There was great excitement in Aberdeen leading up to the league Cup final in the Autumn of 1976.

The Dons were in great form and having already beaten Celtic at Pittodrie in the league, hopes were high that Aberdeen would end their 21-year wait to lift the League Cup.

They had destroyed Rangers in the League Cup semi-final and also in the run up to the game Ally MacLeod’s side had beaten Dundee United and Motherwell in the new look Premier Division.

It was six years since Aberdeen had reached a major final and there was a strange irony ahead of the 1976 clash with Celtic. In March 1970 the Dons paid Dundee a record £50,000 for Steve Murray after they had beaten Kilmarnock to reach the cup final. Murray had played in the other semi final for Dundee against Celtic so he was cup-tied for the final. Fast forward six years and Aberdeen’s Jim Shirra was in a similar position. Aberdeen paid £25,000 to Falkirk for the midfielder in October 1976. Having played for Falkirk in an earlier round he had to sit out the big day, after making a big impression since he came into the side. The irony did not stop there.

In 1970 Martin Buchan was the 21-year-old new captain of the Dons only weeks before the final. In 1976 Willie Miller, also 21, was installed as the new Dons skipper. Both were also seen as young prospects in that ‘sweeper’ role. Miller was desperate to lead the Dons to success but admitted the league title was the one he wanted; “That’s the one I really want. To win the league means that a team has had to show their mettle over a whole season and also win most of their matches. That is what I want for Aberdeen. Celtic and Rangers are not as strong as they were while we have improved a lot. It is important to take each match as it comes, and win it. Hopefully that will bring us the rewards we feel we can achieve. I am confident we can beat Celtic, sure it will be tough as they are a great side but we won’t be overawed and will play with no fear. We have a young side but that can work in our favour as they can express themselves in the proper way.” Willie was asked if there were any additional pressures on him; “I gave out some complimentary tickets before the game and I pick up the cup after it, that’s’ about it.”

Aberdeen were in great form ahead of the final although they did have to play Motherwell in a league match in midweek four days before the Hampden showdown. Motherwell and Scotland striker Willie Pettigrew thought that the Dons were on course for victory; “I thought Aberdeen were brilliant when we played them at Pittodrie. They are a team on form and their confidence must be sky high. I think they will beat Celtic.” Lord Provost Robert Lennox was of the same opinion; “Aberdeen’s last four games have been an inspiration. If they can maintain that standard there should be no doubt about the result.”

The referee for the final was John Paterson who had taken over from Bobby Davidson as the top whistler in Scotland. He had recently officiated at the AC Milan v Bucharest UEFA Cup tie in the San Siro and was known to let the game flow.

Aberdeen travelled down well in advance of the Final to prepare for the big day. With Jim Shirra cup-tied, and Eddie Thomson injured, the side almost picked itself as the Dons were bang in form. An estimated 20,000 of the Red Army would make the trip to Hampden and they turned up in confident mood.

The game kicked off five minutes late. Aberdeen began the stronger and immediately put pressure on Celtic which seemed to knock them out of their stride. Jocky Scott was first to show after being set up by Joe Smith but his early shot went high over the bar. Dom Sullivan was next to try his luck but his effort was saved by Peter Latchford. Glavin responded with Celtic’s first effort but Bobby Clark was untroubled. Arthur Graham was seen as the Dons most effective player and he was fouled by Glavin as he sped past the Celtic midfielder. Aberdeen produced a great move, Jocky Scott had the ball in the net but the Dons joy was cut short after a linesman flagged for offside. In 11 minutes against the run of play Celtic took the lead. The ball was played into the box and Drew Jarvie was behind Celtic pin up Kenny Dalglish. The Celtic man seemed to go down easy and to the disgust of the Aberdeen players referee Paterson pointed to the spot. Protests done, Dalglish scored to give Celtic the lead. Aberdeen’s Joe Harper was involved in a spat with Dalglish following the goal and both were reprimanded by the referee.

That setback seemed to spur Aberdeen on and they hit back and went in search for an equaliser. McGrain was booked for dreadful foul on Jocky Scott in 18 minutes. Arthur Graham then sent in a low cross that Joe Harper just failed to connect with as the Dons kept up the pressure. Aberdeen were on the end of some fierce treatment from Celtic and Sullivan was next to be brought down from behind. Joe Harper retaliated when he went in hard and was also booked. In 24 minutes the Dons got back on level terms. Arthur Graham set the goal up on the right and his deep cross found Joe Harper at the back post. Harper headed the ball back across goal and Drew Jarvie ghosted in to head home. It was no more than Aberdeen deserved and they gained in confidence after going behind. Stuart Kennedy had to go off for treatment after a clash with Doyle. Aberdeen continued to press and the Dons fans were claiming for a penalty after Graham clashed with Glavin in the box. Once again Aberdeen felt aggrieved as there seemed little difference between Graham’s clash and the penalty that Celtic were awarded. Willie Miller was imperious at the back and he rescued the Dons with a great block after a slip by Willie Garner. As half time arrived the Dons were more than holding their own although the teams went in level at one goal apiece.

