a look back at some historic fixtures

by Kevin Stirling

The Dons go in to the last game of the season against Motherwell knowing that avoiding defeat will secure a runners up position in the SPFL Premiership. Aberdeen through the years have been involved in many last day fixtures that have proved decisive and crucial in their history.

For the most part it has usually been at the top end of the table for the Dons but on occasion it has also been the spectre of relegation that was to the fore for Aberdeen. The first real last day drama for the Dons came after the war. Previously with no automatic relegation in place until 1921 and with Aberdeen coming close to the league championship on three occasions there was never any last day dramas played out. That changed in April 1959 when Aberdeen travelled to Ibrox of all places looking to take something from the game to preserve their proud record of never having been relegated in their history.

There were five teams battling it out to avoid joining Queen of the South who were already relegated. Aberdeen were favourites to join them as they had the most difficult task of having to at least take something from their last game against Rangers who had won the title the week before. Aberdeen inflicted only Rangers second defeat at home all season with two Norman Davidson goals in a shock 2-1 win.

The two points hauled Aberdeen up to 13^th place and clear of Falkirk who went down to the Second Division. A year later Aberdeen were in trouble again but it took a superb four game closing spell to save their season with four straight wins which culminated with a 2-0 win over Ayr United at Pittodrie on the last day of the season.

On 27^th April 1968 it was Ibrox again for Aberdeen in what proved to be a day of real drama. Hard as it may be to believe these days but when Aberdeen travelled down to face Rangers at Ibrox in what was the last game of the season, across at Hampden Park Hearts were playing Dunfermline in the Scottish Cup Final. A win for Rangers would have secured the title. There was little to suggest otherwise as the Ibrox club had gone the entire season avoiding defeat in any league game that season. It all seemed to be a formality as Celtic looked on as their final league game was against Dunfermline on the following Tuesday after the cup final. Celtic knew that only an Aberdeen win or draw would give them the chance to win the flag. Former Don Dave Smith put Rangers ahead in 17 minutes before Dave Johnston levelled for the Dons after half an hour. The packed Ibrox terraces were in raptures when none other than a young Alex Ferguson put them 2-1 ahead in 56 minutes. Once again Aberdeen replied through Johnston to restore parity. That goal seemed to stun Rangers who began to throw everything at Aberdeen to secure the flag. As Rangers were committed up front, Aberdeen broke away in the final minute and Billy Little set up Ian Taylor for a sensational winner. You could have heard a pin drop as the Dons players celebrated a win that had the additional bonus of securing the Dons place in next season’s Inter Cities Fairs Cup as Aberdeen entered Europe for a second time. That was down to fourth placed Dunfermline defeating Hearts in the cup final as the Pars would take their place in the ECWC. Celtic took advantage two days later by beating Dunfermline 2-1 at East End Park to begin what went on to become nine titles in a row.

In April 1973 the Dons final league game of the season was an inauspicious affair against Morton at Cappielow. Although qualification for the UEFA Cup was assured in a 2-1 win it marked the beginning of the career of a young Willie Miller who made his Aberdeen debut that afternoon. While Willie was on the threshold of a remarkable Aberdeen career it was a final appearance for Zoltan Varga who in contrast to Miller was a football mercenary who remains one of the most gifted players to play for the club, short as his stay was.

On 24^th April 1976 it was another decisive day in Aberdeen history. In what was the first season of the new 10-team Premier league set up, many sides were caught out as the cut throat nature of the new set up. Aberdeen found themselves embroiled in a relegation battle that was exclusive to the east of Scotland. St Johnstone had been doomed for many months at the bottom but back in that first season, two sides would be automatically relegated from ten. Aberdeen were caught up with Dundee, Dundee Utd in a last day outcome that certainly brought a collective sigh of relief around Pittodrie. Hibernian were beaten 3-0 by the Dons which meant that whatever happened elsewhere the Dons would survive. Aberdeen even missed a penalty against Hibernian who had finished in third place that season. The very nature of that league was that Dundee who were relegated were only 22 points behind Rangers who finished as title winners. It was a significant day as Aberdeen would go on to flourish in the new set up while Dundee began a period of uncertainty which led to a succession of promotions and relegations.

