dons a real chance to get off to a flyer. The previous games against Stirling at Pittodrie had resulted in 8 and 6 goal wins for the Dons and on this occasion they hit a hapless Albion for five with big Joe O'Neil scoring twice. A week later another late O'Neil goal helped Aberdeen to a 2-0 win at Dens Park before a crowd in excess of 27,000. While it was premature to talk of a challenge at that point the Dons maintained their 100% start when they crushed Hibernian 3-1 at Pittodrie. Fortune may have smiled on the Dons that day as it was late goals again that gave them victory but only after Hibernian were reduced to ten men.

A week later the Dons went clear at the top after four games when they won 3-1 at Motherwell—the Fir Park clubs first defeat. That set up the visit of second placed Celtic. Even at that early stage the outcome would perhaps have a huge bearing on the title. A huge 38,000 crowd gathered at Pittodrie for what was sure to be a real test for Aberdeen—Celtic were reigning champions and were favourites to retain their title. In what was the Dons only home defeat all season two second half goals gave the Parkhead side victory. It was a tough, bruising game—Harry Yorston resumed in the second half with his head bandaged after getting three stitches in a head wound. Celtic were desperate to stop the Dons at all costs even when Stein hauled Buckley back by ripping his shorts off. Aberdeen were toppled from the top for the first and only time after this result. The Dons responded in magnificent fashion in their next outing; hitting St Mirren for four at paisley. The side was under pressure and also depleted by the loss of Fred Martin with flu while Yorston and Buckley were playing for Scotland in Cardiff. However with Celtic dropping a point against Queen of the South it was the Dons who returned to the top on goal average.

East Fife may have been regarded as a top side in Scotland at that time but the Bayview side held few fears for the Dons as they crushed the Fifers 4-1 at Pittodrie. Despite losing their 100% away record when they went down in quagmire conditions against Partick Thistle at Firhill. That defeat only increased the doubters as to the Dons title credentials.

As the winter took a grip on the country Aberdeen marched on regardless and seemed to have rid themselves of inconsistency that had blighted previous attempts. Queen of the South (2-0), Raith Rovers (2-1), Hearts (1-0), Falkirk (1-0) and Kilmarnock (4-0) were all put to the sword before the Dons came unstuck in the mud of Ibrox in a 3-1 defeat on 11th December. That defeat only heightened the doubts—the press in the south cast a dark shadow over the Dons title challenge but the fact was that the Dons were still clear leaders. It was criticism like that, which only galvanized the Dons who felt they had to prove something in each passing game. Whether or not this had a positive effect is not clear, but following the Ibrox defeat Aberdeen embarked on a sequence of wins that was to ultimately win the championship.

By the end of February the Dons dropped only one point from eight games and that broke the resistance of Rangers and Hibernian who were now well off the pace. Only Celtic and Hearts could catch the leaders. In the middle of that spell there was a crucial 1-0 win at Easter Road on 3rd January. Paddy Buckley scored the only goal of the game when he totally deceived Hibs centre half Plenderleith. The wily Buckley dummied the ball straight from a Fred Martin clearance and ran fully 30 yards before clipping the ball past Younger. It was a vital win that stretched the Dons lead to six points at the turn of the year.

The only blot on the Dons copybook was a 2-0 defeat at Tynecastle in March. This defeat came after two gruelling Scottish Cup ties against Hearts. The Dons midweek replay at Pittodrie had been a controversial affair with goals from Buckley and Yorston taking Aberdeen through to the semi finals. A massive crowd of 41,000 was at Pittodrie for that one. Perhaps Hearts were looking for revenge in the league game as Aberdeen had effectively ended their season with the cup win. Hearts surprised many by coming to Pittodrie and defended in depth—no doubt mindful of their 3-0 drubbing in the same competition a year earlier. This did not go down well with the crowd and Hearts robust approach also infuriated the Dons support. When the dust had settled after the three meetings in seven days it was Aberdeen who emerged the happier as the league defeat only delayed the Dons championship push.

The decisive day came at Pittodrie on the 2nd April when Rangers travelled north. Aberdeen were without Fred Martin who was about to shed seven goals for Scotland at Wembley. For once Rangers were at full strength with no Ibrox players with the national team. Paddy Buckley had been in superb form and it was his hat trick that helped eclipse Rangers before a joyous Aberdeen crowd. Graham Leggat hit a late fourth goal for the Dons and the rout was complete. The good news continued when it emerged that Celtic had lost at home to Hibernian. The title was won that day in the eyes of the support but although now within touching distance, there was still some work to do.

All attention now turned to Shawfield and the trip to play Clyde on the 9th April. The Aberdeen objective was clear—three points from their final three games would take the title. A win over Clyde would put Celtic out of the running whatever they did and if Hearts did not win at Ibrox that same day then Aberdeen would be champions. The Hearts challenge was disappearing in each passing game. They would have to win their last six games and win them with a lot to spare to catch the Dons on goal average. It was a long shot at best, but still mathematically possible. Celtic were the main challengers. If Aberdeen lost to Clyde, then the following week the Dons were due at Parkhead for what many had hoped would be a title decider. That was the last thing that Aberdeen wanted so the Clyde game was a massive one for the club.

To add spice to the occasion it was Clyde who ended the Dons cup interest only days previously when then beat the Dons 1-0 in a replay of their semi final. While the Dons failed to rise to the occasion in that one the focus was now on two precious points at Shawfield. The Clyde ground was not typical of others in that the stadium had a huge running track around the perimeter, which hosted regular dog racing. The massive scoreboard at one end restricted access to the crowd who were so far away from the action. The almost eerie like atmosphere did not help the Dons. Clyde were enjoying the most successful period in their history and boasted three Scottish internationals in their side. They also had former Aberdeen manager Pat Travers in charge and he knew enough about the Dons to know that his team could cause them problems. Aberdeen were also badly hit with injury as both Paddy Buckley and Jackie Allister were ruled out.

There was no doubt that the Aberdeen players were nervous—they knew what was at stake. The game reflected that apprehension—fragmented and littered with errors. The game was settled in the 13th minute when the Dons were awarded a penalty. Graham Leggat's deep corner found George Hamilton at the back post. His header was then cleared off the line as keeper Hewkins came for it and missed. The ball bounced up invitingly for Bob Wishart whose header looked net-bound. It was then that Clyde defender Murphy punched the ball clear. A penalty for the Dons! Both Archie Glen and Jackie Allister took alternate penalties but Glen had suffered a crisis of confidence as he had missed his last two efforts. Allister had then taken on the responsibility but with Jackie not in the side that day it fell on Glen's shoulders. Glen had done his homework though and noticed that South African keeper Hewkins was weak on his left side. Glen opted to hit it hard to Hewkins left hand post, the ball flew in to the top corner, and Aberdeen had the vital lead. It was an advantage they would hold on to despite some nervy moments. Jimmy Mitchell & Co defended in depth towards the end of the match and held out. For George Hamilton, playing in his last ever game, it was fitting end to a glorious career. When news came through that Hearts had lost at Ibrox the Dons were now Champions.

It was in the confines of the dressing room that the champagne was in full flow with the realisation that Aberdeen had won the title for the first time. When the Dons party arrived back at Aberdeen Joint Station there were no thronging masses to greet their heroes. It was late that Saturday night that around 30 Aberdeen supporters were present. In hindsight this was new territory for the club—there was never the same glamour and excitement attached to the league as there was with a cup success.

The Dons won the championship winning 24 of their 30 league games with only one defeat at home.

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