Aberdeen carried on where they left off and took the game to Celtic in the second half. Tommy Burns committed three fouls in as many minutes but went unpunished before Aberdeen squandered a couple of opportunities. Lynch had an effort for Celtic after the ball fell favourably for him but his shot went wide. In 54 minutes Roy Aitken was cautioned after a dreadful challenge on Graham. Another Dons penalty appeal was turned down when McDonald clashed with Dom Sullivan. Lynch was then booked for another foul on Sullivan after 57 minutes. Aberdeen were handling the robust tactics from Celtic but in the closing stages it was Celtic who were pushing for a winner. Willie Miller again came to the rescue when a last ditch tackle on Bobby Lennox took the game into an extra time period.

Dave Robb who had replaced Drew Jarvie late in the game went on to make an immediate impact in the extra time period. Arthur Graham went on one of his trademark cross field runs that left four Celtic players trailing. Graham set up Joe Harper whose low cross fell for Dave Robb who slipped the ball under Latchford to put Aberdeen ahead. The closing stages were frantic as Celtic laid siege on the Dons, taking risks by throwing players forward. Bobby Clark was the Dons hero as he made some crucial saves. Joe Harper almost put the Dons in dreamland when a classic Aberdeen break ended with Harper hitting the post. In the last moments Clark tipped a Wilson shot over the bar. As the seconds counted down the Dons kept possession as they wound the clock down. When full time was blown the Aberdeen players danced a jig of joy on the Hampden pitch. Manager Ally MacLeod joined in on the celebrations as the dejected Celtic players were left in dismay. MacLeod also made sure he went round every Celtic player to shake their hand. Willie Miller led his team up the stairs as he was presented with the League Cup; the first in a series of successes for the Dons legend.

THE HOMECOMING

In scenes similar to what was seen in 1970, the sun was out as the Aberdeen squad returned to the city on the Sunday after the final. The Aberdeen team made the traditional open top bus ride through the city and down Union Street to a civic reception at the Town House. With a full house also filling Pittodrie it was an historic journey for the players and officials.

Dons keeper Bobby Clark revealed that he had dreamt that Davie Robb would score the winner; “I told Davie and the manager about a dream I had before the Final. I imagined Davie coming off the bench and going on to score the winner. It was incredible really, but it seemed so right, after all I had seen it before!” Last word from manager Ally MacLeod; “We were Magic!”

THE HANGOVER

Four days after their League Cup win the Dons came unstuck against Hearts at Tynecastle. A 2-1 defeat was a real shock as this was Hearts first league win of the season and they were heading towards relegation from the Premier League. The Dons had enjoyed the civic return to the city but as they got back to league business they never looked like raising the tempo in what was a lethargic display. Aberdeen did use the ball well in the early stages and controlled the game without creating too many chances. Manager MacLeod resisted the opportunity to freshen up the sie and in hindsight that may have been an error. “I was happy not make changes as we looked fine in training; the celebrations were finished with on Sunday so we have no excuses” said MacLeod after the game.

It was the unlikely route of Jim Jeffries that undone Aberdeen. The Hearts pivot opened the scoring in 40 minutes when he scored from a Brown cutback. At the start of the second half Jeffries repeated his feat as the Dons defence were to blame for slack play. That eventually spurred Aberdeen into action and when Joe Harper scored in 65 minutes the Dons did exert some pressure on a nervous home defence as they held on to a rare and precious victory.

Aberdeen got a break with no fixture on the following Saturday. The reserves game at Dumbarton was abandoned with the score at 1-1 after 75 minutes due to fog. Today’s visitors Kilmarnock went down heavily at home to Rangers.

NO BLUES AT RUGBY PARK FOR DONS

Aberdeen got back to winning ways against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park with a hard fought win against the Ayrshire side. The League Cup holders were certainly the team to beat back then but Aberdeen go their title challenge going again as manager MacLeod famously declared after winning the League Cup that Aberdeen were on for a treble. Kilmarnock adopted a physical approach in the early stages in an effort to unsettle Aberdeen but it was the visitors who looked the more composed. Against the run of play Gordon Smith was brought down in the box by Bobby Clark and Smith scored for the penalty to give Kilmarnock a surprise lead.

Jocky Scott pulled Aberdeen level on 55 minutes as the Dons piled on the pressure against a home side who were struggling at the bottom of the league. Ten minutes from time a rare foray by Stuart Kennedy ended with the Dons full back finishing of a fine move by the Dons. This was Kennedy’s first ever goal for the club. Manager MacLeod was happy with the fightback; “Kilmarnock are fighting for survival as we knew they would try to get at us. As cup holders were are a scalp and we have to deal with that. I thought Stuart (Kennedy) was outstanding; his goal topped off a fantastic display. I was delighted to get him in over the summer and he is looking a real bargain for us.”

Premier Division
20/11/1976

Kilmarnock 1 – 2 Aberdeen
Kick Off: 3:00 PM
Smith 42 (pen); Scott, Kennedy

Attendance 5,000

Venue: Rugby Park, Kilmarnock

Kilmarnock Teamsheet: Stewart, Maxwell, Robinson, Murdoch, Clarke, Welsh, Provan, McLean, Fallis, Sheed, Smith

Aberdeen Teamsheet: Clark, Kennedy, Williamson, Smith, Garner, Miller, Sullivan, (Shirra), Scott, Harper, Jarvie, Graham