In 1978 it was Hibernian who were Aberdeen opponents again on the last day of the title race. It was a different agenda for the Dons however as under Billy McNeill the Dons could have won the title that day. It was a long shot as Rangers would have to lose to Motherwell while Aberdeen would have to win at Easter Road. As it turned out a goal from debutant Ian Scanlon for the Dons 1-1 draw in Edinburgh wasn’t enough to round of a season of real progress for Aberdeen. In May 1980 Aberdeen went one better when they secured the Premier league title at Easter Road. While the Dons players and supporters danced a jig on the pitch they still had their final game to play against Partick at Firhill. For the first time in their history the Dons were applauded on to the field by the hosts. A subdued 1-1 draw was the final result as Aberdeen had won the title from a seemingly impossible position that season.

Rangers were the Dons opponents on the final day of the 1981.82 season. Despite Celtic being long time leaders Aberdeen had clawed their way back into contention for the league flag. Rangers were well off the pace, eight points behind the Dons in third place. Once again the odds did not favour the Dons as they had to hope that St Mirren would surprise Celtic in Glasgow while Aberdeen had to hit Rangers for five at home. The impossible dream was still on by half time as Aberdeen trooped off with a four goal salvo that had stunned Rangers while Celtic were being held by St Mirren. The news that Aberdeen were 4-0 ahead at half time had prompted Celtic to react and they eventually scored to see of the Dons challenge. Seven days later Aberdeen went in against Rangers again; this time in the Scottish Cup Final. The Dons were installed as the biggest favourites outside of the Old Firm in any tie and they went on to win the trophy in a 4-1 win.

A year later it was a victorious Aberdeen side that had just returned from winning the ECWC in Gothenburg. Three days after humbling the mighty Real Madrid, the Dons played their final game of the league season knowing that they could still win the title if Dundee Utd slipped up against Dundee at Dens Park. That was never going to happen but Aberdeen still put on a show with a superb 5-0 defeat of Hibernian. Captain Willie Miller led his side out on to the field at the end of the game as they paraded the ECWC in front of a packed Pittodrie.

In 1989 Aberdeen spoiled Rangers party at Ibrox with a sensational 3-0 drubbing as the Ibrox side celebrated winning the title that year with Aberdeen in second place. A slick Aberdeen cut through Rangers at will to post their intent for future battles as the after match party was a muted affair.

On 2^nd May 1990 a young Aberdeen side was put out by Alex Smith in the final league game of the season against Celtic at Parkhead. The Dons were due to meet Celtic again in the cup final and it was the young Aberdeen players that gave Smith a selection dilemma with an impressive 3-1 win over Celtic. The Dons went on to win the cup that year, the last occasion they have achieved this feat.

In 1991 it was arguably the Dons most disappointing result in their history when they went down 2-0 to Rangers at Ibrox in a game that they needed a draw to win the title. Rangers were the Dons final day opponents once more in what was the final game to be played in front of the old Beach End before it was due to be demolished to make way for the Richard Donald Stand.

Aberdeen were involved in a relegation scramble in 1995 and at one point looked certain to take the drop. However a five game winning sequence at the end of the season made sure it was Dundee Utd that were relegated. The Dons final game against Falkirk at Brockville yielded a 2-0 win before more than 8,000 travelling Red Army supporters. Such was the interest from Aberdeen in this game that the Falkirk chairman actually brought up the away allocation of tickets to Pittodrie for the game. The club also laid on a host of free buses to take the supporters to Brockville.

While Aberdeen were hoping to take their European interest this season to the last day here against Rangers, a narrow defeat at Motherwell has meant that the Dons will have not that much to play for tonight. Ever since Jimmy Calderwood arrived at Pittodrie in 2004 the Dons have been in the mix for European places right up to the final day of each of the last three seasons. Last season it was a 2-0 win over old rivals Rangers on the last day of the season that brought UEFA Cup football back to Pittodrie. A full house and a passionate crowd saw Aberdeen home. Aberdeen had to win to secure their place in the UEFA Cup while nearest rivals Hearts were hoping that Aberdeen would slip up and a win at Kilmarnock would have been enough. Setanta Television chose to take their cameras to Rugby Park as they had given up on Aberdeen. It proved to be a bad decision as the pride and the passion was all at Pittodrie. Aberdeen swept aside Rangers in a whirlwind first half and deservedly finished their season in style.